American In Amsterdam – English Lyrics

• By: Wheatus

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Wheatus' "American In Amsterdam," a captivating pop-rock anthem that offers a unique glimpse into cultural immersion and self-discovery. This song, with its distinct lyrical storytelling and relatable themes of being lost and finding one's way, makes it an excellent choice for language learners. Explore its engaging narrative to pick up colloquialisms and expand your vocabulary in a fun, musical context, making your language learning journey as adventurous as the song's protagonist.

[English]

It's only been an hour but I think I feel the power,

Tell me where do you guys wanna go to?

Well I could go for that but I need to buy a hat,

I think I saw some for sale on the small streets,

Can I play the game without a plan?

I think Pete has the map but tell me what's the difference?

I do not know exactly where I am,

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in...

Silver Mushroom Jesus, he is standing in between us,

Preaching words that he doesn't believe,

I think that he's cracking cos he keeps calling me Captain,

And he's barking and growling at strangers,

Later on tonight he's gonna turn back into Elvis,

When they kick his ass out of the sex show,

We play in a band that has no fans,

I think Pete lost the map we don't know where were going,

I'm trying to remember who I am,

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

Mike prefers a quiet conversation in the pub,

But the English are pissed, drunk and raging,

"Hey Bono" they said when they threw peanuts at my head,

And said "Hey prick can we try on your glasses?"

Now I am just a dork, but listen I come from New York,

So I said "Hey, what are you guys, Irish?"

(sounds of someone's head being punched in)

We came to play the game without a plan,

Pete puked on the map we don't know where were going,

I do not exactly who I am,

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam,(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

I'm an American in Amsterdam.(Amsterdam, Amsterdam,)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
American /əˈmerɪkən/ A1	noun - a person from the United States adjective - relating to the United States
Amsterdam /ˈæmstərdæm/ A1	noun - the capital of the Netherlands
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to participate in a game or sport verb - to perform music
plan /plæn/ A2	noun - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something verb - to make preparations for an event or activity
map /mæp/ A1	noun - a diagrammatic representation of an area
band /bænd/ A1	noun - a group of musicians who play together
fan /fæn/ A1	noun - an enthusiastic admirer of someone or something
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to recall something from the past
conversation /ˌkɑːn.vərˈseɪ.ʃən/ A2	noun - a talk between two or more people
pub /pʌb/ A1	noun - a place where alcoholic drinks are served
drunk /drʌŋk/ A2	adjective - intoxicated by alcohol noun - a person who is intoxicated by alcohol
raging /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/ B1	adjective - extremely angry
puked /pjuːk/ B1	verb - to vomit
dork /dɔːrk/ B2	noun - a foolish or contemptible person
Irish /ˈaɪrɪʃ/ A1	adjective - relating to Ireland or its people noun - a person from Ireland

Key Grammar Structures

• It's only been an hour but I think I feel the power,

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple

  ➔ The word "been" combines with "has/have" to form the present perfect, showing an action that started in the past and continues up to now.

• Can I play the game without a plan?

  ➔ Modal verb (can) + base verb

  ➔ "Can" is a modal verb that is followed directly by the base form of a verb, here "play", to ask about ability or permission.

• I think Pete has the map but tell me what's the difference?

  ➔ Present Simple + indirect question

  ➔ "What’s" introduces an indirect question; the whole clause "what's the difference" functions as the object of "tell me".

• I do not know exactly where I am,

  ➔ Present Simple negative + noun clause with "where"

  ➔ "Do not know" is a negative present simple verb phrase; the clause "where I am" acts as a noun clause answering the unknown information.

• Later on tonight he's gonna turn back into Elvis,

  ➔ Future intention with "going to" (gonna)

  ➔ "Gonna" is the informal contraction of "going to"; it is used with the base verb "turn" to talk about a planned or certain future action.

• We play in a band that has no fans,

  ➔ Defining relative clause with "that"

  ➔ The clause "that has no fans" is a defining relative clause; "that" links the noun "band" to additional essential information.

• Mike prefers a quiet conversation in the pub,

  ➔ Verb + object + prepositional phrase (prefer + noun + in)

  ➔ "Prefers" is a transitive verb that takes the noun phrase "a quiet conversation" as its object, followed by the prepositional phrase "in the pub" indicating location.

• We came to play the game without a plan,

  ➔ Past Simple + infinitive of purpose (to play)

  ➔ "Came" is the past simple of "come"; the infinitive "to play" expresses the purpose of the action – why they came.

• Now I am just a dork, but listen I come from New York,

  ➔ Present Simple for state + "come from" for origin

  ➔ "Am" and "come" are present simple verbs; "am" describes a current state, while "come from" states the speaker's place of origin.