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.

Ou Liefde
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Onthou jy toe dit nuut was
Die liefde van weleer?
Hoe min het ons daarvan geweet?
Hoe veel moes ons nog leer?

Gedemper deur seisoene
Word die liefde meer beleef
Kom lê oplaas voor anker

Na die branding van die see

Vra nie vrae nie
Het die raaisel reeds aanvaar
Ou liefde maak die storms stil
Laat die winde selfs bedaar

Ou liefde ken die spore wat die jare dikwels laat
Ou liefde kan vergewe, oorleef die grootste kwaad

Al word die skadus langer
Aan die einde van die dag
Al ken ons reeds ‘n dieper slaap
Wat eendag op ons wag

Deur soveel jare
Kom die liefde met ons saam
Word uiteindelik iets anders
En my liefde dra jou naam

Vra nie vrae nie
Het die raaisel reeds aanvaar
Ou liefde maak die storms stil
Laat die winde selfs bedaar

Ou liefde ken die spore wat die jare dikwels laat
Ou liefde kan vergewe, oorleef die grootste kwaad

Overall Meaning

Coenie De Villiers's "Ou Liefde" is a song that delves into the meaning and power of love. The song is a reflection on how, as time passes, love evolves and becomes stronger. The first verse speaks of how when love is new and exciting, we often fail to fully appreciate it, and how much we actually have yet to learn. As time passes, however, seasons change and our love grows deeper and more meaningful. We anchor ourselves in the love we have for each other, finding solace in its constancy.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Ou liefde," which means "old love" in Afrikaans, emphasizing the idea that the love we have for each other endures the test of time. The lyrics speak of how old love knows the paths that time often leaves behind and can forgive even the greatest wrongs, making the strongest of storms calm and even the winds fall still.

The second verse reflects on the inevitability of time's passing and the shadows it casts on our lives, but also on how love is a constant in the midst of the inevitability of change. The song concludes by saying that after all these years, love becomes something else, something deeper, and it is personified in the love that the singer has for the person they are singing to.

Overall, "Ou Liefde" is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and how it evolves and endures through the years.

Line by Line Meaning

Onthou jy toe dit nuut was
Do you remember when it was new?

Die liefde van weleer?
The love of yesterday?

Hoe min het ons daarvan geweet?
How little did we know of it?

Hoe veel moes ons nog leer?
How much more did we still have to learn?

Gedemper deur seisoene
Muted by seasons

Word die liefde meer beleef
Love becomes more experienced

Kom lê oplaas voor anker
Come lie at anchor

Na die branding van die see
After the waves of the sea

Vra nie vrae nie
Don't ask questions

Het die raaisel reeds aanvaar
Already accepted the mystery