Biography
Willeke Alberti started her career at the early age of eleven in the musical Duel om Barbara and she recorded her first single in 1958 together with her father. During the 1960s, she was a well-known singer in the Netherlands and had at least one #1 hit with "De Winter Was Lang" ("The Winter Was Long"), however there was no official Dutch chart at the time. Willeke and her father had a television show between 1965 and 1969. Her singing career from 1970 onwards is less active, however Alberti still releases singles and albums at an irregular interval and plays minor roles in television programs and movies.
Alberti married John de Mol on July 24, 1976. Together they have one son Johnny de Mol, who is currently an actor and television personality. The couple divorced in 1980. She had a second marriage with Danish football player Søren Lerby and a second son was born from that marriage. Søren Lerby and Willeke Alberti separated in 1990.
In 1994, she represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Waar is de Zon" ("Where is the Sun"), which claimed a meagre four points from the international juries, all coming from Austria. The Netherlands beat only Estonia and Lithuania that evening.
Telkens Weer
Willeke Alberti Lyrics
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Dat ik die hemel krijg, die me wordt beloofd
Telkens weer, wordt alle blauw weer grauw
Sta ik teleurgesteld, buiten in de kou
Maar telkens weer, denk ik er komt er één
Waar ik alléén voor leef, mijn hart aan geef
Bij wie ik vind, dat wat ik nu ontbeer
Liefde voor altijd, telkens weer
Telkens weer, slaat wat er vroeger was
Weer als een vlam omhoog, uit de oude as
Telkens weer, alsof het nooit geneest
Blijft er die pijn bestaan, om wat is geweest
Maar telkens weer, denk ik er komt er één
Waar ik alléén voor leef, mijn hart aan geef
Bij wie ik vind, dat wat ik nu ontbeer
Liefde voor altijd, telkens weer
The song Telkens weer by Willeke Alberti is a reflective and emotive ballad about the longing for love and the search for a fulfilling relationship. The lyrics express the hopeful yet sometimes painful experience of seeking someone who will provide the happiness and comfort promised in the "heaven" of a loving relationship. At the same time, the song acknowledges the difficulty of letting go of past hurts and regrets, which can keep one feeling cold and alone even in the face of the most promising connections.
The first verse sets the stage for the song's theme of longing and disappointment. The singer imagines a "heaven" of love and companionship that seems just out of reach, and laments each time the sky turns grey and hope fades. However, she still holds onto the hope that there is someone out there waiting for her, someone who will bring the warmth and love she craves.
In the second verse, the song shifts to a more nostalgic mood, as the singer reflects on past relationships and how they continue to affect her. The pain of lost love is compared to a fire that never fully goes out, flaring up again and again despite efforts to move on. Nevertheless, the hope for a new, healing love remains strong, and the singer looks forward to the day when she can find a love that will last "telkens weer" - time and time again.
Overall, Telkens weer is a powerful meditation on the human desire for love and connection, and the struggles that come with that search. It's a reminder that even when past wounds still smart and the future looks uncertain, the hope and promise of real, lasting love is always worth pursuing.
Line by Line Meaning
Telkens weer, haal ik me in m’n hoofd
Repeatedly, I keep thinking to myself
Dat ik die hemel krijg, die me wordt beloofd
That I'll receive the heaven that was promised to me
Telkens weer, wordt alle blauw weer grauw
Continuously, everything turns grey and dull
Sta ik teleurgesteld, buiten in de kou
Leaving me disappointed and stranded in the cold
Maar telkens weer, denk ik er komt er één
Yet, I still believe that there will be someone
Waar ik alléén voor leef, mijn hart aan geef
Whom I'll dedicate my life and give my heart to
Bij wie ik vind, dat wat ik nu ontbeer
The person who will provide me with what I currently lack
Liefde voor altijd, telkens weer
Eternal love, repeatedly
Telkens weer, slaat wat er vroeger was
Once again, what was in the past strikes me hard
Weer als een vlam omhoog, uit de oude as
Igniting like a flame, rising from the ashes
Telkens weer, alsof het nooit geneest
Continuously, as if the wound never heals
Blijft er die pijn bestaan, om wat is geweest
The pain still lingers, for what has been
Maar telkens weer, denk ik er komt er één
Nonetheless, I believe that there will be someone
Waar ik alléén voor leef, mijn hart aan geef
The one whom I'll live for and give my heart to
Bij wie ik vind, dat wat ik nu ontbeer
The person who will provide me with what I currently lack
Liefde voor altijd, telkens weer
Eternal love, repeatedly
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.