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.
Oorlog-Oorlog
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dis klein gebruik, ‘n battery, pas maklik in sy tas
Oor die skerm flikker beelde, in die newels was 'n bom
Kyk pa, sê hy en glimlag, so kom die vyand om
Sy duim beheer kontroles
Wat 'n vliegtuig laat versnel
En hy lag soos net ‘n kind kan lag oor die visioen van hel
Maar die spel daar in sy hande word elders ook gespeel
En die letsels wat die oorlog laat nie veel langer om te heel
Ja ek bly op die kantlyn staan, ‘n toeskouer wat weet
In my seun wat speel se helder lag skuil ‘n bang soldaat se kreet
In sy hand hou hy ‘n oorlog vas, my kind van amper tien
Gewikkel in ‘n veldslag wat net hy alleen kan sien
Deurbeur dit moet vorentoe, daar val ‘n leermag aan
My kind oorleef die skadus, daar bly as oorwinnaar staan
Hy's die meester van sy wêreld , hy word god, ‘n general
Wat knap sy tenks manipuleer wat bitter selde val
Maar die spel daar in sy hande word elders ook gespeel
En die letsels wat die oorlog laat nie veel langer om te heel
Ja ek bly op die kantlyn staan, ‘n toeskouer wat weet
In my seun wat speel se helder lag skuil ‘n bang soldaat se kreet
The lyrics of Coenie De Villiers's song Oorlog-Oorlog describe the experience of a father watching his young son play a video game about war. The father watches as his son manipulates the controls of a small battery-operated device, which displays images of war on the screen. As his son plays, the father realizes that the game is a reflection of a real war happening somewhere else. He describes how his son, with his laughter and innocent joy, unknowingly mimics the actions of a real soldier who is fighting for his life.
The father admits that he is a bystander, who can only watch as his child engages in this simulated war. He is aware that the wounds and consequences of this war extend far beyond the confines of his child's game. While his son plays, he becomes the master of his own world, controlling tanks and airplanes, and experiencing the thrill of victory. In the end, the father acknowledges the irony of the situation - that in his child's laughter, there is a hidden cry of a frightened soldier.
Overall, the song highlights the impact of war on individuals, and how even in the virtual world, war is a serious and traumatic experience that should not be trivialized.
Line by Line Meaning
In my kind se hande hou hy, ‘n nuwe speelding vas
My child holds a new toy in his hands
Dis klein gebruik, ‘n battery, pas maklik in sy tas
It's small and runs on a battery, fits easily in his bag
Oor die skerm flikker beelde, in die newels was 'n bom
Images flicker on the screen, news of bombs and war
Kyk pa, sê hy en glimlag, so kom die vyand om
He smiles and says, 'Look, Dad, the enemy is coming'
Sy duim beheer kontroles
He controls it with his thumb
Wat 'n vliegtuig laat versnel
Making the plane speed up
En hy lag soos net ‘n kind kan lag oor die visioen van hel
He laughs like only a child can over the vision of hell
Maar die spel daar in sy hande word elders ook gespeel
But the game in his hands is also being played elsewhere
En die letsels wat die oorlog laat nie veel langer om te heel
And the wounds that war leaves take a long time to heal
Ja ek bly op die kantlyn staan, ‘n toeskouer wat weet
Yes, I remain on the sidelines, a spectator who knows
In my seun wat speel se helder lag skuil ‘n bang soldaat se kreet
In my son's bright laugh hides the cry of a frightened soldier
In sy hand hou hy ‘n oorlog vas, my kind van amper tien
In his hand, my child of almost ten holds onto a war
Gewikkel in ‘n veldslag wat net hy alleen kan sien
Entangled in a battle that only he can see
Deurbeur dit moet vorentoe, daar val ‘n leermag aan
It must move forward, there is an enemy to defeat
My kind oorleef die skadus, daar bly as oorwinnaar staan
My child survives the shadows, emerging as a conqueror
Hy's die meester van sy wêreld , hy word god, ‘n general
He's the master of his world, becoming a god, a general
Wat knap sy tenks manipuleer wat bitter selde val
Skillfully manipulating his tanks, which rarely fall
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind