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.

My Kind
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ek vertel vir jou 'n storie
Waar jy stil en droomloos dryf
In die knus en warm kamer
Van jou ma se ronde lyf

En dan, as jy gebore word
Plaas ek my vinger in jou vuis
Hoor hoe jy saggies asemhaal

En ek weet jy's eindelik tuis

Jy is been van my gebeente
Jou vlees is van my vlees
En as jy ooit sou weggaan
Word ek weer oombliklik wees
Maar nou is jy hier by my
Jy maak my wêreld heel
En ek weet daar is 'n hemel
Bereid om jou te deel
Al is dit net 'n interim
Al is die tyd hoe kort
Vir nou kan ek met jou saamloop
Sien wie jy werklik word

Jy's perfek gemaak en afgerond
gereed vir jou verblyf
Met jou tien volmaakte vingers
en tone aan jou lyf

Jou hande lyk op myne
En jou oë word ook so grys
Soos my oë as ek bang word
Maar te trots om iets te wys

Jy is been van my gebeente
Jou vlees is van my vlees
En as jy ooit sou weggaan
Word ek weer oombliklik wees
Maar nou is jy hier by my
Jy maak my wêreld heel
En ek weet daar is 'n hemel
Bereid om jou te deel
Al is dit net 'n interim
Al is die tyd hoe kort

Vir nou kan ek met jou saamloop
Sien wie jy werklik word

Overall Meaning

Coenie De Villiers's song My Kind is a touching and sentimental story-telling song about the experience of becoming a parent. The lyrics describe the feeling of watching a child grow up and become their own individual, and the emotional connection between a mother and child. The song starts with imagining the moment of birth, where the parent places their finger in the newborn's hand and hears their first breaths. The lyrics express the idea that the child is a part of the parent and that they share a deep connection that cannot be broken.

The song then goes on to describe the physical similarities between the child and the parent, from the shape of their hands to the color of their eyes. The lyrics continue to express the idea that the child's presence makes the parent's world whole, and that there is a heavenly place prepared for them. The parent acknowledges that the time they have with their child is short, but they cherish every moment they have together and look forward to seeing who their child will become. The overall tone of the song is one of love, hope, and gratitude for the experience of parenthood.

Line by Line Meaning

Ek vertel vir jou 'n storie
I'm telling you a story

Waar jy stil en droomloos dryf
Where you float silently and dreamlessly

In die knus en warm kamer
In the cozy and warm room

Van jou ma se ronde lyf
Of your mother's round body

En dan, as jy gebore word
And then, when you are born

Plaas ek my vinger in jou fuis
I place my finger in your fist

Hoor hoe jy saggies asemhaal
Hearing how you breathe softly

En ek weet jy's eindelik tuis
And I know you're finally at home

Jy is been van my gebeente
You are bone of my bone

Jou vlees is van my vlees
Your flesh is of my flesh

En as jy ooit sou weggaan
And if you ever leave