His first big hit was Eenzame Kerst ("Lonely Christmas"). In 1979 he signed a contract with EMI, and soon after that his career started to take off. Een Vriend ("A Friend") and Een Beetje Verliefd ("A Little Bit In Love)" were both top ten hits of his.
On september 23, 2004 André Hazes was struck by a cardiac arrest which resulted in his death. Four days later a ceremony was held in the Amsterdam Arena where ten thousands of fans paid respect to one of the most popular Dutch singers of the late 20th century. The next day his last single Zij gelooft in mij ("She believes in me") became number one in the Dutch charts.
Het is nooit te laat
André Hazes Lyrics
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Jouw tranen laten me koud
't is nu te laat om spijt te tonen
Want jij, ging in de fout
Ik gaf je een kans
Omdat ik gek was van jou
Nee ik vind, dat ik nu moet gaan
't is over, ik moet echt gaan
't is nu te laat, wil je vergeten
Je hebt jezelf dit aangedaan
Gaf je een kans,
Omdat ik gek was van jou
Begrijp je dan niet wat je hebt gedaan
O nee, laat me niet blijven
Wordt weer hetzelfde
Kan er niet tegen
Jij wou niet weten
Weten, dat ik gek was van jou
't is echt te laat, ik moet weg
Je hebt 't zelf gedaan
't Is nu te laat, je was gewaarschuwd
't is over, ik moet echt gaan
't is nu te laat, wil je vergeten
Je hebt jezelf dit aangedaan
Gaf je een kans,
Omdat ik gek was van jou
Begrijp je, begrijp je dan niet wat je hebt gedaan
Ooo, ooo, ik gaf je een kans babe
Omdat ik, omdat ik gek was van jou
Laat me nu gaan
Laat me nu gaan
André Hazes's song Het is nooit te laat is a song about a broken relationship where the singer has given their partner multiple chances to try and make the relationship work, but they have failed to see how important it was to the singer. The opening line, "t' Is nu te laat om te huilen" (It's now too late to cry), shows that the singer has reached the end of their tether and can no longer show any emotion towards their partner's tears. The line, "jouw tranen laten me koud" (your tears leave me cold), shows that the singer has become indifferent towards their partner's emotions, and there is no going back.
The chorus of the song, "t' Is nu te laat, je was gewaarschuwd" (It's now too late, you were warned), suggests that the singer had warned their partner multiple times of the consequences of their actions, but they did not listen. This line is then repeated throughout the song, almost as a reminder to the partner of their failed relationship. The line, "Je hebt jezelf dit aangedaan" (You have done this to yourself), places the blame solely on the partner, as it was their actions that caused the end of the relationship.
The verse, "Nee ik vind, dat ik nu moet gaan" (No, I think I should go now), shows the singer's decision to move on from the relationship. They have given their partner multiple chances, but now they have to leave for their own well-being. In the final verse, "Laat me nu gaan" (Let me go now), shows the finality of their decision and that they cannot be persuaded to take their partner back.
Overall, the song Het is nooit te laat is a poignant reminder that relationships require effort from both parties and when one person repeatedly fails to make that effort, the relationship will eventually fail.
Line by Line Meaning
't Is nu te laat om te huilen
Crying won't change the fact that it's too late now.
Jouw tranen laten me koud
Your tears don't affect me anymore.
't is nu te laat om spijt te tonen
Showing regret won't fix the mistake you made.
Want jij, ging in de fout
Because you made a mistake.
Ik gaf je een kans
I gave you a chance.
Omdat ik gek was van jou
Because I was crazy about you.
Nee ik vind, dat ik nu moet gaan
No, I think I need to leave now.
't Is nu te laat, je was gewaarschuwd
It's too late now, you were warned.
't is over, ik moet echt gaan
It's over, I really have to go.
't is nu te laat, wil je vergeten
It's too late now, do you want to forget?
Je hebt jezelf dit aangedaan
You brought this upon yourself.
Begrijp je dan niet wat je hebt gedaan
Don't you understand what you've done?
O nee, laat me niet blijven
Oh no, don't make me stay.
Wordt weer hetzelfde
It will become the same again.
Kan er niet tegen
I can't take it anymore.
Jij wou niet weten
You didn't want to know.
Weten, dat ik gek was van jou
That I was crazy about you.
't is echt te laat, ik moet weg
It's really too late, I have to leave.
Ooo, ooo, ik gaf je een kans babe
Ooo, ooo, I gave you a chance babe.
Laat me nu gaan
Let me go now.
Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.