Drukwerk is a Dutch pop group from Amsterdam. Formed in 1978 they enjoyed g… Read Full Bio ↴Drukwerk is a Dutch pop group from Amsterdam. Formed in 1978 they enjoyed great chart success in The Netherlands during the first boom of Dutch-language 'Nederpop' in the first half of the 1980s.

The group's frontman (and only original member today), Harry Slinger (1949), with his trademark red wool hat, is known for singing his lyrics in a sharp Amsterdam accent. The group's music was typical eighties pop, sometimes reggae-tinged, sometimes remarkably paying hommage to the smartlappen of Amsterdam's famous pub singers.

The group was active from 1978 to 1990 and, after 1990, on and off in various line-ups with Harry Slinger as the only permanent feature.

Established in 1978, the earliest Drukwerk incarnation was politically outspoken. Some of their early recordings were essentially leftist protest songs, for example against the closing of a youth centre in Amsterdam North, against nuclear energy or the policies of the Amsterdam city council. The band's later work was less politically charged, but in many cases still socially committed.

The band suddenly found themselves at the top of the Dutch charts over Christmas 1981: 'Je Loog Tegen Mij' ('You Lied To Me') marked the start of their glory days. The first half of the 1980s yielded seven Top 20 hits in total, including 'Wat Dom' (#5 in 1982), 'Schijn 'n Lichtje op Mij' (#10 in 1982), 'Hee Amsterdam' (#15 in 1983) and 'Carolien' (#18 in 1984). Almost all of the studio LPs from this era reached the top half of the Dutch album charts, including Drukwerk (1981), Tweede Druk (1982) and the very succesful live album Hee Amsterdam - Drukwerk Live in het Concertgebouw (1984).

Line-up in this era: Harry Slinger (vocals), Ton Coster (gitaar), Joop May (keyboards) and Hans Witteveen (drums).

As the success of Dutch-language 'Nederpop' waned, Drukwerk decided to tour theatres instead of pop venues. However, their days of chart success were over and in 1990 the original line-up decided to call it a day. Harry Slinger embarked on a solo carreer, but soon started singing Drukwerk's hit tunes again.

The release of the box-set 'Je Loog Tegen Mij' (2002) revived the public's interest in Drukwerk. Slinger re-established the group without any of the original members. The band Next One, from the town of Volendam, served as Slinger's backing band under the Drukwerk moniker. The band toured The Netherlands in 2003 and 2004, the years of Drukwerk's 25th anniversary.

In later years original members Ton Coster and Joop May were sometimes involved in Slinger's Drukwerk projects - and sometimes they weren't. Musicians such as Hans van der Berg, Jan Offenberg, Lucas Huizinga, Frank Schaafsma, Rabo Snellenerg, Edwin Gitsels, Rob Engels, Martin van Helden, Ivor Mitchell and Marcel Lee enjoyed stints in the band.

In 2011 and 2012 another Drukwerk incarnation hit Dutch theatres, this time with Harry Slinger's son, Bram, in his father's backing band. This line-up would, in 2013, record and release the first Drukwerk studio album of original material since 1987, entitled Tegen beter weten in.

The band's lovingly nostalgic ode to their city, 'Hee Amsterdam' (1983), remains a stadium staple of fans of the local Ajax football club.

Sylvia's Moeder
Drukwerk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sylvia's moeder zegt
Sylvia slaapt nog
Ze neemt de telefoon nu niet aan
Sylvia's moeder zegt
Sylvia leert nu
Op eigen benen te staan
Sylvia's moeder zegt
Syl gaat vertrekken

Het is beter als je haar maar laat gaan
En ik zoek wanhipig
Al mijn zakken na
Naar nog meer kwartjes

Alstublieft mevrouw Van Straten
Ik wil even met haar praten
Ik beloof u, ik doe het heel snel
Alstublieft mevrouw
Want hoe lang duurt nou vaarwel

Sylvia's moeder zegt
Syl is gelukkig
Er is niets meer wat haar hier nog bindt
Sylvia's moeder zegt
Syl is zo jong nog
Ze is eigenlijk nog maar een kind
Sylvia's moeder zegt
Jij hebt je leven
Ik weet zeker dat jij een ander meisje vindt
En ik zoek wanhopig
Al mijn zakken na
Naar nog meer kwartjes

Alstublieft mevrouw Van Straten
Ik wil even met haar praten
Ik beloof u, ik doe het heel snel
Alstublieft mevrouw
Want hoe lang duurt nou vaarwel

Sylvia's moeder zegt
Syl is gaan wonen
Op een plek waar de zon altijd schijnt
Sylvia's moeder zegt
Ik weet wat het is
Als iemand die je lief hebt verdwijnt
Sylvia's moeder denkt
Ze verdiende beter
Ze kwam veel te jong aan haar end
En ik zoek wanhopig
Al mijn zakken na
Naar nog meer kwartjes

Alstublieft mevrouw Van Straten
Laat me even met haar praten
Ik beloof u, ik doe het heel snel
Oh alstublieft mevrouw
Want hoe lang duurt nou vaarwel
Vaarwel

Vaarwel
Vaarwel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Drukwerk's Sylvia's Moeder describe a conversation between the singer and Sylvia's mother. Sylvia's mother tells the singer that Sylvia is still sleeping and not picking up the phone, and that she is learning to stand on her own two feet. She also reveals that Sylvia is going to leave and asks the singer to leave her alone. Meanwhile, the singer desperately searches their pockets for more change to make a call. The singer begs Sylvia's mother to let them talk to her and promises to make it quick, asking how long a goodbye should really last. Later, Sylvia's mother informs the singer that Sylvia has found happiness and has gone to live in a place where the sun always shines. Sylvia's mother admits that she knows what it's like to lose someone you love, and laments that Sylvia didn't deserve to die so young.

The song is about the loss of a loved one, presumably Sylvia. It tells the story of Sylvia's mother who is in denial about her daughter leaving, and desperately clings to the hope that her daughter is still alive and well. The lyrics provide various clues that suggest Sylvia may have died. For example, she is described as having gone to a place where the sun always shines, which could be interpreted as a reference to heaven. Additionally, Sylvia's mother mentions that she knows what it's like to lose someone you love, which might suggest that she has already lost others in her life.

Line by Line Meaning

Sylvia's moeder zegt
Sylvia's mother is saying

Sylvia slaapt nog
Sylvia is still sleeping

Ze neemt de telefoon nu niet aan
She is not answering the phone right now

Sylvia leert nu
Sylvia is learning now

Op eigen benen te staan
To stand on her own two feet

Syl gaat vertrekken
Syl is going to leave

Het is beter als je haar maar laat gaan
It's better if you just let her go

En ik zoek wanhopig
And I desperately search

Al mijn zakken na
Through all my pockets

Naar nog meer kwartjes
For more quarters

Alstublieft mevrouw Van Straten
Please, Mrs. Van Straten