The Red Rose Cafe lyrics

The Fureys & Davey Arthur 🎸

They come from the forests and the factories too
And they all soon forget who they are.
The cares of the day are soon washed away
As they sit at a stool by the bar.
The girl with green eyes in the Rolling Stones shirt
Doesn't look like she works on the land.
The man at the end, is a very good friend
Of a man who sells cars second hand.

Down at the Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour
There by the port just outside Amsterdam.
Everyone shares in the songs and the laughter.
Everyone there is so happy to be there.

The salesmen relax with a few pints of beer
As they try not to speak about trade.
The poet won't write any verses tonight.
He may sing a sweet serenade.
So pull up a chair and forget about life.
It's a good thing to do now and then
And if you like it here I have an idea
Tomorrow let's all meet again.

Down at the Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour
There by the port just outside Amsterdam.
Everyone shares in the songs and the laughter.
Everyone there is so happy to be there.

Down at the Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour
There by the port just outside Amsterdam.
Everyone shares in the songs and the laughter.
Everyone there is so happy to be there...

Song Details

Composer: Pierre Kartner - musician, songwriter, composer, record producer - born April 11, 1935 in Elst, Netherlands. The song was first written as The Little Café by the Harbour. So popular was the song that it has since been covered more than 250 times in various languages.

English Lyrics: Don Black

Brief: A Cafe in a place by the harbour in Amsterdam - where people meet and greet and forget about all their troubles and smile, smile, smile!

Category: Folk Song

Different Versions & Recording Artists:

Dutch: Het kleine café aan de haven - Pierre Kartner (composer)
French: Le café de la Rue d'Amérique - Mireille Mathieu / Le café des trois Colombes - Joe Dassin
German: Die kleine Kneipe - Peter Alexander1
English: The Little Cafe By The Harbour - Engelbert Humperdinck
English: My Favourite Cafe On The Harbour - Audrey Landers
English: The Red Rose Cafe - The Fureys, Demis Roussos

Album: Fureys Finest (Oct 10, 1994)

Red Red Rose Cafe Chords

Key: Am
Time Signature: 6/8
Tempo: 54 bpm (♩.)
PS: The major key of Am is highlighted (C)
It's interesting to note that the Choruses are in the key of A Major, and back to Am in the verses. In the last Chorus there is a key change from A major to Bb Major.

The song key is highlighted. Transpose to any other key.

Intro:6/8 [Am] [Am] [Am] [Am]

1. They [Am]come from the forests and the factories too 
   And they all soon forget who they [E]are. 
   The[E] cares of the day are soon washed away 
   As they sit at a stool by the [Am]bar. 
   The [Am]girl with green eyes in the Rolling Stones shirt 
   Doesn't look like she works on the [Dm]land. 
   The [Dm]man at the end, is a [Am]very good friend 
   Of a [E]man who sells cars second [A]hand. 

Chorus: Down at the [A]Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour 
        There by the port just outside Amster-[E]dam. 
        Everyone [D]shares in the songs and the [A]laughter. 
        Everyone [E]there is so happy to be [Am]there. 

2. The [Am]salesmen relax with a few pints of beer 
   As they try not to speak about [E]trade. 
   The [E]poet won't write any verses tonight. 
   He may sing a sweet sere-[Am]nade. 
   So [Am]pull up a chair and forget about life. 
   It's a good thing to do now and [Dm]then 
   And if [Dm]you like it here I [Am]have an idea 
   To-[E]morrow let's all meet a-[A]gain. 

Chorus: Down at the [A]Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour 
        There by the port just outside Amster-[E]dam. 
        Everyone [D]shares in the songs and the [A]laughter. 
        Everyone [E]there is so happy to be [A]there. 

Chorus: Down at the [A]Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour 
        There by the port just outside Amster-[E]dam. 
        Everyone [D]shares in the songs and the [A]laughter. 
        Everyone [E]there is so happy to be [A]there. (key change) [F]

Chorus: Down at the [Bb]Red Rose Cafe in the Harbour 
        There by the port just outside Amster-[F]dam. 
        Everyone [Eb]shares in the songs and the [Bb]laughter. 
        Everyone [F]there is so happy to be [Bb]there...(repeat to fade)

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