Ilse DeLange is a Dutch country and pop singer. She first rose to prominenc… Read Full Bio ↴Ilse DeLange is a Dutch country and pop singer. She first rose to prominence in 1998 following the release of her debut album World of Hurt. The album was recorded in Nashville, the capital of country music. It became a runaway success in the Netherlands, where it peaked at Number 1 for six weeks and was eventually certified quintuple-platinum. It ranks as one of the highest-selling albums of all time. Following the album’s release, its lead single “I’m Not So Tough” became DeLange her first Top 40-hit. In 1999, she received a TMF Award and an Edison Award for her musical success.

In 1999, DeLange released live-album Dear John, an album full of covers by John Hiatt, after a very successful performance at the "Marlboro Flashbacks". The album went platinum in the Netherlands, for selling more than 80,000 copies.

In 2000, DeLange released her sophomore album Livin’ On Love. Although there was a good amount of promotion for the album, it could not compete with the success of its predecessor. It peaked at #5 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Its lead single “Livin’ On Love” became a minor Top 40-entry. Meanwhile, Warner Music attempted to promote this release as her "breakthrough" release in the United States. Although World Of Hurt was planned to be released in the States, the record labels in America thought the album was too old-fashioned for the 2000s. It was eventually shelved.

In 2003, DeLange released her third album Clean Up. It became another success for the Dutch singer, peaking at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 for five weeks. Its single “Shine” with Rosemary's Sons became a surprise Top 40-hit. Despite the success, the first single “No Reason To Be Shy” was a commercial failure and the record company decided not to release any further singles.

Later that same year, DeLange released her first compilation album Here I Am (1998-2003). She also collaborated with Kane on “Before You Let Me Go”, which was recorded live in Rotterdam. It peaked at #4 on the Dutch official Top 40, earning DeLange her first ever Top 10-hit. At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch section of record company Warner Music was disbanded and DeLange lost her contract.

She then signed with Universal Music. In 2006, she released her fourth album The Great Escape. Its lead single of the same name became an unexpectedly big hit, charting for more than five months on the Dutch official Top 40. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and was certified double-platinum within its first month. Its follow-up singles “The Lonely One” and “I Love You” both entered the Top 40 as well.

In 2008, DeLange released her fifth album Incredible. Its lead single became a breakout success, peaking at #6 on the Dutch official Top 40. It also won the Schaal van Rigter prize. The follow-up single “Miracle” became an even bigger hit, topping the Dutch official Top 40 and earning DeLange her first Number 1-single. The album was also a commercial success, becoming her fourth Number 1-album and being certified quintuple-platinum.

In 2010, DeLange released her first EP titled Next To Me. Its lead single of the same name became another Top 10-hit. In 2011 she started working on a new album, which was later shelved after her father’s death.

In 2012, DeLange released her seventh album Eye of the Hurricane. The single “Hurricane” became the album’s breakout single. This new album was promoted with a concert in the 'GelreDome' stadium. It earned DeLange another Number 1-album on the Dutch Album Top 100.

In 2013, DeLange replaced Nick & Simon as a coach on The Voice of Holland. She returned to The Voice of Holland as a coach for its fifth season in August 2014. On 15 January 2015, it was announced that DeLange would be replaced as a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Holland by Miss Montreal lead singer Sanne Hans.

DeLange represented the Netherlands, with singer Waylon as The Common Linnets, during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the song “Calm After The Storm”, the band finished in second place behind the winner Conchita Wurst from Austria, the Netherlands’ best result in more than a decade. The song became a hit single across Europe, reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band’s eponymous album also became very successful, 50.000 copies within a week in The Netherlands alone.

On 7 December 2017 it was revealed that DeLange would have a recurring role in the final season of the ABC/CMT musical-drama series Nashville.

In 2018 created DeLange her own record label, Spark Records, as part of Firefly/Universal Music. She also released her new eponymous album. The album debuted and peaked at #3 on the Dutch Album Top 100. It failed to produce a significant hit single.

DeLange was part of the Dutch delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as an artistic consultant and mentor to the Dutch representative Duncan Laurence, whom she coached during the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. Laurence went on to win the contest with his song "Arcade".

In September 2019 DeLange released the roots-album Gravel & Dust. Recorded in Nashville, this album was made with producer T Bone Burnett. It debuted at #2 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Quickly thereafter, DeLange released her new album Changes. The album debuted and peaked at #4 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and became a surprise hit in German-speaking countries. It peaked at #14 on the German Top Album Charts and a Top 10-album in Switzerland. The success inspired DeLange to tour through Germany in 2023.

DeLange participated in the seventh season of Sing Meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert. The episode where DeLange was the central guest, suddenly increased the sales of DeLanges old albums and singles.

Went For a While
Ilse DeLange Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I put on a coat
I put on a smile
I went down a road
I went for a while

Don't chew your head
Don't chew your love
Then you let go

You had enough

Can a river flow backwards
A river back to
Someone I was
Someone before you

I put on a coat
I put on a smile
I went down a road
I went for a while

Foot on the hill
Big hill to climb
Pain grows in seconds
And patience in time

I trust in the seasons
The seasons come round
Same bird, different reasons
Same solid ground

Can a river flow backwards
A river back to
Someone I was
Someone before you

And pain grows in seconds
And patience in time
I went down a road
I went for a while

I put on a coat
I put on a smile

I went down a road
I went for a while

Overall Meaning

The song "Went For a While" by Ilse DeLange explores the journey of personal growth and the process of moving on from a past relationship. The lyrics depict the singer's decision to move forward after a breakup, symbolized by the act of putting on a coat and a smile and embarking on a road. This represents a conscious effort to face the world and seek new experiences.

The lines "Don't chew your head, don't chew your love" suggest that the singer is encouraging themselves not to dwell on the past or become consumed by negative thoughts or emotions. They acknowledge that holding onto the pain and love from the previous relationship is not productive and ultimately decide to let go, recognizing that they have had enough.

The question "Can a river flow backwards, a river back to someone I was, someone before you" reflects the contemplation of whether it is possible to return to the person they were before the relationship. It speaks to the struggle of rediscovering their own identity after being influenced by someone else.

The second verse introduces the metaphor of climbing a hill, emphasizing that personal growth is not always easy and can involve pain and patience. The singer expresses trust in the natural cycles of life, symbolized by the seasons. They acknowledge that although circumstances may change, the core aspects of their being remain the same, grounded on solid ground.

Overall, "Went For a While" is a reflective and introspective song that explores the themes of moving forward, personal growth, and the process of letting go after a breakup.

Line by Line Meaning

I put on a coat
I metaphorically prepared myself for what was to come

I put on a smile
I masked my true emotions and put on a happy face

I went down a road
I embarked on a journey or path

I went for a while
I kept going for some time

Don't chew your head
Don't overthink or worry excessively

Don't chew your love
Don't dwell on past relationships or experiences

Then you let go
Then you decided to release or move on

You had enough
You reached a point where you couldn't bear anymore

Can a river flow backwards
Can something that has already happened be reversed

A river back to
A situation or state returning

Someone I was
The person I used to be