Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Coenie was educated at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein majoring in media studies where he later on lectured in the Communications faculty. He has always viewed his musical career as his second vocation. He is also a classically trained pianist. Coenie is the anchor presenter in popular South African kykNET journal program "Kwela".
During the late 1980s, Coenie spent a few years in self-imposed exile in Cyprus. Coenie has also performed in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Coenie signed with Mountain Records in 1983, and recorded his debut album, Skoppensboer, working with producer, Patrick Lee-Thorp and engineer, Kevin Shirley, in the same year. He subsequently recorded 4 albums for the label many of which won industry awards. In addition he contributed to label compilations of his work. Since leaving Mountain Records he has recorded a number of one off projects for different labels.
Coenie lived on the island of Cyprus during the eighties and nineties. He wrote, recorded and produced the album Amper Alleen in Cyprus and in Athens, Greece. Amper Alleen was the second SA album to be released on CD. Coenie and his family returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He released Hartland, an album which included a vocal performance by Lesley Rae Dowling.
By Jou
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maak dit alles tog weer sin
By jou is nagte veels te kort
En gemaak om te bemin
By jou dra ek nie maskers nie
Kan ek wees net wie ek is
En stroop ek elke laag af
By jou word elke bloekombos
'n orkes van duisend fluite
wat soet en sag musiek maak
in die suidewind daar buite
By jou sien ek die Noorderlig
In die son wat sawens sak
Word die sommerreën nóg mooier
As dit snags val op my dak
By jou ken ek die antwoord
Op die vrae wat almal vra
Word my las meteens tóg ligter
Word dit maklik om te dra
By jou word elke bloekombos
'n orkes van duisend fluite
wat soet en sag musiek maak
in die suidewind daar buite
The lyrics to Coenie De Villiers's song "By Jou" describe the comfort and safety found in being with a loved one. The singer expresses that when they are with this person, they are no longer afraid and everything makes sense again. The nights feel too short and are meant for love. With this person, they can be themselves without any masks or pretenses and they shed all the layers of societal expectations. They are able to appreciate the beauty in nature and hear sweet music made by the wind blowing through the forests.
The singer sees the Northern Lights in the sunset and the summer rain becomes even more beautiful when it falls on their roof at night. Being with this person makes them feel lighter and able to handle life's challenges. They find answers to the questions that everyone asks and are able to bear their burdens more easily. The bloekombos, or Cape Chestnut trees, symbolize the beauty and joy found in life when shared with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
By jou is ek nie bang nie
I am not scared when I am with you
Maak dit alles tog weer sin
You make everything make sense
By jou is nagte veels te kort
The nights with you feel too short
En gemaak om te bemin
And they are made for love
By jou dra ek nie maskers nie
I don't wear masks when I am with you
Kan ek wees net wie ek is
I can be who I truly am
En stroop ek elke laag af
And I peel off every layer
Van die lewe se vernis
Of life's varnish
By jou word elke bloekombos
With you, every cluster of trees
'n orkes van duisend fluite
Becomes an orchestra of a thousand flutes
wat soet en sag musiek maak
Playing sweet and soft music
in die suidewind daar buite
In the southern wind outside
By jou sien ek die Noorderlig
With you, I can see the Northern Lights
In die son wat sawens sak
In the sun that sets in the evening
Word die sommerreën nóg mooier
The summer rain becomes even more beautiful
As dit snags val op my dak
When it falls on my roof at night
By jou ken ek die antwoord
I know the answer with you
Op die vrae wat almal vra
To the questions everyone is asking
Word my las meteens tóg ligter
My burden suddenly becomes lighter
Word dit maklik om te dra
And it becomes easy to carry
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.