Brel was born on 8th April 1929 in Schaarbeek, a district of Brussels, and lived half of his life in Paris. He died of lung cancer on 9th October 1978 in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.
Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originating from Zandvoorde, near Ieper. Brel's father was co-owner of a cardboard factory and Brel started his professional life at that firm, apparently destined to follow in his father's footsteps. However he had no interest in it, showing instead an interest in the arts, having joined the Catholic-humanist youth organisation Franche Cordée, where he did some singing and acting. At Franche Cordée he met Thérèse Michielsen ('Miche'), and they married in 1950.
In the early 1950s Brel achieved some minor success in Belgium, singing his own songs. A 78rpm record ("La foire"/"Il y a") was released as a result. From 1954 Brel seriously pursued a singing career. He quit his job and moved to Paris, writing music and singing in the city's cabarets and music-halls.. In January 1955 he supported in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen. After some success his wife and daughters joined him from Belgium. By 1956 he was touring Europe and he recorded the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour", which brought him his first major recognition. He appeared in a show with Maurice Chevalier and Michel Legrand.
By the end of the 1950s Miche and Brel's three daughters moved to Brussels. He and his family led separate lives from then on. Under the influence of his friend Georges Pasquier ('Jojo') and pianists Gérard Jouannest and François Rauber, Brel's style changed. He was no longer a Catholic-humanist troubadour, but sang grimmer songs about love, death, and the struggle that is life. The music became more complex and his themes more diverse, exploring love ("Je t'aime", "Litanies pour un retour"), society ("Les singes", "Les bourgeois", "Jaurès") and spiritual concerns ("Le bon Dieu", "Dites, si c'était vrai", "Fernand"). His work is not limited to one style. He was as proficient in comic compositions ("Le lion", "Comment tuer l'amant de sa femme...") as in more emotional ones ("Voir un ami pleurer", "Fils de...", "Jojo"). He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, and is widely recognised in French-speaking countries as one of the best French-language composers of all time.
Brel himself occasionally included parts of his songs in Flemish (Dutch), one of the three official languages of Belgium, as in Marieke. He also recorded eight other Flemish versions of songs, such as Mijn vlakke land (Le plat Pays), Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne me quitte pas), Rosa, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois), and De Nuttelozen van de Nacht (Les paumés du petit matin). Since his own command of the language was poor, these were translated by Ernst van Altena, renowned translator of French song. Although France was Brel's "spiritual home" and he expressed contradictory statements about his native Belgium, some of his best compositions pay tribute to Belgium.
A very successful theatrical review of his songs, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris," was launched in 1968. It featured English translations of his songs, and it was late made into a film.
To English-speaking listeners, Brel's best-known song is probably "Seasons in the Sun," a hit for Terry Jacks in 1973. Its English lyrics are a translation by Rod McKuen of Brel's "Le Moribond."
For twenty years he was a major star gaining recognition beyond French audiences. In 1973 he retreated to French Polynesia, remaining there until 1977 when he returned to Paris and recorded his well-received final album.
A heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. He died in 1978 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia only a few yards away from painter Paul Gauguin.
Mijn Vlakke Land
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En witte vlokken schuim uiteenslaan op de kruinen
Wanneer de norse vloed beukt aan het zwart basalt
En over dijk en duin de grijze nevel valt
Wanneer bij eb het strand woest is als een woestijn
En natte westenwinden gieren van venijn
Dan vecht mijn land
Mijn vlakke land!
Wanneer de regen daalt op straten, pleinen, perken
Op dak en torenspits van hemelhoge kerken
Die in dit vlakke land de enige bergen zijn
Wanneer onder de wolken mensen dwergen zijn
Wanneer de dagen gaan in domme regelmaat
En bolle oostenwind het land nog vlakker slaat
Dan wacht mijn land
Mijn vlakke land!
Wanneer de lage lucht vlak over het water scheert
Wanneer de lage lucht ons nederigheid leert
Wanneer de lage lucht er grijs als leisteen is
Wanneer de lage lucht er vaal als kleileem is
Wanneer de noordewind de vlakte vierendeelt
Wanneer de noordewind er onze adem steelt
Dan kraakt mijn land
Mijn vlakke land!
Wanneer de Schelde blinkt in zuidelijke zon
En elke Vlaamse vrouw flaneert in zonjapon
Wanneer de eerste spin z'n lente-webben weeft
Of dampende het veld in julizonlicht beeft
Wanneer de zuidenwind er schatert door het graan
Wanneer de zuidenwind er jubelt langs de baan
Dan juicht mijn land
Mijn vlakke land!
Jacques Brel's song "Mijn Vlakke Land" is a tribute to his homeland, the flat country of Belgium. The song paints vivid images of the various moods and weather patterns of the country, from the raging seas and stormy winds to the rains that fall on streets, squares, and even the towering church steeples that serve as the "mountains" of the land. The words "Mijn vlakke land" (My flat land) are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing Brel's love for his country's flat landscapes.
The lyrics evoke a sense of pride and admiration for the country's resilience in the face of harsh weather conditions. Brel speaks of the fighting spirit of the people, who stand firm against the fury of the North Sea and the forces of nature. The repetition of the word "land" creates a unifying theme throughout the song, making it clear that Brel's love for his country is unwavering.
The song's imagery and emotions have made it an unofficial anthem of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium. The song has been covered by many Belgian and Dutch musicians and remains a beloved national song to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanneer de Noordzee koppig breekt aan hoge duinen
When the North Sea stubbornly breaks against high dunes
En witte vlokken schuim uiteenslaan op de kruinen
And white flakes of foam scatter on their peaks
Wanneer de norse vloed beukt aan het zwart basalt
When the surly tide pounds against the black basalt
En over dijk en duin de grijze nevel valt
And the gray mist falls over dyke and dune
Wanneer bij eb het strand woest is als een woestijn
When at low tide the beach is as wild as a desert
En natte westenwinden gieren van venijn
And wet western winds howl with malice
Dan vecht mijn land
Then my country fights
Mijn vlakke land!
My flat land!
Wanneer de regen daalt op straten, pleinen, perken
When rain falls on streets, squares, and gardens
Op dak en torenspits van hemelhoge kerken
On the roof and spire of sky-high churches
Die in dit vlakke land de enige bergen zijn
Which in this flat land are the only mountains
Wanneer onder de wolken mensen dwergen zijn
When under the clouds people are dwarfs
Wanneer de dagen gaan in domme regelmaat
When the days go by in stupid regularity
En bolle oostenwind het land nog vlakker slaat
And the bulging east wind makes the country even flatter
Dan wacht mijn land
Then my country waits
Mijn vlakke land!
My flat land!
Wanneer de lage lucht vlak over het water scheert
When the low sky skims over the water
Wanneer de lage lucht ons nederigheid leert
When the low sky teaches us humility
Wanneer de lage lucht er grijs als leisteen is
When the low sky is gray like slate
Wanneer de lage lucht er vaal als kleileem is
When the low sky is pale like clay
Wanneer de noordewind de vlakte vierendeelt
When the north wind splits the plain into quarters
Wanneer de noordewind er onze adem steelt
When the north wind steals our breath away
Dan kraakt mijn land
Then my country creaks
Mijn vlakke land!
My flat land!
Wanneer de Schelde blinkt in zuidelijke zon
When the Scheldt shines in southern sun
En elke Vlaamse vrouw flaneert in zonjapon
And every Flemish woman strolls in her sun dress
Wanneer de eerste spin z'n lente-webben weeft
When the first spider weaves its spring webs
Of dampende het veld in julizonlicht beeft
Or the field trembles in July sunlight
Wanneer de zuidenwind er schatert door het graan
When the south wind chuckles through the grain
Wanneer de zuidenwind er jubelt langs de baan
When the south wind sings merrily along the road
Dan juicht mijn land
Then my country rejoices
Mijn vlakke land!
My flat land!
Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yoerinrobberechts8508
prachtig lied als je goed luistert. Het was één van mijn moeder haar favorieten van jaques brel, samen met ne me quite pas. Het doet me denken aan haar toen ze het speelde toen ik klein was, aan andere tijden. Vervlogen tijden waar muziek meer betekende dan nu, met meer ziel en betekenis..
@AEVAE
Ik heb een cover gemaakt van dit nummer, zou je deze willen luisteren?:)
@murellevendramin1150
Difficile mais merci
@Steinbach1984
Laat ons het, in een tijd waarin ALLES in België politiek is, er tenminste over eens zijn dat een prachtig lied in een prachtige vertaling en een prachtige uitvoering is. Ruzies gaarne elders.
@simonenel2856
Ek is van Suid-Afrika, en het die lied vir die eerste keer gehoor 22 jaar gelede, dit is pragtig!
@marcvangeldere715
Groeten vanuit Vlaanderen Simone!
@etiennedevrede2478
Ongelooflijk..!! U spreekt toch VLAAMS .. "EK IS van Suid-Afrika ... " = EK = IK IS =BEN
Van Suid = van Zuid ..
"Quot LINGUAES CAILLES, tot HUMANES VALES" ( Romeinse (Latijnse) Quote .. Van Keizer Karel
(Om te zeggen , het kennis van TAALEN ,— "HUMANES VALES" ( Vertalen is niet nodig)
Ik wens u een GOEIEDAG.... van Brussel 🇧🇪
@mieke9336
Speciaal voor mijn Duitse overleden vriend die in Lanzarote woonde....RIP Christoph....
@DavidMoviez
Sterkte.
@flamencobeertje
De DUITSERS zijn ten minste een volk met KARAKTER ! Dáár kunnen wij , Vlamingen nog een puntje aan zuigen ! Behou uw mooie herinnering , Annemieke !