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.
Net 'n Bietjie Liefde
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
eis die kleinste strompelaar;
en eis hiermee die hoogste
wat 'n sterfling kan ervaar.
(koor)
Vra alles behalwe die hoogste
want liefde gevra is te veel.
is liefde gevra eens te veel.
"Net 'n bietjie liefde!"
is die bakvis se versoek;
maar weet nie dat sy end-uit
na hierdie droom gaan soek.
(koor)
"Net 'n bietjie liefde!"
roep die digter radeloos
want sonder hierdie dryfkrag
is sy versies waardeloos
"Net 'n bietjie liefde?"
sug die huisvrou na haar dag.
(Vermoed dat sy 'n leeftyd
op dié wonder gaan bly wag.)
"Net 'n bietjie liefde?"
huil die ou vrou sy's terminaal;
en weet dat sy daarsonder
die laaste grens moet haal.
Mensekinders, almal,
kleuter, digter, swaar bejaarde,
vra rykdom, roem, gesondheid,
vra blinkgeod uit die aarde,
vra alles wat die gode bied,
die wyn, die vrou, die lied -
vra alles behalwe die hoogste
want liefde gevra is te veel,
vra alles behalwe die liefde
want liefde gevra is te veel.
Coenie De Villiers's song "Net 'n Bietjie Liefde" explores the complexities of love and its importance in daily life. The lyrics highlight the significance of love as the one thing that every human being craves and needs to experience, from the smallest child to the oldest person on their deathbed.
The chorus of the song seems to imply that while love is essential, it is also difficult to find, and for finite human beings, it may be too much to ask. The verses follow various individuals, each with their own struggles and needs for love, making the point that love is a universal need that transcends all ages and stages of life.
The first verse speaks of a small child who demands only a little love, yet even this can provide the greatest experience for them. The second verse depicts a young girl who asks only for a bit of love, unaware that she will continue to search for this dream as she grows up. The third verse describes a poet who is desperate for love, knowing that without it, his verses are meaningless. The fourth verse features a housewife who longs for just a bit of love after a long day, and a terminally ill old woman cries out for just a little love as she prepares to cross the final threshold.
Overall, the song's message is that love is the highest and most critical thing humans can aspire to, above wealth, fame, and health.
Line by Line Meaning
Net 'n bietjie liefde!
Just a little bit of love! - This is the request of the smallest stumbler; and with this, the highest that a mortal can experience.
Vra alles behalwe die hoogste
want liefde gevra is te veel.
Vir eindige mensies soos ons is,
is liefde gevra eens te veel.
Ask for everything except the highest, because love asked for is too much. For finite beings like us, asking for love is asking for too much.
maar weet nie dat sy end-uit
na hierdie droom gaan soek.
But she doesn't know that she'll end up searching for this dream.
"Net 'n bietjie liefde!"
roep die digter radeloos
want sonder hierdie dryfkrag
is sy versies waardeloos
"Just a little bit of love?" - cries the poet helplessly because without this driving force, his verses are worthless.
"Net 'n bietjie liefde?"
sug die huisvrou na haar dag.
(Vermoed dat sy 'n leeftyd
op dié wonder gaan bly wag.)
"Just a little bit of love?" - sighs the housewife after her day. (Suspecting that she'll continue waiting a lifetime for this miracle.)
"Net 'n bietjie liefde?"
huil die ou vrou sy's terminaal;
en weet dat sy daarsonder
die laaste grens moet haal.
"Just a little bit of love?" - cries the old woman who is terminally ill; and knows that without it, she must reach the final limit.
Mensekinders, almal,
kleuter, digter, swaar bejaarde,
vra rykdom, roem, gesondheid,
vra blinkgeod uit die aarde,
vra alles wat die gode bied,
die wyn, die vrou, die lied -
Human beings, all of them, toddler, poet, heavy elderly, ask for wealth, fame, health, demand precious goods from the earth, ask for everything that the gods offer, wine, women, song -
vra alles behalwe die hoogste
want liefde gevra is te veel,
vra alles behalwe die liefde
want liefde gevra is te veel.
ask for everything except the highest because love asked for is too much, ask for everything except love because love asked for is too much.
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.