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.

Na Soveel Jaar
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Na soveel jaar is dit verby
Die somerson is lank nie meer
Die warm troos wat dit eens was
Toe ons nog jonk was nie en tog

Na soveel jaar is jy nog mooi
Al is daar plooitjies om jou oë
En het die tyd sy fynste spore op jou lyf kom laat, my lief

Die tyd stap aan
Die pas vir ons verstil
Maar steeds maak ons vir mekaar
‘n Lewensgroot verskil

Na soveel jaar van goed en kwaad
Bly net die goeie vir my oor
En al die seer is lank vergete
Want ek bly steeds lief vir jou
Na soveel jaar, na soveel jaar

Na soveel jaar is dit net ons
Wat na die oorloë en die stryd
Nog by mekaar kan staan, en sonder klein verwyt of nyd kan sê
Ek het jou lief, ek het jou lief

Kom ons doen alles weer

Sou jy my toelaat om dit weer te doen
Na soveel jaar

Overall Meaning

Coenie De Villiers's song "Na Soveel Jaar" speaks about the passage of time in a relationship, and how, after many years, the good memories are what remain. The first verse describes how the summer, which used to bring warmth and comfort in their youth, has now lost its magic. However, the second verse focuses on the beauty that still remains in his partner, despite the wrinkles around her eyes and the signs of age on her body. Time passes, the tempo slows down, but the couple still makes a huge difference in each other's lives. After all the good and bad times they've faced together, only the good memories remain, and all the pain has long been forgotten because they still love each other after so many years.

The chorus of the song is where the singer expresses his love for his partner and how, after all these years, they are the only ones that have managed to stand together despite the wars and fights they've endured. There is no negativity between them, and they can say to each other that they love each other without any resentment. The bridge of the song speaks of how they could do everything again, but only if his partner would allow it.

Overall, this song is an ode to the longevity of love, how it can survive the passage of time, with all its positive and negative aspects.

Line by Line Meaning

Na soveel jaar is dit verby
After so many years, it's all over now.

Die somerson is lank nie meer
The summer season has been gone for a long time.

Die warm troos wat dit eens was
The warm comfort that it once provided.

Toe ons nog jonk was nie en tog
When we were still young, yet.

Na soveel jaar is jy nog mooi
After so many years, you are still beautiful.

Al is daar plooitjies om jou oë
Even though there are wrinkles around your eyes.

En het die tyd sy fynste spore op jou lyf kom laat, my lief
And time has left its finest marks on your body, my love.

Die tyd stap aan
Time moves on.

Die pas vir ons verstil
The pace slows down for us.

Maar steeds maak ons vir mekaar
But we still make for each other.