The Dutchman

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For other uses of the Dutchman, see the Dutchman (disambiguation)

"The Dutchman" is a song written by Michael Peter Smith in 1968. It was popularized by Steve Goodman. At the time Smith wrote the song, he had never visited Holland.

The song is about an elderly couple living in Amsterdam, Margaret and the title character. The unnamed Dutchman is suffering from shell shock which he received during the war, while Margaret cares for him with a sadness over what has happened to him over the years. It's a story of unconditional love.

[edit] Covers

While Steve Goodman's cover version of "The Dutchman" is arguably the best known, the song has been covered by many other artists as well. Amira Boraka wrote the play. Notable among these as Suzy Boggus, Liam Clancy, Norm Hacking, Anne Hills, John McDermott, The New Kingston Trio, Gamble Rogers, Tom Russell, Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert James Waller, and Josh White, Jr..^[1]