Descartes In Amsterdam

Album: Step Up (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dave Nachmanoff says this song was inspired by his shady past. He earned a PhD from University of California, Davis, and actually taught philosophy for a while.
  • René Descartes was born on March 31, 1596; one of the biggest names in the history of philosophy, he spent some time in Amsterdam where he sired a daughter by servant girl Helena Jans van der Strom. The child died of scarlet fever aged 5 at which time Descartes was a lecturer at Utrecht University.

    Although while in The Netherlands, Descartes changed his address many times, it is doubtful if he ever slept on a park bench as suggested in this song. Those who know something about philosophy may wonder if Nachmanoff is not confusing him with or more likely incorporating the Greek philosopher Diogenes into the narrator. Diogenes was the founder of the Cynics, and famously lived in a tub. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Samuel Langhorne Clemens from Right Here, Dummy!nice day, wot?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."