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.
Karnaval
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ons eie mooi vol songs straat
Ons midnight horror bangstraat
Waar messe meet en moffies praat
Waar's die boer man?
Ekke weet nie hy's seker Cape Flats toe ja
Waar's die boer man?
En bo op haar balkon
Sit Babilon in die son en droog haar blond gedyede hare
Haar night lap snare, sy ken ou Langstraat boedelkaal
Want every night is karnaval
Karnaval
Langstraat, Longstreet, Langstraat
Van Kloofstraat tot visgraat
New Orleans en sy sky
Longstreet, brown ladies smile
Waar's die boer man?
Ek sê ekke weet nie hy's seker Cape Flats toe
Waar's die boer man?
A nee ekke weet nie, is seker Cape Flats toe ja
En bo op haar balkon
Sit Babilon in die son en droog haar blond gedyede hare
Haar night lap snare, sy ken ou Langstraat boedelkaal
Want every night is karnaval
Karnaval
Karnaval
The song “Karnaval” by Coenie de Villiers and David Kramer describes Cape Town’s famous Long Street as a place of contradictions, where beauty and danger coexist, where different cultures and classes collide. The lyrics reference the street’s reputation for hosting a raucous and sometimes dangerous nightlife, where knives are brandished and gay men can be found openly socializing. At the same time, the song acknowledges the street’s musical heritage and its role as a gathering place for people from different walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Langstraat, Long Street, Langstraat
We have our own beautiful street full of songs
Ons eie mooi vol songs straat
Our own beautiful street is full of songs
Ons midnight horror bangstraat
Our midnight horror street, where knives are used and derogatory terms are used for gay individuals
Waar messe meet en moffies praat
Where knives are used and derogatory terms are used for gay individuals
Waar's die boer man?
Where is the farmer man?
Ekke weet nie hy's seker Cape Flats toe ja
I don't know, he's probably gone to Cape Flats
Ek sê ekke weet nie, is seker Cape Flats toe
I said I don't know, he's probably gone to Cape Flats
En bo op haar balkon
And on her balcony
Sit Babilon in die son en droog haar blond gedyede hare
Babylon sits in the sun and dries her blonde dyed hair
Haar night lap snare, sy ken ou Langstraat boedelkaal
Her night gown is hanging, she knows Old Long Street well
Want every night is karnaval
Because every night is carnival
Karnaval
Carnival
Van Kloofstraat tot visgraat
From Kloof Street to Fishbone
New Orleans en sy sky
New Orleans and its sky
Longstreet, brown ladies smile
Long Street, brown ladies smile
A nee ekke weet nie, is seker Cape Flats toe ja
Oh no, I don't know, he's probably gone to Cape Flats
Karnaval
Carnival
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: COENIE DE VILLIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind