985) Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) was covered by They Might Be Giants, but over 30 years before that, it peaked at #10 on the Billboard chart in 1953, sung by The Four Lads. The words were written by Jimmy Kennedy and the music by Nat Simon.


Istanbul (not Constantinople)
by They Might Be Giants

Named after Constantine The Great, Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for 11 centuries. It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire (The Turks) in the 15th century. The name was changed when the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453 but many (most?) westerners still called it Constantinople until whenever.

Lyrics
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul
Download/Listen to the Tune Here
Another One with the Lyrics

---

Many thanks to the lady from Damascus, Dimashq, Syrian Arab Republic for prompting us to add this lively piece to our site as well as to David, Brentwood, TN who plays this song as an energizer at his presbyterian church camp. We appreciate your contributions very much

---

Why some people with ulterior motives want to call Constantinople, not Istanbul