As 'n vliegtuig sou kon val bo-op Tygerberg vanaand
Sal ek al my voornemings oorweeg
Dit is makliker om in te gee
Voor die tradisiemasjien my kom haal

Dis die gevoel van "iets moet breek"
Dis die ingeboude vrees
Ek's gebore met drie sesse op my kop getattoëer
Ek probeer net vasklou aan wie ek is
Ek probeer net vasklou aan wie ek is
Dis op die TV en dis in my brein
Dis aaklig om te sien hoe
Die skaap-mentaliteit ons kry
Ons almal werk saam aan Afrikaans-amerika
Algemene denkdisfunksie
Lees net mooi en volg dan

Al die instruksies wat hul vir ons gee
Werk, trou en kinders kry
En moontlik dan aan depressie ly
Iemand moet vra hoekom
Iemand moet vra hoekom

Ons almal vrek alleen
Ons almal vrek alleen
Ons almal vrek alleen
Ek probeer net vasklou aan wie ek is
Ek probeer net vasklou aan wie ek is

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fokofpolisiekar's song "Tygerberg Vliegtuig" deal with themes of conformity, fear, and a desire to hold on to one's identity in the face of societal pressure. The song begins with the image of a plane potentially crashing over Tygerberg, leading the singer to question their intentions and consider giving in to the "tradition machine" that threatens to take hold of them. The fear of something breaking down and the tattooed "666" on the singer's head illustrate the sense of unease and anxiety throughout the song.

The second verse turns its attention to the ways in which society operates, with references to the "sheep mentality" and the predominant culture of Afrikaans-Anglo conformity. The pressure to work, get married, have children, and potentially suffer from depression as a result is seen as a common thread, to which the singer cries out for someone to ask "why?" - why do we all follow these instructions, and what happens to those who don't conform.

The repeated refrain of "ons almal vrek alleen" (we all die alone) underlines the sense of isolation that the singer feels, despite the constant hum of societal pressure and conformity around them. The desire to hold on to one's identity in the face of these forces is seen as a way to resist a kind of cultural and personal erasure.

Line by Line Meaning

As 'n vliegtuig sou kon val bo-op Tygerberg vanaand
If an airplane were to fall on Tygerberg tonight

Sal ek al my voornemings oorweeg
I would consider all my intentions

Dit is makliker om in te gee
It's easier to give in

Voor die tradisiemasjien my kom haal
Before the machinery of tradition comes for me

Dis die gevoel van "iets moet breek"
It's the feeling of "something needs to break"

Dis die ingeboude vrees
It's the built-in fear

Ek's gebore met drie sesse op my kop getattoëer
I was born with three sixes tattooed on my head

Ek probeer net vasklou aan wie ek is
I just try to hold on to who I am

Dis op die TV en dis in my brein
It's on the TV and it's in my brain

Dis aaklig om te sien hoe
It's horrible to see how

Die skaap-mentaliteit ons kry
The sheep mentality gets us