Een die het begrijpt
Gerard de Vries Lyrics
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Daar kijken ze tegen op
Zo vrij als een vogel
Met een bruin gebrande kop
En je weet dat men denkt
Och voor hem is het een spel
Maar er kan zoveel gebeuren
Soms in een enkele tel
Je handen aan het stuur
Starend naar de weg en de witte strepen
Jouw vak, vrachtwagenchaffeur
Je kent alle knepen
Hoe zal het straks zijn aan de grens
Lang wachten, drukte, papierencontrole
Geen vertraging is je wens
Je kent het lange traject
Al bijna uit je hoofd
Tijd over, vlug iets kopen
Dat je thuis hebt beloofd
Elke stop, elke omleiding ken je
Jij achter je ruit
En met zingen bij de radio hou je de slaap er wel uit
Te heet in de cabine
De cabine die je soms wel haat
Verder maar en dan even een cafeetje in
Anders wordt het laat
Snel een kop koffie, een broodje, een sigaret
Een uurtje slapen in de cabine
Je tweede bed
Dan weer op weg
Het gedreun op het beton
Mist of ijzel of sneeuw
Liever de zon
Bijna op de bestemming
De vracht is daar
De weg weer terug
Uren en uren rijden maar
Niemand begrijpt dit
Het zit in je bloed
Je vreet kilometers
Kilometers uren lang, je moet
Dertig ton, zestien wielen
Ladingen van kisten
Containers of dozen
Met het: waarom heb ik juist dit vak gekozen
Dan denk je aan die ene
Die thuis op je wacht
Aan haar en je kinderen
En niet aan je vracht
Ze begrijpt het
Je rijden en dagen in touw
Zij begrijpt het
Zij, je vaak eenzame vrouw
The song "Een die het begrijpt" by Gerard de Vries is a tribute to truck drivers, focusing on the loneliness and the hard work they go through in their jobs. The first stanza starts by highlighting how people often look up to truck drivers, seeing them as free and independent, but the reality is that their job is not a game, and it can be dangerous. The second stanza talks about the truck driver's routine, where they spend long hours on the road, staring at the white stripes on the pavement, knowing every trick of their trade, and trying to avoid any unexpected delay. The third verse acknowledges the physical discomforts of being a truck driver, such as the heat in the cabin and the need for frequent stops for food, coffee, and rest.
The fourth stanza talks about how this life is in the blood of a truck driver, that they eat up the miles, and that the job comes with its own set of unique challenges, such as carrying large loads, dealing with bad weather conditions, and having to be away from their loved ones for days on end. The last stanza is an acknowledgment that there is someone waiting at home who understands the truck driver's life and who supports them. Despite the hardships, the truck driver keeps going because they know someone is there to welcome them back home with open arms.
Overall, "Een die het begrijpt" portrays the life of a truck driver as one of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. It sheds light on the often-overlooked people who work tirelessly to carry goods across the country and highlights the importance of their contribution to the economy.
Line by Line Meaning
Vrachtwagenchaffeur
This song is about the life of a truck driver.
Daar kijken ze tegen op
People admire the freedom and independence of being a truck driver.
Zo vrij als een vogel
Truck drivers enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with being on the open road.
Met een bruin gebrande kop
The sun and the long hours on the road have tanned the truck driver's skin.
En je weet dat men denkt
The truck driver is aware that some people think that his job is just a game.
Och voor hem is het een spel
Many people don't appreciate the risks and dangers truck drivers face while on the job.
Maar er kan zoveel gebeuren
There are many things that can go wrong in just an instant while driving a truck.
Soms in een enkele tel
Serious accidents and other mishaps can occur in a matter of seconds.
Je handen aan het stuur
The driver's hands are always on the steering wheel, focused on the road ahead.
Starend naar de weg en de witte strepen
The driver's attention is fixed on the road and the white lines that guide him.
Jouw vak, vrachtwagenchaffeur
Driving a truck is the driver's profession.
Je kent alle knepen
The driver knows all the tricks of the trade when it comes to driving a truck.
Hoe zal het straks zijn aan de grens
The driver is wondering how it will be at the border, with long waits, crowds and checks on documents.
Lang wachten, drukte, papierencontrole
Border crossings can be crowded and time-consuming, with lots of paperwork to be checked.
Geen vertraging is je wens
The driver hopes there won't be any delays at the border.
Je kent het lange traject
The driver knows the long route by heart.
Al bijna uit je hoofd
The driver knows the route so well, he can almost navigate it without thinking.
Tijd over, vlug iets kopen
When there is time, the driver likes to buy something for his family back home.
Dat je thuis hebt beloofd
The driver has promised his family something special from the road.
Elke stop, elke omleiding ken je
The driver knows every stop and detour by heart.
Jij achter je ruit
The driver spends most of his time behind the wheel of his truck.
En met zingen bij de radio hou je de slaap er wel uit
Singing along to the radio helps the driver stay awake during long trips.
Te heet in de cabine
The cab of the truck can get very hot in certain conditions.
De cabine die je soms wel haat
Even though it's his workplace, sometimes the driver hates his own cab because it can be uncomfortable.
Verder maar en dan even een cafeetje in
The driver prefers to push on, but sometimes needs a break to rest and recuperate.
Anders wordt het laat
If the driver doesn't take a break, he might be on the road until very late.
Snel een kop koffie, een broodje, een sigaret
During breaks, the driver likes to have a quick coffee, sandwich, or cigarette.
Een uurtje slapen in de cabine
To rest and regain energy, the driver might take a nap in the truck's cab.
Je tweede bed
The truck's cab often serves as a temporary bedroom for drivers who spend days and nights on the road.
Dan weer op weg
After a rest, the driver gets back on the road.
Het gedreun op het beton
The sound of the truck's tires on the pavement can be monotonous.
Mist of ijzel of sneeuw
Weather conditions like fog, ice, and snow can make driving a truck more dangerous.
Liever de zon
The driver prefers warm, sunny weather when driving.
Bijna op de bestemming
The driver is close to his destination.
De vracht is daar
The cargo has arrived at its destination.
De weg weer terug
The driver must now begin the long journey back home.
Uren en uren rijden maar
The driver must drive for many more hours to reach home.
Niemand begrijpt dit
Few people understand the challenges and joys of being a truck driver.
Het zit in je bloed
Truck driving is a vocation that runs through the driver's veins.
Je vreet kilometers
The driver's job calls for covering long distances on the road.
Kilometers uren lang, je moet
Driving for hours and covering long distances is part of the job.
Dertig ton, zestien wielen
Driving a truck means dealing with a large vehicle that can weigh over thirty tons and has sixteen wheels.
Ladingen van kisten
The driver carries different kinds of goods, sometimes in crates or boxes.
Containers of dozen
Other times, the driver carries large containers filled with goods.
Met het: waarom heb ik juist dit vak gekozen
Despite the challenges and difficulties of truck driving, the driver still questions why he chose this profession.
Dan denk je aan die ene
The driver thinks about his loved one waiting for him at home.
Die thuis op je wacht
The driver's partner is eagerly waiting for him to return home.
Aan haar en je kinderen
The driver is thinking about his partner and children, who miss him when he's away.
En niet aan je vracht
Despite the importance of his job, the driver's family is always his top priority.
Ze begrijpt het
The driver's partner understands the challenges he faces while on the job.
Je rijden en dagen in touw
The driver spends many days and nights on the road, driving long distances to deliver cargo.
Zij begrijpt het
The driver's partner appreciates the sacrifices he makes to provide for their family.
Zij, je vaak eenzame vrouw
The driver's partner often feels lonely when he's away on the job.
Contributed by Jeremiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.