Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Coenie was educated at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein majoring in media studies where he later on lectured in the Communications faculty. He has always viewed his musical career as his second vocation. He is also a classically trained pianist. Coenie is the anchor presenter in popular South African kykNET journal program "Kwela".
During the late 1980s, Coenie spent a few years in self-imposed exile in Cyprus. Coenie has also performed in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Coenie signed with Mountain Records in 1983, and recorded his debut album, Skoppensboer, working with producer, Patrick Lee-Thorp and engineer, Kevin Shirley, in the same year. He subsequently recorded 4 albums for the label many of which won industry awards. In addition he contributed to label compilations of his work. Since leaving Mountain Records he has recorded a number of one off projects for different labels.
Coenie lived on the island of Cyprus during the eighties and nineties. He wrote, recorded and produced the album Amper Alleen in Cyprus and in Athens, Greece. Amper Alleen was the second SA album to be released on CD. Coenie and his family returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He released Hartland, an album which included a vocal performance by Lesley Rae Dowling.
Karoonag
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En die diereriem sy blink tot teen die skerpioen laat lê
As die tweeling en die kreef
Kotteljons oor Beaufort-Wes
En die maan sy beker skink oor Graaff-Reinet
Ruik jy katbos en kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
Ruik jy katbos en kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
Hier vanaand
In die môre as dit blou word
En die amber wolke roer
As die son sy eerste lig
Oor die bitterboela stoot
As die trein by Noupoort fluit
En dit wegraak in die wind
En 'n tolbos iewers vaswaai teen die rant
Ruik jy katbos en kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
Ruik jy katbos en ruik jy kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
Hier vanaand
Ruik jy katbos en ruik jy kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
Ruik jy katbos en ruik jy kambro
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My optelkind
Vanaand
By my vanaand
In Coenie De Villiers's song "Karoonag," he paints a vivid picture of the Karoo landscape at night-time, as well as the feelings and memories it invokes in him. He describes the night sky with its constellation, the Scorpius, shining brightly. He mentions the different towns across the Karoo, such as Beaufort-Wes and Graaff-Reinet, bathed in moonlight. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia for the Karoo, with the imagery of the scent of the katbos and kambro (two plants found in the Karoo) during a rainfall. He also refers to the legendary Hantamwind, an intense and unpredictable wind that blows through the Hantam region of the Karoo.
The imagery in the song helps to convey the beauty and vastness of the Karoo, a region in South Africa known for its arid landscape, unique plant and animal life, and rich cultural heritage. The song is not only a tribute to the Karoo but also a representation of the emotional connection that people from the region often feel towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
As die nag sy baaikie toeknoop oor die veld
When the night closes over the field with a soft sound
En die diereriem sy blink tot teen die skerpioen laat lê
And the Milky Way shines until it touches the Scorpius
As die tweeling en die kreef
When Gemini and Cancer
Kotteljons oor Beaufort-Wes
Cross over Beaufort-Wes
En die maan sy beker skink oor Graaff-Reinet
And the moon pours its cup over Graaff-Reinet
Ruik jy katbos en kambro
Do you smell wild herbs and shrubs
As dit reën in die Kleinkaroo
When it rains in the Kleinkaroo
My hantamwind
My Hantam wind
My optelkind
My adopted child
Vanaand
Tonight
Hier vanaand
Here tonight
In die môre as dit blou word
In the morning when it turns blue
En die amber wolke roer
And the amber clouds move
As die son sy eerste lig
When the sun makes its first light
Oor die bitterboela stoot
Over the Bitterboela hills
As die trein by Noupoort fluit
When the train whistles at Noupoort
En dit wegraak in die wind
And it disappears in the wind
En 'n tolbos iewers vaswaai teen die rant
And a toll booth waves somewhere at the edge
Ruik jy katbos en ruik jy kambro
Do you smell wild herbs and shrubs
By my vanaand
With me tonight
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DE VILLERS COEWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind