Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - They Might Be Giants, 1990

 
 

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

 
---
 

This rather unconventional duo was formed in 1982, and have had several hits including "Birdhouse in Your Soul", and this little ditty about Istanbul...which was originally recorded by a Toronto band called The Four Lads in 1953...but I digress. They Might Be Giants are probably best known for the song, "Boss of Me", which is the theme song to Fox TV's Malcolm in the Middle. They earned a Grammy for this in 2002.