Born in a Japanese concentration camp in the former Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) during World War II, Grönloh and her family moved to the Eindhoven area in The Netherlands after the war. Anneke's career soon started to take off. She sang jazz material, American standards, Indonesian folk songs and rock 'n roll with Peter Koelewijn & Zijn Rockets. Koelewijn attended the same Eindhoven high school as Grönloh.
Her début solo single, 'Asmara', failed to chart in The Netherlands, but was a hit in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, where Grönloh toured succesfully as early as 1960. Her Dutch big break followed in the summer of 1962 with the Dutch smash hit, 'Brandend Zand' ('Burning Sand'), which hit #1 in the Dutch Top 40. It was the first of four consecutive #1 hit singles for Grönloh in some eleven months' time. 'Paradiso', 'Soerabaja' and 'Cimeroni' also hit the top spot. Versions of these hit singles in other languages charted in no less than 48 countries. In total, Anneke Grönloh has 'claimed sales' of over 30 million records, primarily singles.
Anneke Grönloh never had a Dutch chart hit again after 1964, but she continued to perform succesfully until 2017, in The Netherlands and the Far East. Her anniversary concert in Singapore in 1994, celebrating her career of 35 years, was attended by 30,000 people. Some of her albums are hardly known in The Netherlands, but sold over 100,000 copies in Indonesia and Malaysia, notably 2002's Nina Bobo.
Having suffered severe pulmonary embolism in 2016, Grönloh's health deteriorated. She stopped performing in the summer of 2017, aged 75, and passed away on 14 September 2018 at her home in France, where she spent the final years of her life. She was 76 years old.
Cimeroni
Anneke Grönloh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dat witte huis, al honderd jaar
En daar wacht een meisje op een man
Die zij maar niet vergeten kan.
Als we samen bruiloft vieren
Cimeroni, Cimeroni
Zal de liefde zegevieren
Op een dag kwam daar een jongeman
Een jongeman die zocht naar haar
Toen hij ging had hij haar trouw beloofd
Zijn liefdesvuur was niet gedoofd.
Als we samen bruiloft vieren
Cimeroni, Cimeroni
Zal de liefde zegevieren
Cimeroni, Cimeroni.
In het dal kwam snel de grote dag
Toen hij haar naar 't kerkje bracht
En haar droom, een witte bruidsjapon
Werd waarheid in de lentezon.
Nu we samen bruiloft vieren
Cimeroni, Cimeroni
Zal de liefde zegevieren
Cimeroni, Cimeroni.
The song "Cimeroni" by Anneke Grönloh tells a story of a girl who waits for a man that she cannot forget. The first verse describes a white house in the valley where the girl waits endlessly for her man. The chorus speaks of a celebration of love where the couple will finally be together. In the second verse, a young man arrives and promises his loyalty to the girl. Though he leaves, his love never fades. Finally, the third and final verse speaks of their wedding day where they finally come together in the church with the girl in her beautiful white bridal gown.
The lyrics of "Cimeroni" are poignant and emotional as it illustrates a story that is relatable to many. The song speaks of waiting and the power of love that can withstand time and distance. The chorus is a moment of celebration where the characters in the song, together with the listeners, can rejoice in the premise that love will ultimately conquer all. The song speaks of romantic love, something that is universal and timeless, which is why it continues to be a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
In het dal, daar staat het witte huis
There's a white house in the valley.
Dat witte huis, al honderd jaar
That house has been white for a century.
En daar wacht een meisje op een man
A girl waits there for a man.
Die zij maar niet vergeten kan.
A man she can't forget.
Als we samen bruiloft vieren
When we celebrate the wedding together,
Cimeroni, Cimeroni
We'll chant 'Cimeroni, Cimeroni.'
Zal de liefde zegevieren
Love will triumph.
Cimeroni, Cimeroni.
'Cimeroni, Cimeroni.'
Op een dag kwam daar een jongeman
One day, a young man arrived.
Een jongeman die zocht naar haar
He was searching for her.
Toen hij ging had hij haar trouw beloofd
Before he left, he promised to be faithful.
Zijn liefdesvuur was niet gedoofd.
His love still burned brightly.
In het dal kwam snel de grote dag
The big day quickly arrived in the valley.
Toen hij haar naar 't kerkje bracht
He escorted her to the church.
En haar droom, een witte bruidsjapon
Her dream of a white wedding dress
Werd waarheid in de lentezon.
Came true in the spring sun.
Nu we samen bruiloft vieren
Now that we're celebrating the wedding together,
Cimeroni, Cimeroni
We're chanting 'Cimeroni, Cimeroni.'
Zal de liefde zegevieren
Love will triumph.
Cimeroni, Cimeroni.
'Cimeroni, Cimeroni.'
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gemmastone285
dit is "timeless"...ik woond in nederland in de jaren 80 (ik ben origineel uit engeland) en ik luisteren nog steeds naar alle mijn oude hollandse talig leidtjes...daar is 'n heel kliene deel van mij dat zullen altijd hollands zijn
@jandiepstraten4110
zo lekker om te luisteren , nostalgie van thuis , alle stoelen aan de kant en dan lekker dansen op de tenene van mijn vader
@amalikahamidma7735
Anneke Gronlon unique and very talented singer she is my favorite romantic old song thanks so much for thes wonderful song..
@uwerueter3650
Schöne Erinnerung an eine schöne Zeit in Holland👍❤️😄
@renemeursvan6124
Sfeermuziek met veel melancholie .rip Anneke
@froggylegspeople
Rene Meurs van Ach toch .... 😕
@dleijstra6718
O o
@morjos1
Prachtig lied....componeer zoiets maar eens !!! Chapeau !!!!!!
@basukiyubadyo9596
The song reminiscent of the time I was child.... childhood.. n..nice..full..
@ElisabethKlaassen
R.I.P.