Rather than singing in English, as is common practice among Dutch bands, BLØF produces songs in their native Dutch, vastly contributing to the popularization of Nederpop, as the genre has been known in the Netherlands..
Besides having deeply sensitive lyrics, BLØF incorporates sounds from around the world. Their hit song Aanzoek zonder ringen (Proposal without rings) uses Japanese kodo drums in the background, while their album, Umoja, was the result of a journey around the world to capture multi-national sounds.
Critics claim that their formula for success is the way they crafted songs; they try to find the ideal balance between alternative and popular rock, poetic lyrics, and the voice of Paskal Jakobsen. This has brought BLØF the hits, awards, airplay, and (inter-)national recognition that has propelled these four musicians into the most successful Dutch-language group in recent years.
Besides success, BLØF has also had its fair share of tragedy. Drummer Chris Götte, who replaced Henk Tjoonk in 1997, died in a motor crash on March 17th, 2001. When the news got out, the Bløf website was filled with condolences from fans and friends. In June, the band released a memorial album called Oog In Oog (Eye to eye). The revenue for the album was donated to War Child. Norman Bonink (who came from Frank Boeijen Groep) joined the band that same year and continues to be their drummer today.
Ik Denk Dat Ik Ga Lopen
Bløf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Naar het eind van het begin
Binnen in mijn lichaam
Zal de opening er zijn
Nederig en klein
Zijn mijn stappen en mijn moed
Maar het voelt goed om koers te zetten
Naar het eind van het begin
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Tot beginnen niet meer kan
En het zand onder mijn voeten
In de open lucht verdwijnt
Of het wezen is of schijn
Doet er eigenlijk niet toe
Want ik moet gewoon op weg
Naar het eind van het begin
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Naar het eind van het begin
Veel meer zit er niet in
Maar het geeft me wel de tijd
En de zoete zekerheid
Dat de diepte en de afstand
Steeds hetzelfde zullen zijn
Van het eind tot het begin
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Tot beginnen niet meer kan
En ik vind wat ik niet zoek
Ik hoop maar dat ik het herken
En als ik bij het einde ben
Loop ik door langs de rivier
Die zich slingerend een weg baant
Zonder eind aan haar begin
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
The lyrics to "Ik Denk Dat Ik Ga Lopen" by Bløf are both introspective and evocative. The song is marked by its calm and soothing melody, which contrasts with the message conveyed by the lyrics. In the song, the singer expresses the desire to walk towards the end of the beginning. This line alone is already quite poetic, as it suggests the idea that there is an end to something that is just beginning. The singer seems to be searching for something, perhaps a sense of purpose or direction in their life. The idea of walking towards the end of the beginning suggests a sense of finality, as though the singer is at the end of their rope and has no other options left.
The lyrics also contain an interesting use of imagery. The singer refers to their body as having an opening. This is an unusual way of describing the physical self, and it is possible that the opening is a metaphor for what the singer is looking for. The use of sand and the river also add to the song's overall sensory appeal. The sand represents the fleeting nature of time, while the river symbolizes the journey through life. The singer hopes to find what they are looking for by taking this journey, and they seem to be aware that the path ahead will be long and difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik denk dat ik ga lopen
I feel the need to take a journey
Naar het eind van het begin
Towards the end of the beginning of something new
Binnen in mijn lichaam
This journey is a personal one
Zal de opening er zijn
The path to my destination is within me
Nederig en klein
Although my steps may be small, I am willing to take them
Zijn mijn stappen en mijn moed
I am aware of my limitations, but I have courage
Maar het voelt goed om koers te zetten
I am doing what feels right
Tot beginnen niet meer kan
I will continue on this journey until I cannot start anything again
En het zand onder mijn voeten
The physical world beneath my feet disappears as I journey inward
In de open lucht verdwijnt
My thoughts and feelings become the terrain of my journey
Of het wezen is of schijn
Whether it is real or imagined does not matter
Doet er eigenlijk niet toe
What matters is that I am taking action
Want ik moet gewoon op weg
I must keep moving forward
Veel meer zit er niet in
Although the path may lead to nothing, it gives me time to reflect
Maar het geeft me wel de tijd
This journey gives me the opportunity to slow down and ponder
En de zoete zekerheid
The sweetness of this journey is in the certainty of the depth and distance
Dat de diepte en de afstand
The distance and depth will remain constant
Steeds hetzelfde zullen zijn
Even when I reach my destination, the consistency of my journey will endure
En ik vind wat ik niet zoek
I may discover something unexpected on this journey
Ik hoop maar dat ik het herken
I hope to recognize whatever it is I find
En als ik bij het einde ben
When I reach my destination
Loop ik door langs de rivier
I will keep exploring, following the river
Die zich slingerend een weg baant
This river represents the twists and turns of my journey
Zonder eind aan haar begin
The river has no end, just as my journey has no true beginning or end
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.