De Dijk is a dutch band from Amsterdam & Zaandam. Their style can be descri… Read Full Bio ↴De Dijk is a dutch band from Amsterdam & Zaandam. Their style can be described as a mix of soul, blues and rock. The group is named after the Zeedijk street in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Formed in 1981 by brothers Hans en Huub van der Lubbe and friend Daniel Derks, De Dijk caught the wave of Dutch rock music, which they've ridden for many decades now. Having worked with a number of Amsterdam based groups with very little success for close to a decade prior to forming the band, the brothers shifted their attention to their new project featuring Dutch lyrics in 1981.

At the time most rock bands in the area performed either in English or German, making De Dijk something of an anomaly in the market at the time. The band's 1982 eponymous debut record was an enormous success. Joined by keyboard player Pim Kops and drummer Antonie Broek, De Dijk's sophomore release Nooit Meer Tarzan (1983) was underwhelming in both sales and popularity, causing the band to lose their contract with Dureco. Though it took the group a few years to recover, many successful records were soon to follow, beginning with 1985's Elke Dag Een Nieuwe Hoed and the Zilveren Harp Award winning Wakker in Een Vreemde Wereld (1987). De Dijk toured and recorded regularly throughout the late '80s and '90s, becoming one of the Netherland's most prominent rock innovators.

Their poetic lyrics, penned by Huub van der Lubbe, would influence an entire generation of European musicians. In 2006 the band played a show honoring their 25th anniversary at the Rotterdam Ahoy Theatre, kicking off an extensive tour. That same year they made their first appearance on Billboard charts with their record Zullen We Dansen 1981-2006, which ranked in the European Top 100 category.

Before the name "De Dijk" came into view, the band was known as "Stampei".

De Dijk is made up of:

* Huub van der Lubbe (vocals)
* Antoine Broek (drums)
* Nico Arzbach (guitar)
* Hans van der Lubbe (bass)
* Pim Kops (keyboard)

with additional guitar/organ playing by J.B. Meyers

and they are backed by the Hot Haarlemmerdijk Horns:

* Roland Brunt (tenor saxophone)
* Peter van Soest (trumpet)

Shortly after forming, they became famous with their first hit "Bloedend hart" and found their way to a broad audience with their albums "Wakker in een vreemde wereld" and "Niemand in de stad". De Dijk is widely acclaimed for their live performances. Still going strong after all these years, although less successful in scoring hit singles. Their biggest hit in the Netherlands has been "Als ze er niet is" (1994).

Mira
De Dijk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lib mi skin
Mi skin naf mi

Mira, mira
Mira no musu bijte mi
Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Mira i no musu moeilijk mi ba
Mira i no musu bijte mi ba

Uduloso no mus lonti mi
Ptataloso i no mus bijte mi ba
Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Kowfutboi no mus lonti mi ba
Tingifowru no mus tyopu mi ba
Mamiwoi, mamiwoi, mamiwoi
Fyofyo yu no mu beti mi ba
Patyipatyi no mu beti mi ba

Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Kaiman nomo luku yu tifi
Ay luku yu tifi
Aboma no musu frekti mi ba
Aboma i no musu tay mi ba
Maskita i no musu dyuku mi ba
Mampira i no musu bron mi skin ba

Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Luku yu tifi yu kaiman
Aboma no musu frekti mi ba
Ay ay ay
Woy woy woy

Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Uduloso no mus lonti mi ba
Kowfutboi no mus lonti mi
Tingifowru no mus diki mi ai ba
Patyipatyi no mus kras mi skin

Mamiwoi, mamiwoi, mamiwoi
Mira i no musu beti mi ba

Ptataloso no mu beti mi ba
Kaiman nomo luku yu tifi
Aboma no mu frekti mi ba
Sika no mu moro mi ba
Kakalaka no mus kon tap mi nyan
No kon, no kon tan farawe dan
No kon, no kon tan farawe ba
Ragan Ragan
Mira i no musu beti mi ba

Kowfrey, brokoston
Kowfrey, brokoston

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of De Dijk's song "Mira" is in a Surinamese dialect and depicts the singer pleading with Mira, who is possibly a lover or a significant figure in his life, not to hurt him. The repetition of the phrase "Mira i no musu bijte mi ba" emphasizes the singer's plea and his vulnerability. The singer also lists various animals and insects, such as kaiman, aboma, and maskita, that should not scare or harm him. He mentions how certain animals should not bite him, such as the uduloso and ptataloso, while others, like the kowfutboi, should not come close to him. The singer ends the song by referencing the African folktale character Ragan Ragan and pleading with Mira not to hurt him.

The song is notable for its use of Surinamese dialect and its incorporation of African folktale characters. "Mira" was released in 1983 by De Dijk, one of the most popular Dutch bands of the 1980s and 1990s. The song is a fusion of Dutch pop rock and Surinamese rhythms and has become one of the band's most enduring hits. The lyrics remain a subject of interpretation and analysis among fans and music critics. Some speculate that the song is an allegory about colonialism and the Dutch presence in Suriname. Others interpret the song as a plea for love and affection.

Line by Line Meaning

Lib mi skin
My skin is hurting

Mi skin naf mi
My skin is numb

Mira, mira
Look, look

Mira no musu bijte mi
Look, don't bite me

Mira i no musu bijte mi ba
Look, you must not bite me

Mira i no musu moeilijk mi ba
Look, you must not make it difficult for me

Uduloso no mus lonti mi
The mosquito must not come near me

Ptataloso i no mus bijte mi ba
The bed bug must not bite me

Kowfutboi no mus lonti mi ba
The cockroach must not come near me

Tingifowru no mus tyopu mi ba
The gecko must not poop on me

Mamiwoi, mamiwoi, mamiwoi
Mommy, mommy, mommy