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.
Die Jagtog
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hy was 'n man van staal
Daar was krag in elke spier, hy kon die rigting van 'n dier, soos 'n Nimrod op die wind bepaal
Soos die jagter van ouds
Het hy die spoor gesny
En sekuur deur die veld soos 'n ariese held, het my pa op die spoor gebly
'n Boer uit een stuk
Was die wil van bo, so het Pa geglo, dit was meer as net blote geluk
Moenie vrees nie my seun (Moenie vrees nie my seun)
Jy kom jou vel te na (Jy kom jou vel te na)
Jy is boer in murg en been
Wat meer kan jy vra
Ons het een dag gaan jag
Net ek en my pa
Met die geweer teen sy skouer was hy wyser, was hy ouer, hy was meer as wat 'n seun kon vra
So skuins na drie
Het hy 'n blesbok gekwes
Ons het die bloedspoor gesny langs die heuwels verby en later het ons noord, noord-wes ons
Gewonde prooi gevolg
Tot diep in die bos
Waar die laatmiddagson soos net die laeveld kon, skadu's tussen bome los
Moenie vrees nie my seun (Moenie vrees nie my seun)
Jy kom jou vel te na (Jy kom jou vel te na)
Jy is boer in murg en been
Wat meer kan jy vra
Maar skielik was ek bang
Want in my hart het ek geweet
Ons het rigting verloor, ons was af van die spoor
Pa het die pad huis toe vergeet
Ja, skielik was ek bang
Al was dit moeilik om te glo
Dat my pa kon verdwaal, dat my pa ook kon faal, maar miskien voel baie kinders tog so
Moenie vrees nie my seun (Moenie vrees nie my seun)
Jy kom jou vel te na (Jy kom jou vel te na)
Jy is boer in murg en been
Wat meer kan jy vra
Wat meer kan jy vra
In Coenie De Villiers's song "Die Jagtog," the singer reminisces about a hunting trip with his father. The song paints a picture of the singer's father as a skilled and strong hunter, with the ability to track and follow prey through the wilderness. The lyrics also touch on themes of Afrikaner pride and the importance of being a true boer.
The first verse sets the scene with a description of the singer's father as a powerful hunter, capable of tracking animals like the biblical figure Nimrod. The second verse emphasizes the importance of being an Afrikaner and a true boer, a sentiment that was common among white South Africans during the Apartheid era. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Moenie vrees nie my seun" ("Don't be afraid, my son"), captures the paternal relationship between the singer and his father, as well as the father's encouragement for his son to embrace his heritage.
The third verse takes a dramatic turn as the singer becomes afraid that he and his father have lost their way in the wilderness. The inclusion of this moment of vulnerability humanizes both the singer and his father, reminding listeners that even the strongest hunters can experience fear and doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
My pa was 'n jagter
My father was a hunter
Hy was 'n man van staal
He was a man of steel
Daar was krag in elke spier, hy kon die rigting van 'n dier, soos 'n Nimrod op die wind bepaal
There was strength in every muscle; he could determine the direction of an animal, like a Nimrod on the wind
Soos die jagter van ouds
Like the hunters of old
Het hy die spoor gesny
He cut the trail
En sekuur deur die veld soos 'n ariese held, het my pa op die spoor gebly
And, steady through the field like an Aries hero, my father remained on the trail
Om Afrikaner te wees
To be an Afrikaner
'n Boer uit een stuk
A farmer of the highest caliber
Was die wil van bo, so het Pa geglo, dit was meer as net blote geluk
It was the desire of heaven, so my dad believed, it was more than just mere luck
Moenie vrees nie my seun (Moenie vrees nie my seun)
Do not fear, my son (Do not fear, my son)
Jy kom jou vel te na (Jy kom jou vel te na)
You risk your skin (You risk your skin)
Jy is boer in murg en been
You are a farmer through and through
Wat meer kan jy vra
What more could you ask for
Ons het een dag gaan jag
We went hunting for one day
Net ek en my pa
Just me and my father
Met die geweer teen sy skouer was hy wyser, was hy ouer, hy was meer as wat 'n seun kon vra
With the gun against his shoulder, he was wiser, older, he was more than a boy could ask for
So skuins na drie
So slantingly after three
Het hy 'n blesbok gekwes
He wounded a blesbok
Ons het die bloedspoor gesny langs die heuwels verby en later het ons noord, noord-wes ons
We followed the blood trail past the hills and later we went north, northwest
Gewonde prooi gevolg
Followed the wounded prey
Tot diep in die bos
Deep into the forest
Waar die laatmiddagson soos net die laeveld kon, skadu's tussen bome los
Where the late afternoon sun cast shadows between the trees, as only the lowlands could
Maar skielik was ek bang
But suddenly I was afraid
Want in my hart het ek geweet
Because in my heart I knew
Ons het rigting verloor, ons was af van die spoor
We had lost direction, we were off the trail
Pa het die pad huis toe vergeet
Dad forgot the way home
Ja, skielik was ek bang
Yes, suddenly I was afraid
Al was dit moeilik om te glo
Although it was hard to believe
Dat my pa kon verdwaal, dat my pa ook kon faal, maar miskien voel baie kinders tog so
That my dad could get lost, that he could fail, but perhaps many children feel that way
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind