The group's frontman (and only original member today), Harry Slinger (1949), with his trademark red wool hat, is known for singing his lyrics in a sharp Amsterdam accent. The group's music was typical eighties pop, sometimes reggae-tinged, sometimes remarkably paying hommage to the smartlappen of Amsterdam's famous pub singers.
The group was active from 1978 to 1990 and, after 1990, on and off in various line-ups with Harry Slinger as the only permanent feature.
Established in 1978, the earliest Drukwerk incarnation was politically outspoken. Some of their early recordings were essentially leftist protest songs, for example against the closing of a youth centre in Amsterdam North, against nuclear energy or the policies of the Amsterdam city council. The band's later work was less politically charged, but in many cases still socially committed.
The band suddenly found themselves at the top of the Dutch charts over Christmas 1981: 'Je Loog Tegen Mij' ('You Lied To Me') marked the start of their glory days. The first half of the 1980s yielded seven Top 20 hits in total, including 'Wat Dom' (#5 in 1982), 'Schijn 'n Lichtje op Mij' (#10 in 1982), 'Hee Amsterdam' (#15 in 1983) and 'Carolien' (#18 in 1984). Almost all of the studio LPs from this era reached the top half of the Dutch album charts, including Drukwerk (1981), Tweede Druk (1982) and the very succesful live album Hee Amsterdam - Drukwerk Live in het Concertgebouw (1984).
Line-up in this era: Harry Slinger (vocals), Ton Coster (gitaar), Joop May (keyboards) and Hans Witteveen (drums).
As the success of Dutch-language 'Nederpop' waned, Drukwerk decided to tour theatres instead of pop venues. However, their days of chart success were over and in 1990 the original line-up decided to call it a day. Harry Slinger embarked on a solo carreer, but soon started singing Drukwerk's hit tunes again.
The release of the box-set 'Je Loog Tegen Mij' (2002) revived the public's interest in Drukwerk. Slinger re-established the group without any of the original members. The band Next One, from the town of Volendam, served as Slinger's backing band under the Drukwerk moniker. The band toured The Netherlands in 2003 and 2004, the years of Drukwerk's 25th anniversary.
In later years original members Ton Coster and Joop May were sometimes involved in Slinger's Drukwerk projects - and sometimes they weren't. Musicians such as Hans van der Berg, Jan Offenberg, Lucas Huizinga, Frank Schaafsma, Rabo Snellenerg, Edwin Gitsels, Rob Engels, Martin van Helden, Ivor Mitchell and Marcel Lee enjoyed stints in the band.
In 2011 and 2012 another Drukwerk incarnation hit Dutch theatres, this time with Harry Slinger's son, Bram, in his father's backing band. This line-up would, in 2013, record and release the first Drukwerk studio album of original material since 1987, entitled Tegen beter weten in.
The band's lovingly nostalgic ode to their city, 'Hee Amsterdam' (1983), remains a stadium staple of fans of the local Ajax football club.
Je loog tegen mij
Drukwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En je deed of je niets had gehoord
Nu zeg je m'n lief het slot was kapot
Nu zeg je kom binnen loop door
Maar ik ben nu bang dat ik stoor
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Toen ik thuis kwam was er geen brood meer in de kast
En je zei ik kan niets voor je doen
Maar nu heb je dan zelfs al je ringen verpatst
En komt me vragen om poen
Je bent zeker vergeten van toen
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Ooooh, je bent nu jezelf niet
Je hebt last van verdriet
En je zegt dat je toch van me houdt
Je zegt je bent toch nog m'n vrouw
Maar je liet me mooi staan in de kou
Toen ik thuis kwam was er geen plaats meer in je bed
En je zei ach slaap je op de bank
Nu heb je je vriend uit je kamer gezet
En mix je m'n lievelingsdrank
Maar ik denk dat ik dit keer bedank
Bekijk het maar...
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Van plan dan, van plan dan, van plan dan.
Wat ben je nou van plan?
The lyrics to Drukwerk's song Je loog tegen mij describe a broken relationship in which the singer is being lied to and manipulated by his partner. The first verse sets the scene with the singer coming home to find the door locked and his partner pretending she didn't hear him. She then claims the lock is broken and invites him in, but he is hesitant and feels like he might be interrupting something. The chorus reveals the singer's frustration with his partner's lies, feeling like she is treating him like a child and taking advantage of him.
The second verse gives more examples of the partner's deceit, with her initially claiming there is no bread in the house but then selling her own belongings and asking him for money. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's distrust and anger. The bridge of the song shows a glimmer of hope, with the partner admitting she is upset and still in love with him, but this quickly fades as the final verse reveals that she has kicked him out of the bed and now has his friend over, but is trying to make amends by mixing his favorite drink. The song ends with the singer refusing and telling his partner to "Bekijk het maar," which roughly translates to "you can forget it."
Overall, the song portrays a toxic and dysfunctional relationship, with the singer feeling hurt and betrayed by his partner's lies and manipulations. The catchy melody and sing-along chorus contrast with the heavy subject matter, making it a popular and enduring song in Dutch popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Toen ik thuis kwam was jouw deur voor mij op slot
When I came home, your door was locked for me
En je deed of je niets had gehoord
And you acted as if you hadn't heard anything
Nu zeg je m'n lief het slot was kapot
Now you tell my love that the lock was broken
Nu zeg je kom binnen loop door
Now you say come in, walk through
Maar ik ben nu bang dat ik stoor
But I'm now afraid that I'm bothering
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
You lied to me as if I was a child
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Believe that you thought I was completely blind
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Say, my dear, do you think you can handle me
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Say, my dear, you have a lot planned then
Toen ik thuis kwam was er geen brood meer in de kast
When I came home, there was no bread left in the pantry
En je zei ik kan niets voor je doen
And you said I can't do anything for you
Maar nu heb je dan zelfs al je ringen verpatst
But now you've even pawned all your rings
En komt me vragen om poen
And come asking for money
Je bent zeker vergeten van toen
You have surely forgotten about then
Ooooh, je bent nu jezelf niet
Ooooh, you're not yourself now
Je hebt last van verdriet
You're troubled by sorrow
En je zegt dat je toch van me houdt
And you say that you still love me
Je zegt je bent toch nog m'n vrouw
You say you're still my wife
Maar je liet me mooi staan in de kou
But you left me out in the cold
Toen ik thuis kwam was er geen plaats meer in je bed
When I came home, there was no longer a place in your bed
En je zei ach slaap je op de bank
And you said oh, sleep on the couch
Nu heb je je vriend uit je kamer gezet
Now you've kicked your friend out of your room
En mix je m'n lievelingsdrank
And mix my favorite drink
Maar ik denk dat ik dit keer bedank
But I think I'll pass this time
Bekijk het maar...
Just forget it...
Van plan dan, van plan dan, van plan dan.
What's your plan then, what's your plan then, what's your plan then.
Je loog tegen mij, alsof ik een kind was
You lied to me as if I was a child
Geloof dat je dacht dat ik helemaal blind was
Believe that you thought I was completely blind
Zeg schat denk je dat je me aan kan
Say, my dear, do you think you can handle me
Zeg schat je bent heel wat van plan dan
Say, my dear, you have a lot planned then
Contributed by Alaina K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.