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.
Hier By My
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
en gerugte van oorloë;
skrapnel - so word vertel -
lê die wêreld vol,
die swendelaars word kwytgeskeld
en haat en nyd met haat vergeld
en die wêreld tel sy munte een vir een
Maar hier by my, my lief
is daar skuiling teen die wind
word 'n grootmens weer 'n kind
word die wysheid weer onskuldig;
want hier by my, my lief
word die winter weer 'n somer
word die mens desnoods 'n dromer
wat die landskap van die hart oplaas verken
Daar is veldslae
sonder oorsaak, sonder rede
en 'n wêreld wat verslae deur die lang nag waak;
maar die môre bring weer nuwe leed
want die vrede is reeds lank vergeet
ja, die wêreld tel sy munte een vir een
(koor)
Want stryd het die beleid geword;
het die credo van ons tyd geword;
"wees gewapen, wees gepantser, wees paraat..."
(koor)
The lyrics to Coenie De Villiers's song Hier By My present a bleak portrayal of the world, where wars and rumors of wars abound, and the earth is littered with shrapnel. The deceitful are punished and hatred is repaid with more hatred, as the world counts its coins one by one. Against this backdrop, the singer finds solace in the love of his partner, where they retreat from the world's chaos and find shelter from the wind. Here, the singer recaptures a childlike innocence and rediscover wisdom, and the dreary winter is transformed into summer, where they can explore the landscape of the heart without fear.
The second stanza opens with another bleak image of the world, where battles rage without cause or reason, and the world is held captive by the long night. Although the morning brings a new dawn, it also brings new suffering, as peace is long-forgotten. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the dichotomy between the conflict and chaos of the outside world and the safety and healing found in the embrace of the singer's beloved. The final lines of the bridge present a commentary on the state of the world, where the pervasive message of the day is to arm oneself and be ready for combat, mirroring the destructive and violent nature of modern-day society.
Line by Line Meaning
Daar is oorloë
There are wars
en gerugte van oorloë;
and rumors of wars;
skrapnel - so word vertel -
shrapnel - as it is told -
lê die wêreld vol,
fills the world
die swendelaars word kwytgeskeld
the fraudsters are exposed
en haat en nyd met haat vergeld
and hate and envy are repaid with hate
en die wêreld tel sy munte een vir een
and the world counts its coins one by one
Maar hier by my, my lief
But here with me, my love
is daar skuiling teen die wind
there is shelter from the wind
word 'n grootmens weer 'n kind
a grown-up becomes a child again
word die wysheid weer onskuldig;
wisdom becomes innocent again;
want hier by my, my lief
because here with me, my love
word die winter weer 'n somer
winter becomes summer again
word die mens desnoods 'n dromer
the person can become a dreamer if needed
wat die landskap van die hart oplaas verken
who explores the landscape of the heart
Daar is veldslae
There are battles
sonder oorsaak, sonder rede
without cause, without reason
en 'n wêreld wat verslae deur die lang nag waak;
and a world that sleeps through the long night;
maar die môre bring weer nuwe leed
but morning brings new suffering
want die vrede is reeds lank vergeet
because peace has long been forgotten
ja, die wêreld tel sy munte een vir een
yes, the world counts its coins one by one
Want stryd het die beleid geword;
Because struggle has become the policy;
het die credo van ons tyd geword;
has become the creed of our time;
"wees gewapen, wees gepantser, wees paraat..."
"be armed, be armored, be prepared..."
(koor)
(chorus)
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.