Parfum
Frank Boeijen Lyrics


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En ik rook parfum
Bij 'n oor
En ik fluisterde erin
Omdat de muziek
Zo hard was
Jij verstond me niet
Toen ben ik later
Maar weggegaan




Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song "Parfum" by Frank Boeijen describe a moment in which the singer smells perfume close to someone's ear, and whispers into it because the music at the moment was so loud. The perfume and the intimate gesture suggest a romantic relationship, but the fact that the other person did not understand (or perhaps did not hear) what the singer whispered creates a distance and a lack of communication. It's unclear what the singer whispered, but the feeling of being misunderstood leads the singer to leave later on. The theme of misunderstood communication and missed connection is further explored throughout the song.


Throughout "Parfum," Frank Boeijen uses vivid sensory details and metaphors to describe the ups and downs of a relationship. The perfume, for example, symbolizes both the sensuality and the ambiguity of the other person's character. The music, meanwhile, mirrors the changes and fluctuations of the relationship. At times it's loud and intense, at other times it's soft and intimate. The lyrics suggest a sense of longing and nostalgia for what once was, but also a recognition of the impossibility of going back or truly understanding another person's experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

En ik rook parfum
I caught a whiff of perfume


Bij 'n oor
By someone's ear


En ik fluisterde erin
And I whispered into it


Omdat de muziek
Because the music


Zo hard was
Was so loud


Jij verstond me niet
You didn't understand me


Toen ben ik later
So later on


Maar weggegaan
I just left




Contributed by Mia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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