Henny Vrienten (27 July 1948-25 April 2022) was a Dutch musician, composer … Read Full Bio ↴Henny Vrienten (27 July 1948-25 April 2022) was a Dutch musician, composer and singer-songwriter, best known as bass player, vocalist and songwriter of Doe Maar, the Dutch-language reggae/ska/pop band that became one of the most popular bands of all time in The Netherlands.

Vrienten played in Doe Maar from 1980 until the band's break-up in 1984.

Having played in several beat bands in his home town of Tilburg, including Les Cruches, Vrienten's professional career in music really took off in the early 1970s when he joined the backing band of legendary singer-songwriter, Boudewijn de Groot. One of his band mates was Ernst Jansz, who was to front Doe Maar with Vrienten some ten years later.

He also recorded under the pseudonyms, Ruby Carmichael (1974) and Paul Santos (1977).

Vrienten's first solo album under his real name, Geen Ballade, came out in 1984, when Doe Maar was almost finished.

After the demise of Doe Maar, Vrienten embarked on a prolific solo career as a composer of many Dutch film scores, songs for theatre plays and musicals, as well as countless children's songs for Dutch TV shows, 'Sesamstraat' (the Dutch version of Sesame Street) and 'Het Klokhuis'. He also released an album with Henk Hofstede (of Nits) and Frank Boeijen, entitled Aardige jongens (2008).

His second Henny Vrienten solo album, Mijn hart slaapt nooit, was released in 1991 to modest commercial success. His long overdue third album, En toch..., saw the light of day in November 2014.

September 2016 saw him embark on a theatre tour under the moniker Vreemde Kostgangers, a collaboration with his long time friends and fellow legendary Dutch songwriters, Boudewijn de Groot and George Kooymans of Golden Earring.

On 25th of April 2022 Henny Vrienten died of lung cancer at the age of 73.

Carnaval
Henny Vrienten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Een lange smalle weg meandert naar de horizon
Ik loop ik denk ik kijk niet om
Want ik moet door altijd door
Mijn dagen staan te koop snel want bijna uitverkocht
Ik weet het dondersgoed
Maar toch moet ik door altijd door
Alles hangt en kraakt alles aan vervanging toe
Niemand die mij maakt ik kom niet meer vooruit

Ik ben moe oh toe

Kom nu naar het carnaval
Van mijn feestelijk verval
Hef het glas op wie ik was
En drink op wat voor jou nog komen zal
Geniet van mijn feest
Ik ben er geweest

Als het over is en over zal het zeker zijn
Zing m'n liedjes drink m'n wijn
Neem het er van zuip je lam
En ik hoef geen kist een laken goed genoeg voor mij
Dan kunnen er de wormen bij
Een avondmaal eet mij kaal

Kom nu naar het carnaval
Van mijn feestelijk verval
Hef het glas op wie ik was
En drink drink op wat voor jou nog komen zal
Geniet van dit feest
Ik ben er geweest

Alles hangt en kraakt alles aan vervanging toe
Niemand die mij maakt ik kom niet meer vooruit
Ik ben moe oh toe

Kom nu naar het carnaval
Van mijn feestelijk verval
Hef het glas op wie ik was
En drink drink op wat voor jou nog komen zal
Geniet van dit feest
Ik ben er geweest

Kom nu naar het carnaval
Carnaval ba di ba
Kom nu naar het carnaval
Carnaval ba di ba
Kom nu naar het carnaval
Carnaval ba di ba
Kom nu naar het carnaval

Carnaval ba di ba
Kom nu naar het carnaval

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Henny Vrienten's song "Carnaval" can be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of the ups and downs of life, as well as a reflection on the transient nature of existence.

The opening line "Een lange smalle weg meandert naar de horizon" (A long narrow road winds towards the horizon) suggests a journey through life. The singer acknowledges that they must keep moving forward, even though their days feel like they are running out. This can be seen as a representation of the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life.

The lines "Alles hangt en kraakt alles aan vervanging toe, Niemand die mij maakt ik kom niet meer vooruit, Ik ben moe oh toe" (Everything hangs and creaks, everything needs replacing, No one makes me, I can't move forward anymore, I am tired, oh please) convey a sense of weariness and stagnation. The singer feels stuck and exhausted, as if everything is falling apart and they have lost their sense of purpose or direction in life.

The chorus, "Kom nu naar het carnaval, Van mijn feestelijk verval, Hef het glas op wie ik was, En drink drink op wat voor jou nog komen zal, Geniet van dit feest, Ik ben er geweest" (Come to my carnival, Of my festive decline, Raise your glass to who I was, And drink, drink to what is yet to come for you, Enjoy this party, I have been there) can be interpreted as an invitation to embrace the uncertainty and impermanence of life. The singer invites others to celebrate their past achievements and toast to what the future holds for them. It is a call to enjoy the present moment and find joy in the midst of the inevitable decline.

The repetition of the lines "Ik ben er geweest" (I have been there) throughout the song emphasizes a sense of acceptance and coming to terms with the transient nature of life. The singer acknowledges that everything has its time and place, and that their time has come to an end. They invite others to join in the celebration of their past and the anticipation of what lies ahead.

Overall, the lyrics of "Carnaval" can be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of life, the weariness that comes with age, and the importance of embracing and celebrating both the past and the future. It invites listeners to find joy and acceptance in the midst of life's inevitable decline.

Line by Line Meaning

Een lange smalle weg meandert naar de horizon
My journey in life feels like a never-ending path with twists and turns

Ik loop ik denk ik kijk niet om
I keep walking forward, not dwelling on the past

Want ik moet door altijd door
Because I have to keep moving, constantly pushing forward

Mijn dagen staan te koop snel want bijna uitverkocht
My time is running out, my days are almost sold out

Ik weet het dondersgoed
I am fully aware of it

Maar toch moet ik door altijd door
Yet, despite knowing this, I still have to keep going

Alles hangt en kraakt alles aan vervanging toe
Everything is falling apart, everything needs to be replaced

Niemand die mij maakt ik kom niet meer vooruit
No one can motivate me, I feel stuck and unable to move forward

Ik ben moe oh toe
I am tired, I long for rest

Kom nu naar het carnaval
Come join the carnival with me

Van mijn feestelijk verval
To celebrate my joyful descent