In the early Seventies, the band switched to hard rock and had its first successes, including a brace of Top 40 hits. After original singer Veerman left and drummer Keizer took his place behind the microphone, the band made a musical U-turn and opted for commercial radio pop, adding female co-vocalist Annie Schilder and laying the foundation for their status as the most popular Dutch band ever (in terms of hit singles and albums). BZN has had over 50 hits in the Dutch hit parade to date.
BZN's claim to fame started with the song "Mon Amour" (1976), which held the #1 hit parade ranking for over 5 weeks. Outside of the Netherlands the band has had some success as well, amongst which several hits in South Africa (such as "Yeppa" in 1990) and minor successes with their French-language songs in Canada.
Through the years there have been many lineup changes, the most important of which have been the departure of Schilder in 1984 (replaced by Carola Smit) and in 1988 of the brothers Cees and Thomas Tol (keyboards), who until then had been responsible for most of the music and lyrics. The band remained nevertheless successful, making their last major change in strategy when they decided to write in Dutch instead of English as of 2003.
BZN are also responsible for the initial success of singer Jan Smit (singer), who was discovered by BZN at the age of 10 and went on to have pop and schlager successes in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
On February 15 2006, BZN announced they would do one final tour and then call it quits. This goodbye tour is scheduled to last until June 2007.
Banjo Man
BZN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A star, a hero from Ohio to Japan
I dreamed of golden rooms
Champagne and caviar
My own Rolls Royce
Oh, it's wonderful being a star
But now I tramp the roads throughout the land
In honky-tonks and bars
I play this melody, oh it's so easy
So come on, sing this after me
Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan
I'm the banjo man, I'm the banjo man
Playing when I can
Dee dee dee dee dum, you hear the drum
Of the banjo man
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
I need to play my banjo to survive
To earn a living every day, to stay alive
In honky-tonks and bars
I play this melody, oh it's so easy
So come on, sing this after me
Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan
I'm the banjo man, I'm the banjo man
Playing when I can
Dee dee dee dee dum, you hear the drum
Of the banjo man
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
And let me thank the ones who pay
To those who like the way I play
And let me thank the ones who pay
To those who like the way I play
Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan
I'm the banjo man, I'm the banjo man
Playing when I can
Dee dee dee dee dum, you hear the drum
Of the banjo man
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
Oh, the banjo man is back
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan
I'm the banjo man, I'm the banjo man
Playing when I can
Dee dee dee dee dum, you hear the drum
Of the banjo man
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
Oh, the banjo man is back
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
The lyrics to BZN's song Banjo Man tell the story of a musician who had dreams of becoming a famous guitarist and living a life of luxury, but instead finds himself wandering the country as a hobo with only a banjo in his hand. The song’s protagonist performs in honky-tonks and bars to make a living, playing a simple melody that the audience can easily sing along to. The chorus features the catchy refrain, “Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan, I’m the banjo man, I’m the banjo man, playing when I can.”
There is a sense of bittersweet acceptance in the lyrics, as the singer acknowledges that his desires for fame and fortune were lofty goals, and that having the ability to perform for others and make a living doing what he loves is something to be grateful for. The final lines of the song express the banjo man’s appreciation for his audience, thanking those who enjoy his music and contribute to his livelihood.
Overall, the song Banjo Man is a tribute to the joy of music and the resilience of those who pursue it, despite the difficulties and challenges that may arise.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to be a famous guitar man
I attempted to become a well-known musician who played the guitar.
A star, a hero from Ohio to Japan
I aspired to be internationally famous as a heroic and admired individual.
I dreamed of golden rooms
I envisioned luxury and wealth by desiring luxurious rooms with golden decor.
Champagne and caviar
I desired the finest, expensive delicacies such as champagne and caviar.
My own Rolls Royce
I dreamed of owning a Rolls Royce, a symbol of wealth and prestige.
Oh, it's wonderful being a star
Being famous seemed amazing and delightful.
But now I tramp the roads throughout the land
Now I wander aimlessly across the country on foot.
A needy hobo with a banjo in my hand
I am a poor, homeless person with nothing but a banjo to my name.
In honky-tonks and bars
I perform in small, sleazy establishments like honky-tonks and bars.
I play this melody, oh it's so easy
I perform an effortless melody to entertain the crowd.
So come on, sing this after me
I urge the audience to join me in singing the simple melody.
Wee, oh wee, oh when my name is Dan
The catchy, repetitive melody involves the words 'Wee, oh wee, oh,' referencing the performer's name, Dan.
I'm the banjo man, I'm the banjo man
The performer identifies himself as the 'banjo man,' the person who plays the banjo for the crowd's entertainment.
Playing when I can
The performer plays and performs whenever he has the opportunity.
Dee dee dee dee dum, you hear the drum
The melody involves a simple 'dee-dee-dee-dee-dum' rhythm, sung to demonstrate the sound of the melody's beat.
Of the banjo man
The melody is the 'beat' of the performer's banjo playing.
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
The performer has returned to this specific town to perform again.
I need to play my banjo to survive
Playing the banjo is necessary for the performer's survival and ability to earn money.
To earn a living every day, to stay alive
In order to survive, the performer must make a living every day.
And let me thank the ones who pay
The performer expresses his gratitude to those who pay him for his performances.
To those who like the way I play
The performer is thankful to those who enjoy and appreciate his style of playing.
Oh, the banjo man is back
The performer has returned to perform once more.
Oh, the banjo man is back in town again
The performer has returned to this specific town again to perform.
Contributed by Declan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ionicaporumbel8630
voci unice, acompaniament pe măsură
@bogusawbednarowski1381
Wspaniały zespół muzyka super i wielka SZKODA ŻE JUŻ NIE GRAJĄ.
@foxa
Dankjewel Henk!! Mooi liedje
@detlefheubach5843
❤👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️
@dannyvanstrien3249
De Volendamse Artiesten Anny Schilder en Jack Veerman BZN zijn nog bij mij in de Muziek show geweest Nederlandstalige muziek met Danny van Strien
Vriendelijke groeten Danny van Strien Ex Radio en Tv Presentator
Het Gedicht Ode aan Anny Schilder voormalige Zangeres van BZN uit Volendam stond ooit in Weekblad Story van Dichter Danny van Strien
@hartmutdenayer4895
Stimmung zum Syivester 2012
@BigDowdy
Is that the Nick James Oneill theme tune?
@pa3dff
Dan-Banjo Man-Where ever I Can... Je moet er maar opkomen...
@85skrewdriver
wie kan mij helpen ?? dit nummer is ook in nederlandse versie en die gaat zo bikky bikky bouw wat moet ik nou ben zo gek op jou jij mooie vrouw maar wie zingt dat of wat is de titel er van hoop dat jullie me kunnen helpen
@aaww8611
Heb je hem inmiddels gevonden?