Coenie de Villiers (Coenraad Grabe de Villiers), born 11 October 1956, is a… Read Full Bio ↴Coenie de Villiers (Coenraad Grabe de Villiers), born 11 October 1956, is a South African singer/songwriter, pianist, pop artist who sings in his mother tongue, Afrikaans. If any comparison was required, Coenie's music is best compared to the pop/rock of Herbert Groenemeyer (German language) or Billy Joel (USA English language).

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 Lied Van Hout
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

‘n Den groei soet en saggies
Sy lied is jonk en vars
Hy groei vinnig-vinnig son toe
En jy hóór sy gom en hars

Kiaat is heelwat sterker
Sy grein is fyn en dig
Ja, hy dwing die vakman boontoe

‘n Fyn hand word verplig

Hout het mos sy eie lied
Hy sing as jy hom skaaf
Ja, hy sing as jy hom skaaf

En saag jy teen die grein in
Word hout oneindig braaf
Word hout oneindig braaf

Hy verset hom teen die lem
Wat teen sy grein in beur
Wat die ritme van sy kwaste
Vir ewig kom verbeur

Wat die vlam van sy ontwerp
Vir altyd kom versteur
Ja, wat die skrynwerker se groot ontwerp
Vir altyd kom versteur

Oliewenhout het vlamme
Wat om die kwaste strek
Sy lied is lig en donker
Voor hy ‘n meubelstuk voltrek

Geelhout, ja, wat kan ek sê
Dit rus in duisend vloere
Wat strek deur huise en deur wonings
Óm die mure se kontoere

Hout het mos sy eie lied
Hy sing as jy hom skaaf
Ja, hy sing as jy hom skaaf

En saag jy teen die grein in
Word hout oneindig braaf
Word hout oneindig braaf

Hy verset hom teen die lem
Wat teen sy grein in beur
Wat die ritme van sy kwaste
Vir ewig kom verbeur

Wat die vlam van sy ontwerp
Vir altyd kom versteur

Ja, wat die skrynwerker se groot ontwerp
Vir altyd kom versteur

Overall Meaning

The song "Lied Van Hout" by Coenie De Villiers is a tribute to the beauty and uniqueness of wood, and the different qualities and characteristics that various types of wood possess. The first stanza describes how a tree grows sweetly and gently, and how you can hear the sound of its sap and resin. The next stanza highlights that Kiaat is stronger than other woods, has fine grain and it requires a skilled craftsman to work with. The third stanza talks about how each type of wood has its own song, and it sings when it is being planed or sawed. Wood is obedient when sawed with the grain, but can become unruly when sawed against it, ruining the design of the carpenter. The final stanza explores how each type of wood has unique properties - Oliewenhout (olive wood) has flames that stretch around knots, and Yellowwood is used for floors that stretch through houses and dwellings. The song concludes by repeating the refrain that wood has its own song, and becomes infinite when sawed against the grain.

Line by Line Meaning

‘n Den groei soet en saggies
A tree grows slowly and softly

Sy lied is jonk en vars
Its song is young and fresh

Hy groei vinnig-vinnig son toe
It grows quickly towards the sun

En jy hóór sy gom en hars
And you can hear its sap and resin

Kiaat is heelwat sterker
Kiaat is much stronger

Sy grein is fyn en dig
Its grain is fine and dense

Ja, hy dwing die vakman boontoe
Yes, it challenges the craftsman

‘n Fyn hand word verplig
To use a delicate hand

Hout het mos sy eie lied
Wood has its own song

Hy sing as jy hom skaaf
It sings when you plane it

En saag jy teen die grein in
And if you saw against the grain