Comprising vocalist Carol Van Dyk (vocals), Peter Visser (guitar), Herman Bunskoeke (bass) and Berend Dubbe (drums) they originally formed in 1986 as a side-project of De Artsen. After De Artsen split up in 1990, Bettie Serveert became a full-time project. Bettie Serveert released their debut album Palomine in 1992, which, fifteen years after its release, is still a modern indie rock classic, wonderfully blending together influences of Velvet Underground and Neil Young with melancholic lyrics, catchy tunes and a lo-fi-feel.
After releasing the full-length albums Lamprey (1995), Dust Bunnies (1997) and the Velvet Underground cover album Venus In Furs (1998), drummer Berend Dubbe decided to leave because of musical disagreements. He started his own samplepop-project: Bauer, receiving critical acclaim in Holland and Belgium. Various drummers took the place of Dubbe on the albums that followed (Private Suit, Log 22, Attagirl and Bare Stripped Naked). During most gigs, Gino Geudens of Belgian nineties power pop band Metal Molly, plays the drums.
For the 30th anniversary of Palomine, which is generally considered their best album, there was a re-release on Matador and a tour in 2023.
Not Coming Down
Bettie Serveert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your half attempts were so persistent from the start.
Making believe.
Making the same trail over & over.
Making believe.
I caught you when your spring collapsed inside your mind.
Fully accept the burden's easy & joke light.
Easy to drown. easy to mankind.
When i think you're with me.
In the sense of the word, you're everything more.
Maybe you're caught up in 'rested assured'.
Won't you believe you're all i see.
Ah, never mind, comma, dash, 2, 3.
I blow my mind on top of you.
I show you what i want, too.
Everything eases in mind with you.
Everything meets with everything.
Would you believe, you mounted me.
Didn't you know it's useless to repress your dreams?
Catching a train of thoughts & moments.
Never restrain, the road is open.
Wouldn't you wish that you somehow could be roaming around?
I'm sorry, i'm not coming down.
The lyrics of "Not Coming Down" by Bettie Serveert are about loving someone who is going through a difficult time and is trying to overcome their struggles. The singer of the song is supporting their loved one by being there for them and accepting their burdens, but also wishing that they could see themselves the way the singer sees them. The lyrics suggest that the person the singer loves may be feeling stuck and unable to move forward, but the singer urges them to let go and let their dreams take them where they want to go.
The first verse of the song describes the singer as being on the side of their loved one, supporting them through their struggles. The lyrics suggest that the person the singer loves has been making half-hearted attempts to overcome their challenges, but that the singer still believes in them. The second verse of the song reflects on the ease with which people can become overwhelmed and conform to societal standards, but the singer wants their loved one to break free from these restrictions and pursue their dreams.
The chorus of the song is a plea from the singer to their loved one to believe in themselves and trust that they are capable of achieving anything they set their mind to. The singer seems to be frustrated that their loved one cannot see how amazing they are, and that they are everything the singer wants and needs.
Overall, "Not Coming Down" is a song about love and support in the face of adversity. The singer is there for their loved one through thick and thin, helping them to see their strengths and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm down on your side with your everlasting heart.
I'm on your side, supporting your strong-willed and enduring spirit.
Your half attempts were so persistent from the start.
Your uncertain efforts were continuously unwavering right from the beginning.
Making believe.
Pretending.
Making the same trail over & over.
Repeating the same mistakes again and again.
Making believe.
Hoaxing.
I caught you when your spring collapsed inside your mind.
I was there when you lost your energy and motivation to carry on.
Fully accept the burden's easy & joke light.
It's effortless and amusing to shoulder the weight of our responsibilities.
Easy to drown. easy to mankind.
It's simple to succumb to hardships and easy to relate to other people's struggles.
Easy to dwell. easy to follow.
It's uncomplicated to dwell on negative thoughts and easy to follow someone else's lead.
When i think you're with me.
When I believe that you're united with me in my endeavors.
In the sense of the word, you're everything more.
You engender an inexplicable feeling of completeness in me.
Maybe you're caught up in 'rested assured'.
Perhaps you're engrossed in being secure and confident about your choices.
Won't you believe you're all i see.
Can't you trust that you're the only thing I focus on.
Ah, never mind, comma, dash, 2, 3.
Oh, forget it. Don't worry about it.
I blow my mind on top of you.
I am ecstatic and overwhelmed when I'm with you.
I show you what i want, too.
I also express my desires to you.
Everything eases in mind with you.
My mind feels calm and comfortable when you're around.
Everything meets with everything.
Everything integrates with each other.
Would you believe, you mounted me.
Can you believe that you inspired me and gave me the power to overcome my troubles.
Didn't you know it's useless to repress your dreams?
Haven't you realized that suppressing your ambitions is futile?
Catching a train of thoughts & moments.
Experiencing an array of thoughts and moments.
Never restrain, the road is open.
Don't be afraid; the possibilities are endless.
Wouldn't you wish that you somehow could be roaming around?
Wouldn't you desire to travel aimlessly?
I'm sorry, i'm not coming down.
I apologize, but I'm not going to lower my spirits.
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.