Bob Benny (born Emilius Wagemans, 18 May 1926, Sint-Niklaas) is a Belgian s… Read Full Bio ↴Bob Benny (born Emilius Wagemans, 18 May 1926, Sint-Niklaas) is a Belgian singer and musical theatre performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1959 and 1961.

Benny began his singing career at the end of World War II when he started performing regularly at a café in Sint-Niklaas. By the early 1950s, he had regular spots on radio, and released his first album, Mijn haart spreekt tot u (My Heart Speaks to You). In 1957, he had his first hit single with "Cindy, Oh Cindy", which reached #2 on the Belgian chart.

In 1959, Benny was chosen, with the song "Hou toch van mij" ("Do Love Me"), as the Belgian representative in the fourth Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. "Hou toch van mij" received votes from five of the other 10 participating countries and finished in sixth place.

In 1961, Benny was again selected to represent Belgium, with the song "September, gouden roos" ("September, Golden Rose"), in the sixth Eurovision, which again was held in Cannes, on 18 March. Although the contest had now expanded to 16 participants, "September, gouden roos" only managed to pick up one point from Luxembourg, consigning Benny to a joint last-place finish with Austria's Jimmy Makulis.

Benny had two further hit singles in 1963, "Waar en wanneer" (#3) and "Alleen door jou" (#5). He became a musical theatre performer and played in many long-running shows in Belgium and Germany.

In 2001, Benny suffered a stroke and fell into financial difficulties. A benefit concert on his behalf took place in Antwerp in April 2003, featuring the music of Richard Rodgers performed by well-known Flemish artists. In 2006, Benny celebrated his 80th birthday and claimed he was back to full health.

September gouden roos
Bob Benny Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Een gouden roos, september,
een laatste zonnezoen,
een merel fluit vol heimwee,
't refrein van een seizoen.
Nog zal de zomer zingen,
een diep ontroerend lied,
dat zachtjes zal versterven,
ons blijft alleen verdriet.

De dagen vertragen en schuiven toe,
de zomer wordt moe, o zo moe ...
Nu moeten wij gaan scheiden.
Ons hart wordt stil en broos,
wanneer wij weer zien bloeien :
september, gouden roos.

Zodra in 't bos de eerste blaren vallen,
en rode wingerd fluistert aan mijn raam,
als avondnevels in de dalen hangen,
dan weet ik dat de zomer is gedaan.
Maar voor hij gaat zal hij nog even dralen,
alsof hij 't afscheid wil betalen met ...

Een gouden roos, september,
een laatste zonnezoen,
een merel fluit vol heimwee,
't refrein van een seizoen.
Nog zal de zomer zingen,
een diep ontroerend lied,
dat zachtjes zal versterven,
ons blijft alleen verdriet.
De dagen vertragen en schuiven toe,
de zomer wordt moe, o zo moe ...
Nu moeten wij gaan scheiden.
Ons hart wordt stil en broos,

wanneer wij weer zien bloeien :
september, gouden roos.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Benny's song September Gouden Roos are filled with imagery and emotion, painting a picture of the end of summer and the sadness that comes with it. The lines "Een gouden roos, september, een laatste zonnezoen" describe the beauty of the season and the final warm rays of the sun before it fades away. The melody of a nostalgic bird song echoes the feelings of longing and wistfulness that come with the end of summer. The repetition of the line "de dagen vertragen en schuiven toe" emphasizes the slowing down and gradual end of the season.

As the season changes, the singer is acutely aware of the signs - the first falling leaves in the forest, the whispers of the red vine outside their window, and the evening mist in the valleys. The summer lingers for one last goodbye, captured in the image of a golden rose. But ultimately, it is the deep sadness that remains as the season fades away, leaving only memories of the warmth and beauty that has now passed.

Overall, September Gouden Roos is a touching and introspective exploration of the bittersweetness of the end of summer, captured in both word and melody.

Line by Line Meaning

Een gouden roos, september,
A golden rose, September

een laatste zonnezoen,
One final kiss from the sun,

een merel fluit vol heimwee,
A blackbird sings with nostalgia,

't refrein van een seizoen.
The refrain of a season.

Nog zal de zomer zingen,
The summer will still sing,

een diep ontroerend lied,
A deeply moving song,

dat zachtjes zal versterven,
That will softly fade away,

ons blijft alleen verdriet.
Leaving us only with sorrow.

De dagen vertragen en schuiven toe,
The days slow down and draw to a close,

de zomer wordt moe, o zo moe ...
The summer grows tired, oh so tired...

Nu moeten wij gaan scheiden.
Now we must say goodbye.