Doe Maar (the band name can be loosely translated as 'go ahead' or 'do as you say') recorded five studio albums, with the latter four hitting number one in the Dutch album charts.
Having emerged from a hippie community in the south of The Netherlands in the late 1970s, Doe Maar's self-titled 1979 début album was not much of a success. Founding member and original bass player Piet Dekker left the group. Ernst Jansz (vocals, keyboards), Jan Hendriks (guitar) and Carel Copier (drums) were briefly joined by stand-in bass player Joost Belinfante (of hippie/folk outfit CCC Inc.) before Henny Vrienten was recruited as the permanent new bass player in 1980.
The second album, Skunk, was released in the summer of 1981, preceded by the lead single Sinds 1 Dag Of 2, which didn't enter the charts until radio DJ Frits Spits had pretty much singlehandedly changed the song title into the more catchy 32 Jaar ('32 Years'). Single and album were reasonably succesful, but not more than that. At the end of the year drummer Carel Copier was replaced by René van Collem, who was 20 years of age at the time, more than a decade younger than the rest of the band.
March 1982 saw the release of the album Doris Day en andere stukken and the lead single, Doris Day, which - almost overnight - sparked off 'Doe Maar-mania', a craze unequaled for a Dutch band in their home country, including hysterical and fainting teenage girls during live performances and a brief domination of teen fashion in The Netherlands, with the fluorescent 'phosphor green' and 'lollipop pink' trade mark colours of the Skunk album and a huge market of Doe Maar memorabilia: pins, badges, sweatbands and what not.
Doe Maar were now referred to as 'the Dutch Beatles': very different music, but similar (if not worse) madness.
The Doris Day album had only just disappeared from the top of the Dutch album charts when the two-year old Skunk album hit number. The stand-alone single De Bom ('The Bomb') topped the singles charts in November 1982. Typically, the band's young fans hardly seemed to understand what an apocalyptic song it was: "Work on your future... before the bomb drops."
The band members were shocked and not seldomly frightened or depressed by their sudden popularity. They were in their mid-thirties; the hordes of teenage girls that suddenly invaded their private lives were everything but their peers. Doe Maar wrote particularly gloomy songs about topics that you would expect to appeal to 'thirty-somethings' rather than teenagers. Jansz and Vrienten, in particular, received tons of love letters from teenage girls, but also death threats from Dutch Neo-Nazis. They needed bodyguards. Meanwhile, the Dutch music press dismissed Doe Maar as a teenybopper phenomenon: the band was first sneered at and later mostly ignored by Holland's music critics.
In May 1982 the band fired its youthful drummer, René van Collem. His successor, Jan Pijnenburg, was involved in car accident shortly after he was hired. Somewhat bizarrely, the band then hired René van Collem as a stand-in for another six months of live concerts. The definitive Doe Maar line-up was now complete: Ernst Jansz (vocals, keyboards), Henny Vrienten (vocals, bass), Jan Hendriks (guitar) and Jan Pijnenburg (drums). Years later, René van Collem would express his bitterness over the fact that Pijnenburg can be seen on almost all of the band's famous group pictures and is generally regarded as the Doe Maar drummer (especially after the 1999-2000 and 2008 reunions), in spite of the fact that the drum parts on the studio albums are almost exclusively Van Collem's work. He also played the lion's share of the band's live shows.
The particularly dark 4us ('Virus') album was released in March 1983 and immediately rocketed to number one, just like its lead single Pa ('Dad'), a rather bitter song about generation gaps. 'Doe Maar-mania' was now at its peak and (during live shows) frequently out of control. The band decided to stop doing interviews, announced complete radio silence and attempted to focus on their next album, but had to conclude that there was no more inspiration. Doe Maar had burned out.
The announcement that Doe Maar was going to call it quits caused grief beyond belief amongst a generation of Dutch teenage girls. The Dutch Kindertelefoon ('Kids Phone') had to deal with countless brokenhearted young girls who phoned in, not seldomly to announce their imminent suicides.
The band did two emotional 'farewell' shows in Den Bosch's Maaspoort hall on 14 April 1984. Since then, Henny Vrienten and Ernst Jansz have pursued successful solo careers, mostly in the context of music composition for television and cinema. The band members remained friends and continued to play together on private occasions.
After more than fifteen years of absence - in which their work was rehabilitated by a new generation of music critics - Doe Maar decided to re-unite for one final album: Klaar (which means as much as 'finished' or 'done') was released in 2000. A string of sixteen reunion concerts at Rotterdam's Ahoy sports palace was announced. 175,000 tickets were sold in an eyewink, in many cases to the teenage girls of the early eighties, now thirty-somethings.
In 2007 a theatre musical about the band's music toured the Netherlands and won several important theater awards. The success of 'Doe Maar - The Musical' was followed by another reunion show, at De Kuip football stadium in Rotterdam. 50,000 tickets sold out within the hour, three more concerts were added... and also sold out in no-time. In an interview on 20 June 2008, Henny Vrienten said: "This is no longer a 'reunion'. Doe Maar is back, for real." Doe Maar still performs regularly in The Netherlands, mostly at festivals.
Nederwiet
Doe Maar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
een groene plant, een mooie plant
een welriekende plant, een grote, een sterke
ja, een nuttige plant
Het gaat over de Cannabis sativa 'Hollandica'
oftewel Nederwiet - wiedewiedewiet - jaja
We beginnen met het zaad
die al minstens drie generaties
in Nederland groeit en bloeit
Sommige mensen zeggen zeven
maar dat is een kwestie van geloof, geloof ik
dat mag je dus zelf weten, goed
het goede zaad doe je in
maart april mei in de grond
voorkiemen en zo
dat is allemaal maar haastige spoed
het plantje weet zelf het beste
wanneer het op moet komen
dus laat maar gaan
dat gaat wel goed
dat wordt prachtige nederwiedewiedewiedewiet
net zo goed als congo indonesia acapulco colombia
En dan nu geduld
rustig op laten komen
het plantje is nog klein
bemoedigend toespreken dus
dan wordt het nog groter
en groter en groter
en het wordt zelfs nog groter en groter en groter
en het wordt dikker
en dan is het september
en tijd voor de oogst
de vrouwtjes met de zaadjes
en/of de bloemetjes haal je binnen
je legt ze op de grond of
hangt ze met de voetjes aan het plafond
en dan wacht je 1 2 3 en een halve maand
tot het droog is en als het dan droog is
dan komt het belangrijkste van de Cannabis Sattiva Hollandica
het uitzoeken van de blaadjes
Daar krijg je hoofdpijn van, ik wel
de blaadjes, daarvan krijg je een betonnen hoofd
dus die blaadjes, die gooi je weg weg
en je rookt alleen de hoesjes
van de zaadjes en/of de bloemetjes
en daarvan krijg je geen betonnen hoofd
en daarvan krijg je geen hoofdpijn
en daarvan wordt je niet draaierig
maar daarvan wordt je zo high
als een vlaamse papegaai,
dat is onze eigen nederwiet
daarvoor hoeft niemand in verre vreemde landen
in de bak te zitten
nederwiet nederwiet nederwiet
en verder gaat dit lied niet
The song "Nederwiet" by Doe Maar is a playful and informative ode to the Cannabis sativa plant, commonly known as Nederwiet in the Netherlands. The song starts by describing the plant as a beautiful, strong, and useful plant, and then proceeds to explain the process of growing and harvesting it. The lyrics go into detail about planting the good seeds in the soil between March and May, letting the plant grow on its own, and harvesting it in September. The most crucial aspect of harvesting is separating the seeds or flowers from their leaves, as smoking the leaves can cause headaches or dizziness. The song emphasizes the benefits of Nederwiet as a legal and safe alternative to drugs from other countries.
The song's lyrics, while humorous and lighthearted, also serve as a form of protest against the strict laws governing cannabis in the Netherlands at the time of the song's release in 1983. The song's popularity helped to spark a national debate about the decriminalization of cannabis, and it remains a beloved classic in Dutch pop culture. Doe Maar's "Nederwiet" can be considered a testament to the changing attitudes towards drugs in the Netherlands throughout the 1980s and beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
Dit is een lied over een plant
This is a song about a plant
een groene plant, een mooie plant
A green plant, a beautiful plant
een welriekende plant, een grote, een sterke
A fragrant plant, a big, a strong plant
ja, een nuttige plant
Yes, a useful plant
Het gaat over de Cannabis sativa 'Hollandica',
It is about the Cannabis sativa 'Hollandica'
oftewel Nederwiet - wiedewiedewiet - jaja
Also known as Nederwiet - wiedewiedewiet - yes yes
We beginnen met het zaad
We start with the seed
het goede zaad is van een plant
The good seed comes from a plant
die al minstens drie generaties
That has been growing in the Netherlands for at least three generations
in Nederland groeit en bloeit
And grows and blooms in the Netherlands
Sommige mensen zeggen zeven
Some people say seven
maar dat is een kwestie van geloof, geloof ik
But that's a matter of belief, I believe
dat mag je dus zelf weten, goed
So you can decide for yourself, okay?
het goede zaad doe je in
You plant the good seed in
maart april mei in de grond
March, April, May in the soil
voorkiemen en zo
Pre-sprout and such
dat is allemaal maar haastige spoed
But that's all just in haste
het plantje weet zelf het beste
The plant knows best
wanneer het op moet komen
When it needs to sprout
dus laat maar gaan
So just let it go
dat gaat wel goed
It will be fine
dat wordt prachtige nederwiedewiedewiedewiet
That becomes beautiful Nederwiet wiedewiedewiet
net zo goed als congo indonesia acapulco colombia
Just as good as Congo Indonesia Acapulco Colombia
En dan nu geduld
And now patience
rustig op laten komen
Let it come up slowly
het plantje is nog klein
The plant is still small
bemoedigend toespreken dus
So give it some encouraging words
dan wordt het nog groter
Then it gets even bigger
en groter en groter
And bigger and bigger
en het wordt zelfs nog groter en groter en groter
And it even gets bigger and bigger and bigger
en het wordt dikker
And it gets thicker
en dan is het september
And then it's September
en tijd voor de oogst
And time for the harvest
de vrouwtjes met de zaadjes
The females with the seeds
en/of de bloemetjes haal je binnen
And/or you bring in the flowers
je legt ze op de grond of
You lay them on the ground or
hangt ze met de voetjes aan het plafond
Hang them with their feet to the ceiling
en dan wacht je 1 2 3 en een halve maand
And then you wait for 1 2 3 and a half month
tot het droog is en als het dan droog is
Until it's dry and when it's dry
dan komt het belangrijkste van de Cannabis Sattiva Hollandica
Then comes the most important part of the Cannabis Sativa Hollandica
het uitzoeken van de blaadjes
Sorting out the leaves
Daar krijg je hoofdpijn van, ik wel
That gives you a headache, it does to me
de blaadjes, daarvan krijg je een betonnen hoofd
The leaves, they give you a concrete head
dus die blaadjes, die gooi je weg weg
So those leaves, you throw them away away
en je rookt alleen de hoesjes
And you only smoke the shells
van de zaadjes en/of de bloemetjes
Of the seeds and/or flowers
en daarvan krijg je geen betonnen hoofd
And that doesn't give you a concrete head
en daarvan krijg je geen hoofdpijn
And that doesn't give you a headache
en daarvan wordt je niet draaierig
And that doesn't make you dizzy
maar daarvan wordt je zo high
But that makes you so high
als een vlaamse papegaai,
Like a Flemish parrot
dat is onze eigen nederwiet
That's our own Nederwiet
daarvoor hoeft niemand in verre vreemde landen
No one needs to go to faraway foreign lands
in de bak te zitten
To be locked up
nederwiet nederwiet nederwiet
Nederwiet Nederwiet Nederwiet
en verder gaat dit lied niet
And this song doesn't go any further
Contributed by Aaliyah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DenUitvreter
Nederwiet (Netherweed)
This is a song about a plant
a green plant
a beautiful plant
a nice smelling plant
a large a strong
yes a useful plant
it is about the Cannabis Sativa
Hollandica
also known as nederwiet
Nederwiedewiedewiet
Wiedewiedewiet
Yeah yeah, nay, nay, nederwiedewiedewiet
We start with the seed
A good seed is one from a plant
That, for at least three generations
Has grown and blossomed in the Netherlands
Some people say seven
but that is a question of belief
I believe
You have to make your own mind up
OK, you put the good seed
in the ground March, April, May
Don't worry about germination and such
That is just unnecessary rush
The plant knows best itself
When it's time to come up
So just leave it
That will be just fine
It becomes beautiful
Nederwiedewiedewiet
As good as Coco Indonesia
Indonesia Acapulco Colombia
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
And now ... patience
Let it come up slowly
The plant is still small
Encourage it by talking to it
That makes it grow bigger
And bigger and bigger
And it continues to grow
Bigger and bigger and bigger
And then it grows thicker
And then it's September
And time for the harvest
The female seeds
And/or the flowers take them inside
Put them on the floor or
Hang them upside down in the ceiling
And then you wait 1 2 3
Three and a half months
Until they're dry
And when they're dry
comes the most important part in
Cannabis Sativa Hollandica
The removal of the leaves
They give you headache
At least I get it
The leaves they give you
A concrete head
So the leaves
Throw them away, away, away
And you only smoke the cover
Of the seeds and/or flowers
From them you don't get a concrete head
From them you don't get head ache
From them you don't get giddy
But from them you get high
as a Flemish parrot
That is our own
Nederwiet
For this nobody
In far foreign countries
get thrown in jail
Nederwiet
Nederwiet nederwiet
And this is how far this song goes
Translation by Blondino on everything2.com, with some minor corrections from me
@gertvanderstraaten6352
For the non-Dutchies, this song went to number one and explains in great detail how to grow your own Netherwiet, as in Netherland-grown weed, and how to select the leaves from the seed covers and/or the flowers.
@mickeyiwerksii1373
The bass lines is so killer. Great song
@Steinbach1984
This band only became big (and great) after the bassist joint (haha).
@gijsvandersluijs790
Henny Vrienten
@l.carlito7345
Henny Vrienten Rest in Peace! Luisterend naar dit nummer steek ik er nog een op ter ere van jou!
@michaelevandewouwer7657
Dat moment dat je in deze tijd dit aan je zoon laat horen 😉😎😘
@hans873
dit is Nederland en dank zij mij generatie de hippies kan iedereen er van genieten zonder in de gevangenis te komen
heel erg bedankt baby Boomers
@ariari4133
Hans Jonkman schrijf eerst eens Nederlands en de rassen ,zijn in HEUSDEN BRABANT GEKWEEKT EN GESORTEERD 40/45 jaar geleden stomme buldog holander
@mr.sparrow2368
Dank je wel.
@TomSistermans
Bedankt voor klimaatverandering hè