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 Museum
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
onder ligte, agter glas
vertoon hul al waat oorbly
van wat eens 'n oerwoud was
Hier staan'n enkel wilger
wat vir oulaas nog kan treur
oor herinnerings aan water
(koor)
Daar was eens miljoene bome
Die planeet was immergroen
of so het iedereen gedink:
kyk wat het die mens gedoen
Hier skuil daar bome agter glas,
kan 'n kind vir oulaas sien
hoe groen die wêreld eerstyds was
in die museum se blikkantien
Daar leun 'n varing vorentoe
om sy spore te verpsrei
hoe kwistig ook sy saad is
die oerwoud is verby
in hierdie tenk is daar nog wel
'n enkel seebamboes
die res is reeds deur diesel
of deur olieslik verwoes
(koor)
En kyk: hier is jou waarlikwaar
'n enkel groen liaan
waar hy eens aan 'n taak kon druip
het die ander reeds vergaan
Hier staan 'n laaste kremetart
selfs hy moes swig voor tyd;
hulle noem dit toe vooruitgang
maar nou noem ons dit spyt
(koor)
The lyrics of Coenie De Villiers’ song “Die Museum” tell the story of a museum where the remnants of what was once a lush and thriving forest are on display under lights behind glass. The current state of the museum is a stark contrast to the state of the planet when it was filled with millions of trees and an evergreen landscape. The only reminders of what it used to look like can now be found behind glass, as children come to marvel at the sights of greenery that they have heard about, only to find that it all belongs to the past. The tree that is featured in the museum is a weeping willow that can only mourn for the memories of the waters against which it once stood firm.
The second verse tells of the challenges of the forest inhabitants, even those who were able to reproduce prolifically are now facing extinction. The tank that once was home to aquatic plants such as sea bamboo now contains very little life, the rest of the area is either contaminated by diesel or oil slicks. The last green tendrils clinging to the vines are a testament to the destruction of the once-lush landscape. Even the mighty Baobab tree has fallen under the weight of time, a victim of the so-called progress that humans have made on the planet. The chorus reinforces the idea that the current state of what was once a green world is a source of deep regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Hier is die museum
This is the museum
onder ligte, agter glas
Under lights, behind glass
vertoon hul al waat oorbly
They display all that remains
van wat eens 'n oerwoud was
Of what once was a jungle
Hier staan'n enkel wilger
Here stands a single willow tree
wat vir oulaas nog kan treur
That can still mourn for the last time
oor herinnerings aan water
Over memories of water
waarteen so 'n boom kon beur
Against which a tree could lean
(koor)
(Chorus)
Daar was eens miljoene bome
There were once millions of trees
Die planeet was immergroen
The planet was always green
of so het iedereen gedink:
Or so everyone thought:
kyk wat het die mens gedoen
Look at what humans have done
Hier skuil daar bome agter glas,
Here trees hide behind glass,
kan 'n kind vir oulaas sien
A child can see for the last time
hoe groen die wêreld eerstyds was
How green the world used to be
in die museum se blikkantien
In the museum's glass cases
Daar leun 'n varing vorentoe
There is a fern leaning forward
om sy spore te verpsrei
To spread its seeds
hoe kwistig ook sy saad is
However abundant its seeds are
die oerwoud is verby
The jungle is gone
in hierdie tenk is daar nog wel
In this tank there are still
'n enkel seebamboes
A few sea bamboos
die res is reeds deur diesel
The rest has already been destroyed by diesel
of deur olieslik verwoes
Or devastated by oil spills
(koor)
(Chorus)
En kyk: hier is jou waarlikwaar
And look: here is truly yours
'n enkel groen liaan
A single green vine
waar hy eens aan 'n taak kon druip
Where it could once drip like a task
het die ander reeds vergaan
The others have already vanished
Hier staan 'n laaste kremetart
Here stands a last baobab tree
selfs hy moes swig voor tyd;
Even it had to yield to time;
hulle noem dit toe vooruitgang
They called it progress then
maar nou noem ons dit spyt
But now we call it regret
(koor)
(Chorus)
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.