Rotterdam born Cox had 2 hit singles in the Netherlands in the 1970's, "Het is weer voorbij die mooie zomer" and "1948". The music for both songs was taken from popular songs from abroad, the Dutch lyrics for both songs are original and by no means a translation of the original songs. Cox has also played in a Dutch TV sitcom and was a co-writer of this sitcom "Toen was geluk heel gewoon" which was based on the american sitcom "The Honeymooners"
Rotterdam Zuid
Gerard Cox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vermoeide straten glimmen mat en nat
'n Grijze ochtend in 'n grijze grauwe stad
Geblinddoekte huizen, aan elkaar geregen
Uitgevloerd asfalt, niemand kom je tegen
Zuid slaapt uit
De gevels gapen hun verlopen geeuw
Rotterdam-Zuid op 'n grauwe zondagmorgen
Blijf stil in je huizen verborgen
Regen, miezerige regen in Zuid
'n Vroege tram schuurt geel door de bocht
Pas begonnen aan z'n rammelende tocht
Door brakke straten, naar boven de rivier
Daar is de stad pas, niet hier
Troosteloos Zuid
De Maasbrug hijst gelaten z'n stalen vlag
Geeft zich maar weer over aan alweer 'n nieuwe dag
Rotterdam-Zuid op 'n grauwe zondagmorgen
Draai je nog 's om in je zorgen
Regen, miezerige regen in Zuid
Achter de huizen klagen hoorns monotoon
Onzichtbaar aanwezig drijven schepen op de stroom
De vreemde, verre wereld vaart binnen in de haven
Maar 't leven zelf ligt heel diep begraven
Diep in Zuid
De zondag moet om, maar niemand heeft er zin
't Stadion waakt als een dikke, zwarte spin
Uit z'n deur gestapt staat 'n man zich te bezinnen
Het voetballen zal zo wel beginnen
Gerard Cox's song "Rotterdam Zuid" paints a gloomy picture of life on the southern side of Rotterdam on a dreary Sunday morning. The opening lines introduce us to the miserable rain pouring down on the area, rendering the streets dull and sleepy. The buildings stand motionless and uninviting, with no one to be seen on the deserted streets. The singer describes the sad state of the housing, which looks as though it was inherited from a worn-out past century. Facing the busy river, there's a bigger city to be seen, but this neighborhood is left to sleep and decay.
Despite the nearby river carrying in ships from afar, the people living in Rotterdam Zuid feel buried deep in the area, with no signs of life. The Maasbrug, an iconic bridge that crosses the river Maas, stands majestically, seeming to give up and embrace yet another ordinary day. Droning ships and blaring horns far away penetrate the silence, bringing in the bustling life that seems too far to reach. The football stadium keeps a lonely watch, a black spider glaring over the vast emptiness that is Zuid. One man steps outside, lost in thought and contemplating the upcoming game.
In summary, "Rotterdam Zuid" takes the listener through a tour of the hardship and bleakness facing the area's residents. The song showcases Zuid as a place left behind by time and progress, struggling to keep pace with the rest of the city while facing its own particular struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Regen, miezerige regen in Zuid
It's raining lightly in the south of Rotterdam.
Vermoeide straten glimmen mat en nat
The tired streets are shining dimly and wetly.
'n Grijze ochtend in 'n grijze grauwe stad
It's a gray morning in a gray and gloomy city.
Geblinddoekte huizen, aan elkaar geregen
The houses are blindfolded and strung together.
Uitgevloerd asfalt, niemand kom je tegen
Exhausted asphalt, no one comes across it.
Zuid slaapt uit
The south of Rotterdam is sleeping in.
De gevels gapen hun verlopen geeuw
The facades are yawning their worn-out yawns.
Onbewoonbaar erfdeel van 'n uitgewoonde eeuw
Uninhabitable heritage of a worn-out century.
Rotterdam-Zuid op 'n grauwe zondagmorgen
Rotterdam-Zuid on a gloomy Sunday morning.
Blijf stil in je huizen verborgen
Stay hidden in your houses.
Regen, miezerige regen in Zuid
It's still raining lightly in the south of Rotterdam.
'n Vroege tram schuurt geel door de bocht
An early tram scrapes by in a yellow blur.
Pas begonnen aan z'n rammelende tocht
Just starting its rattling journey.
Door brakke straten, naar boven de rivier
Through broken-down streets, up towards the river.
Daar is de stad pas, niet hier
That's where the city really is, not here.
Troosteloos Zuid
Desolate south of Rotterdam.
De Maasbrug hijst gelaten z'n stalen vlag
The Maas bridge raises its steel flag with resignation.
Geeft zich maar weer over aan alweer 'n nieuwe dag
It surrenders to yet another new day.
Rotterdam-Zuid op 'n grauwe zondagmorgen
Rotterdam-Zuid on a gloomy Sunday morning.
Draai je nog 's om in je zorgen
Turn over again in your worries.
Achter de huizen klagen hoorns monotoon
Monotonous horns complain behind the houses.
Onzichtbaar aanwezig drijven schepen op de stroom
Ships drift invisibly present on the current.
De vreemde, verre wereld vaart binnen in de haven
The strange, distant world sails into the harbor.
Maar 't leven zelf ligt heel diep begraven
But life itself is buried very deeply.
Diep in Zuid
Deep in the south of Rotterdam.
De zondag moet om, maar niemand heeft er zin
The Sunday has to go, but no one feels like it.
't Stadion waakt als een dikke, zwarte spin
The stadium looms like a thick, black spider.
Uit z'n deur gestapt staat 'n man zich te bezinnen
A man steps out of his door and reflects.
Het voetballen zal zo wel beginnen
The football game will soon begin.
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.