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.
Tegen beter weten in
Drukwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
doe de vingers maar omhoog
trappelend in een natte luier
of wil je hem het liefste droog
Als baby wil je natuurlijk weten
alles wat je nu al weet
alleen de fijne dingen beleven
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
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Tegen beter weten in
De nekspieren zijn het best ontwikkeld
we kijken het liefste achterom
slaan een blik op ons leven
en denken vaak dan "o wat dom"
heb ik toen verkeerd gehandeld
had ik maar beter nagedacht
het is helemaal niet zo gelopen
als ik eigenlijk had verwacht
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
Een ding blijft ons nog maar over
leren uit verleden tijd
de beste stap die je kunt maken
gaat niet achter maar vooruit
weg met luiers en met spenen
ook al willen we nog zo graag
en of we echt wel anders kunnen
geef zelf antwoord op die vraag
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
Opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Tegen beter weten in
The song "Tegen beter weten in" by Drukwerk is about the human desire to start over or go back in time to correct past mistakes, despite knowing that it is impossible. The first verse presents the ironic situation where people raise their hands to be born again as a baby, despite knowing that it will entail discomfort (wearing wet diapers). The lyrics suggest that babies long to experience the good things in life, and forget about the bad. However, the chorus repeatedly states that going back or starting over is futile, "Tegen beter weten in," meaning "against better judgement" or "despite knowing better."
The second verse presents the concept of hindsight, where people tend to look back and evaluate their lives. They often think about how they could have acted differently or better in the past, regretting their actions or decisions. The song suggests that looking back is not always helpful and may even be harmful if it leads to dwelling on past mistakes instead of moving forward.
The final verse encourages the listener to learn from past experiences and make the best of the present and future. The lyrics suggest that we need to leave behind the comforts of our past, such as diapers and pacifiers, and face the challenges of growing up. Even though it may be difficult, the song implies that it is better to move forward, learn from mistakes and make new memories, rather than constantly dwelling on the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Wie wil er weer geboren worden
Who wants to be born again
doe de vingers maar omhoog
Just raise your fingers
trappelend in een natte luier
Kicking in a wet diaper
of wil je hem het liefste droog
Or do you prefer it dry
Als baby wil je natuurlijk weten
As a baby, you naturally want to know
alles wat je nu al weet
Everything you already know
alleen de fijne dingen beleven
Only experience the good things
alsof de nare dan vergeet
As if to forget the bad things
De nekspieren zijn het best ontwikkeld
The neck muscles are the most developed
we kijken het liefste achterom
We prefer to look back
slaan een blik op ons leven
Take a look at our lives
en denken vaak dan "o wat dom"
And often think "oh, how foolish"
heb ik toen verkeerd gehandeld
Did I act wrongly back then
had ik maar beter nagedacht
I should have thought better
het is helemaal niet zo gelopen
It didn't go as planned
als ik eigenlijk had verwacht
As I had originally expected
Een ding blijft ons nog maar over
We are left with only one thing
leren uit verleden tijd
Learn from the past
de beste stap die je kunt maken
The best step you can take
gaat niet achter maar vooruit
Is not to go back, but to move forward
weg met luiers en met spenen
Get rid of diapers and pacifiers
ook al willen we nog zo graag
Even though we still want them
en of we echt wel anders kunnen
And if we can really change
geef zelf antwoord op die vraag
Answer that question yourself
Opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Starting over is pointless
Tegen beter weten in
Against our better judgment
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Starting over is pointless
Tegen beter weten in
Against our better judgment
opnieuw beginnen heeft geen zin
Starting over is pointless
Tegen beter weten in
Against our better judgment
Contributed by Alaina I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.