Andreas Gerardus Hazes (June 30, 1951 - September 23, 2004) was a Dutch sin… Read Full Bio ↴Andreas Gerardus Hazes (June 30, 1951 - September 23, 2004) was a Dutch singer. He was born in 1951 in the Pijp, a neigbourhood in Amsterdam. At the age of eight, he was discovered at the famous Albert Cuyp day market by Johnny Kraaykamp, a Dutch TV personality.

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.

Kleine Jongen
André Hazes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kleine jongen
Je bent op deze wereld dus zal je moeten vechten net als ik
Ik kan het weten
Het leven is niet makkelijk
Er is tegenspoed op ieder ogenblik

Kleine jongen
Er zijn veel goede mensen

Maar slechte zijn er ook helaas 't is waar
Je moet maar denken
Dat jij straks gaat beseffen
Dat eerlijk het langste duurt geloof me maar

Dit leven gaat voorbij
Er is al weinig tijd dus leef, want jij bent vrij
Maar doe het wel verstandig maak de mensen blij
Dan zul je echt gelukkig zijn
Want het leven is zo kort
Veel dingen worden anders als je ouder wordt
Je speelt nu nog met blokken maar dat duurt niet lang
Het is jammer maar je blijft niet klein

Kleine jongen
Op school al zul je merken dat alles draait om cijfers en om macht
Zo is het leven
Dus leer wat je moet leren
Want dan ben jij de geen die het laatste lacht

Kleine jongen
Als jij dan later groot bent
Dan is je vader er mischien niet meer
Vertel dan aan je eigen kinderen de wijze lessen van je ouweheer

Dit leven gaat voorbij
Er is al weinig tijd dus leef, want jij bent vrij
Maar doe het wel verstandig maak de mensen blij
Dan zul je echt gelukkig zijn
Want het leven is zo kort
Veel dingen worden anders als je ouder wordt
Je speelt nu nog met blokken maar dat duurt niet lang

Het is jammer maar je blijft niet klein
Klein

Overall Meaning

In André Hazes's song Kleine Jongen, the singer expresses his wisdom and advice to a young boy, probably his son. He acknowledges that life is not easy, and everyone must fight to survive. The song implicitly suggests that hardship is a part of life, and it can come at any moment. André advises the boy to remember that there may be bad people, but there are more good people in the world. However, honesty is the key that will yield the longest-lasting reward. André also advises the young boy to live his life to the fullest since it is short. He should be happy and do what he loves but do it responsibly. Finally, he tells the boy that he'll grow up and possibly have children of his own. When that time comes, he should pass along the advice that his father gave him.

The song contains a universal message of perseverance, resilience, and optimism. It is a wise father's advice to his son on how to navigate life's ups and downs. Although the song is relatable to all, it became popular because André Hazes was a Dutch icon, and his tragic story resonated with many people. André Hazes was raised by his grandmother in a working-class area of Amsterdam. He sold fish and played music on the streets to support himself. He became one of the most famous Dutch singers and had a reputation for his emotional intensity and sincerity. André died in 2004 at the age of 53, and his fatherly wisdom has made Kleine Jongen a classic song in the Netherlands.

Kleine JongenAndré Hazes Lyrics

Kleine Jongen
André Hazes Lyrics