De Kast were a successful pop-rock band from the Netherlands in the late 19… Read Full Bio ↴De Kast were a successful pop-rock band from the Netherlands in the late 1990's. Their biggest hits include In nije dei, Woorden zonder Woorden, Hart van mijn gevoel, Eltse grins foarby, Raak, Een teken van leven and Zo Jong. Their songs are mainly in Dutch, although some songs, like In nije dei and Eltse grins foarby, are written in Frisian, which is solely spoken in the northern province of The Netherlands, Fryslân.

During the high times of De Kast the band consisted of Syb van der Ploeg (vocals/guitar), cousin Peter van der Ploeg (lead guitar), Kees Bode (keyboards), Sytse Broersma (bass guitar) and Nico Outhuijse (drums).

The band formed in 1985 under the name of Wish to Escape at local high school in Dokkum. Peter van der Ploeg, who worked there as a janitor, approached student Kees Bode to become member of a new rock band. Peter's cousin Syb joined in, together with good friend Dikkie Visser, the band's original drummer. A fifth original member soon left the band. This resulted in 1987 in Sytse Broersma joining as the new bass player, and for a short time, as the new singer too, after Syb van der Ploeg had briefly quit the band.

In the late eighties Wish to Escape had several gigs, whether it be on camp sites or in small pubs. During that time the idea of a very own studio album arose, which led to the recording of the self-titled album Wish to Escape, an album with symph-rock influences. In order to play more gigs in local discotheques, the band formed a new top-100 cover band called Goldrush. Alongside the name Wish to Escape in fact disappeared.

Soon Goldrush was booked all over the country, and, by gradually performing more and more of their own Dutch songs during the gigs, the band gained the attention of record company CNR. By that time the band had already changed its name to The Cast, but soon all agreed on adopting a more Dutch band name to match the Dutch repertoire. Thus the name De Kast was born.

De Kast were mostly successful during the late '90s scoring several hits in the Netherlands. They are best known for their #1 hit In neije dei.

De hemel
De Kast Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Waarom zijn aardse zaken zo meedogenloos,
Zijn de mooiste dingen teer en broos.
Ik koester alle woorden en momenten dat,
Dat je levendig hier voor me zat.
Ik zie hoe jij je overgeeft
En hoeveel levens je hebt geleefd.

Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven

Dat er ooit op een dag een nieuwe tijd begint
Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
Dat de liefde overwint.

Er is geen kruid gewassen tegen al het kwaad
Maar dat zal verdwijnen vroeg of laat
Ik zie hoe jij je overgeeft
En hoeveel levens je hebt geleefd.

Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
Dat er ooit op een dag een nieuwe tijd begint
Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
Dat de liefde overwint.

Als ik een ster zie vallen dan wens ik keer op keer
Een nieuw begin, een nieuw bestaan
De zuiverste kristallen zijn niet zuiver mee.
Nu ik jou moet laten gaan

Ik zie hoe jij je overgeeft
En hoeveel levens je hebt geleefd

Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
Dat er ooit op een dag een nieuwe tijd begint

Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
Dat de liefde overwint.

Overall Meaning

The song "De hemel in" by De Kast reflects on the fragility and ephemerality of earthly matters while highlighting the love and admiration felt for a person who has lived a full and meaningful life. The lyrics start with questioning why the most beautiful things are fragile and vulnerable, and how much one cherishes the memories and moments spent with the person. The singer then acknowledges the person's capacity to surrender to life experiences and notes how many lives they've lived. The chorus repeats that the person has earned their place in heaven and that the singer believes in a new beginning where love prevails over all.

The second verse highlights how there is no cure for evil, but it will eventually disappear over time. The bridge sees the singer make a wish upon a falling star for a new start and crystalline purity, recognizing the inevitability of letting the person go. The song ends with the chorus repeating once more the belief in the person's place in heaven and the triumph of love.

Overall, "De hemel in" is a moving tribute to a beloved person who has passed away, whose life has inspired admiration and respect.

Line by Line Meaning

Waarom zijn aardse zaken zo meedogenloos,
Why are earthly matters so merciless,

Zijn de mooiste dingen teer en broos.
Are the most beautiful things fragile and delicate.

Ik koester alle woorden en momenten dat,
I cherish every word and moment when

Dat je levendig hier voor me zat.
You were lively sitting here in front of me.

Ik zie hoe jij je overgeeft
I see how you surrender yourself

En hoeveel levens je hebt geleefd.
And how many lives you have lived.

Je hebt de hemel verdiend, ik blijf erin geloven
You have earned heaven, I keep believing that

Dat er ooit op een dag een nieuwe tijd begint
One day a new era will begin

Dat de liefde overwint.
That love will triumph.

Er is geen kruid gewassen tegen al het kwaad
There is no remedy for all evil