Perhaps most famously, Van Veen was the creator of the Alfred Jodocus Kwak children's animation series of worldwide fame. Van Veen is an ambassador for UNICEF Nederland and a founding member of Colombine, Stichting Alfred Jodocus Kwak, Stichting Roos, and the Herman van Veen Foundation. All of these foundations are active for children's rights. In 2004 he received the World Peace Flame, a symbol of peace, freedom, unity and truth, inspired by the eternal flame, burning at the residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Since 2005 Herman van Veen has been ambassador for the 'Music in the Middle East' foundation.
In the 1960s, Van Veen studied the violin, singing and theory of musical education at Utrecht Conservatory. His career as a recording artist started in 1968. Some of his biggest Dutch hits are Opzij (1979), Hilversum 3 (1984), Anne (1986), Zo vrolijk (1986), Toveren (1987) and Blauwe plekken (1990), but he very rarely performs them live anymore. Most of his theatre concerts focus on recent material, as there always is plenty of it.
Amsterdam's famous Carré theatre is Van Veen's 'second home': he has more than 600 headline Carré shows to his name.
Van Veen lives with his wife Gaetane Bouchez, a female dancer, in Soest, The Netherlands. He has four children from previous mariages.
Liedje
Herman van Veen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Niet over iets groots,
Niet over iets anders.
Liever hoor ik het vernietigendste dan dat je liegt
Want dat is nog vernietigender
Lieg niet over liefde
Iets wat je voelt of wat je zou willen voelen
Liever word ik bedroefd dan dat je liegt
Want dat is nog bedroevender
Lieg niet tegen me over gevaar
Want ik voel toch je angst
Wat ik gewaar word is waar
Of ik ken je niet
En dat is nog gevaarlijker
Lieg niet tegen me over ziekte
Liever kijk ik die diepte in
Dan dat ik mij verlies in een van jouw lieve verzinsels
Want daarmee verlies ik mij dieper
Lieg niet tegen me over sterven
Want zolang we er nog zijn
Vind ik dat toegangsloze
niet mededelen wat je denkt
Erger en zo veel doder
Erger en zo veel doder........
The lyrics of Herman Van Veen's song "Liedje" talk about the importance of honesty and the damage that lying can cause. The singer implores the listener not to lie to him about anything, big or small, as even a small lie can be damaging. He goes on to say that he would rather hear the most devastating truth than a lie because the latter would be far more destructive.
The song then delves into specific topics that the singer asks the listener not to lie about, such as love, danger, illness, and death. The singer insists that he would rather face the difficult reality of these situations than be misled by a lie. He then ends the song with a repeated phrase "Erger en zo veel doder," which translates to "worse and so much deader," emphasizing the seriousness of the damage that dishonesty can cause.
Overall, the song can be seen as a plea for honesty and openness in all relationships, emphasizing the need for understanding and acceptance, even in difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Lieg alsjeblieft niet tegen me,
Please don't lie to me,
Niet over iets groots,
Not about anything big,
Niet over iets anders.
Not about anything else.
Liever hoor ik het vernietigendste dan dat je liegt
I'd rather hear the most devastating truth than a lie,
Want dat is nog vernietigender
Because that is even more destructive.
Lieg niet over liefde
Don't lie about love,
Iets wat je voelt of wat je zou willen voelen
Something you feel or want to feel,
Liever word ik bedroefd dan dat je liegt
I'd rather be sad than hear a lie,
Want dat is nog bedroevender
Because that is even more heartbreaking.
Lieg niet tegen me over gevaar
Don't lie to me about danger,
Want ik voel toch je angst
Because I can still sense your fear,
Wat ik gewaar word is waar
What I perceive is true,
Of ik ken je niet
Or I don't know you,
En dat is nog gevaarlijker
And that is even more dangerous.
Lieg niet tegen me over ziekte
Don't lie to me about illness,
Liever kijk ik die diepte in
I'd rather face the depths of it,
Dan dat ik mij verlies in een van jouw lieve verzinsels
Than lose myself in one of your sweet fabrications,
Want daarmee verlies ik mij dieper
Because that would make me lose myself even more.
Lieg niet tegen me over sterven
Don't lie to me about dying,
Want zolang we er nog zijn
Because as long as we're still here,
Vind ik dat toegangsloze
I find the incomprehensible,
niet mededelen wat je denkt
Not sharing what you think,
Erger en zo veel doder
More unbearable and even more deadly.
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.