Amsterdam I Must Leave
Bob A. Feldman
A folk song that was written for an unproduced musicall play, "Anne Frank's Diary", which is sung by the Otto Frank character to the Miep character, early in the musical play.
(chorus)
"Oh, I can't stay in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, I must leave
Everywhere are memories
When life here seemed carefree."
(verses)
"It used to feel like home
But now it feels so strange
The streets look similar
But the memories stir up pain
My business has no meaning
With my family killed in the camps
The war it may be over
But I cannot forget the past." (chorus)
"I'm just a bitter man
Old before his time
The buildings look similar
But I've changed too much inside
I'm not the man you knew
Too many deaths I have seen
So much brutality
And so much suffering." (chorus)
"Oh, forgive me, Miep, please
For you suffered to save our lives
You and Mr. Kraler
So faithfully helped us hide
Between the Gestapo and eight people
You stood like a shield of rock
You risked your life to protect us
Until we heard the knock." (chorus)