The Dutchman By Bob Shane (Of The Kingston Trio)

Bob Shane, the last survivng founding member of the legendary Kingston Trio, performs his solo version of Michael Peter Smith's beloved "The Dutchman," a song of enduring love through the trials of time and age. Though Shane officially retired in 2004 from the group of which he was co-founder and remains sole owner, he still takes the stage on occasion with the current troupe to perform some of the group's signature songs, on which he was frequently the lead vocalist.

On Saturday, February 12, 2011, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) honors Shane and representatives of the families of his late partners with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the culmination of a career of fifty-four years in folk and pop music for the Kingston Trio.

[swtshortforsweet]

Love Bob forever. That voice! „You old whiskey baritone, you“.

[durindadalton]

I’ve been listening to Bob Shane since 1958 when I was 10. Been to dozens of concerts of the KT. Met him a few times - always a gentleman. Still enjoying his magnificent voice.

[ssgtsouth]

I have loved the Kingston Trio since about 1958-59. I used to go to the Bistro in Atlanta, 1968 on leave before leaving for Vietnam and he was preforming with the New Kingston Trio. Loved every performance I meet Bob Shane on Christmas eve 1985 and spoke to him at a restaurant for a few minutes, he was very nice to me. Over the years he has provided so much great entertainment for so many people. Thanks Bob, for this song and for all the years.

[joecartwright]

I got to see Bob at the K&D lounge in Medford Oregon back in ‘74. The wife and I had a table right in front of him, thanks to the door man and a $20 tip. After the show, he joined us and we had a couple beers together. He then gave us some autographed pictures and broken guitar strings, then invited us to see the second show, at the same a night!

[brianskinner]

I'm 63 now, and I would recognize that voice anywhere. My two brothers and I looked forward to each new album the "Trio" would put out. This song is so sentimental. Makes me tear up. Thanks for sharing this.

[pascaldrake]

Bob sang this song (by personal request) for me in Las Vegas a few years ago. I've been a life long fan of the Kingston Trio and friend of Bob's for many years. He hadn't sung the Dutchman on stage in at least twenty years. It was such a nice thing for him to do that he made me cry. Anybody who knows Bob, knows how nice he is to his countless fans and numerous friends. One of his greatest characteristics is his generosity and loyalty to his friends. This is, and will forever be, my favorite Bob Shane song. That's saying a lot when there are so many others. I love you Bob.

[charliekucharski]

Nobody but nobody delivers a song better or more convincingly than Bob Shane.
He always knows what he's singing about.

[hughpenn]

A voice so rare, so rich, so talented. Thank God for such a great singer.

[jamescurtis]

Bob Shane - my very favorite voice of all time. Thousands and thousands of hours have I listened and still do. Interestingly, after 55 years of listening to 'A Worried Man, ' I heard an alternate version for the first time today! Wonderful!

[carolmitchell]

These guys were real gentlemen.  I only saw them twice in concert but have never forgotten the way they treated their fans.  I loved when John Stewart joined the group because he had such a wonderful deep voice that added another dimension to the music.  R.I.P John and Nick.  

[onlyceltic]

I'm 14 years old again? everytime I hear your voice and I'm in love with you and all of life! A true bard of the Old School!

[kennethpack]

Saw him and his buddys at the Hungry I all them years ago

[XMLarry]

He may have aged but his music never will. Ty for posting

[cmahue]

Powerful song. Tears at my heart. Beautiful voice.

[folkiejim]

...great song, by one of the greatest singers that we have...thanks for this one...

[dharmaseed]

Met him backstage at a Kingston Trio concert in 1996, spoke to him again about five years later in Ann Arbor. What a nice guy.

[athenspirates]

Fabulous....I thought Liam Clancy owned this song....now they both own it.

[bluefandango]

The Dutchman's not the kind of man
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That holds his dreams in,
But that's a secret that only Margaret knows.

When Amsterdam is golden in the summer,
Margaret brings him breakfast,
She believes him.
He thinks the tulips bloom beneath the snow.

He's mad as he can be, but Margaret only sees that sometimes,
Sometimes she sees her unborn children in his eyes.

Let us go to the banks of the ocean
Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee.
Long ago, I used to be a young man
And dear Margaret remembers that for me.

The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes,
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That Margaret sewed there.
Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam.

And he watches the tug-boats down canals
An' calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain.
Till Margaret comes
To take him home again

Through unforgiving streets that trip him, though she holds his arm,
Sometimes he thinks he's alone and he calls her name.

Let us go to the banks of the ocean
Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee.
Long ago, I used to be a young man
And dear Margaret remembers that for me.

The winters whirl the windmills 'round
She winds his muffler tighter
And they sit in the kitchen.
Some tea with whiskey keeps away the dew.

And he sees her for a moment, calls her name,
She makes the bed up singing some old love song,
A song Margaret learned
When it was very new.

He hums a line or two, they sing together in the dark.
The Dutchman falls asleep and Margaret blows the candle out.

Let us go to the banks of the ocean
Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee.
Long ago, I used to be a young man
And dear Margaret remembers that for me.

[patmcwilliams]

I met Bob about 25 yrs ago at Harvey's Wagon Wheel in Tahoe.  We I told him what a fan I was, and how we would throw snow balls at the window of the DJ booth at the radio station across the street from our bus stop,   if he didn't play Tom Dooley before we left for school (the DJ was a cool guy and got a kick out of us kids).  I told Bob I would really dig one of his KT shirts ( we were the same size).  He said he'd send me one.   We talked a bit and then parted.  I've never been one to idolize people, and have met quite a few famous people, but meeting Bob has been the only one that ever meant anything to me.  A month or so later I got a package in the mail.  It was the shirt Bob promised.  He wore it at the Newport Beach Festival in 1959, and on the cover of that album produced in 1994, which was after I met him.  We became friends.  He is the coolest guy I've ever met, and very intelligent.  He helped in a lot of ways, and made quite a difference in my life.  I owe him big time.

[richardperkins]

Great song. Good performance by Shane. Do not like the dominant bass in this.