Smit was discovered by Dutch middle of the road band BZN, who used his vocals in a duet called Mama. He has released several albums in Dutch and German since.
Jan dedicated the song Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (means: I Sing this song just for you) to his grandmother. In 1997, Smit toured South Africa with popular Afrikaans singer Nádine. In 2000, Smit won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik singing Ich zeig dir die Berge with Oswald Sattler for South Tyrol. In 2001 Smit won the Exportprijs for his success in Germany, France and Italy. In Germany he became one of the best selling Dutch artists ever, with German-language albums specifically aimed at the German market.
After three big hits in the late 90's, Jan's popularity began to wane gradually. His albums Jan Smit 2000 #32 (2000), Zing en Lach (Sing and Laugh) #33 (2001), Zonder Jou (Without You) #40 and Op Eigen Benen (On My Own Feet) #45 sold fewer copies than his first two albums from his child star era.
However, Jan was still very popular in Germany, where he spent most of his time touring. 2005 marked his comeback in his home country, when regional television host Willie Oosterhuis picked up a Jan Smit song recorded in 2003, 'Als de nacht verdwijnt' ('When the night is over'). Willie heavily plugged the song on his show, resulting in a medium sized hit.
During the same period Dutch broadcaster TROS wanted to produce a real life soap about Jan, with the focus on his life as a teenage star in Germany and The Netherlands, and on his private life in the picturesque seaside village of Volendam. The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Homies for life') brought Jan back at the top of the charts for the first time in a few years. It was written for his cousin Niek Smit(s), who lives in Maastricht.
In 2006 Smit had several big selling hit singles, such as 'Laura' (about a friend who died of cancer), 'Als de morgen is gekomen' ('When the morning has come') and 'Cupido' (Cupid). Jan usually includes special tracks on his CD singles, such as live recordings, previously unreleased tracks and CD-ROM-content, which makes his singles more interesting for his hardcore fanbase. In 2007 he topped the single charts again with "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (On The Road To Happiness) and with "Dan Volg Je Haar Benen" ('And then you check out her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (the album sold 160.000 copies in its first four days after being released, more than double platinum).
In 2006 he also recorded "Kerst voor Iedereen" (Christmas for Everyone) which was a Christmas-duet with Dutch tv-host Bridget Maasland as a part of Dutch tv-show Katja vs Bridget. He later on recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who recently also started a singing career
In 2007 he planned to tour the Netherlands again with the "Jan Smit Komt Naar Je Toe"-tour (Jan Smit Comes To You) but due to problems with his vocal cords this tour had to be postponed. For at least 6 months Jan Smit has to rest his voice.
'Dan volg je haar benen' was Jan's fifth Number One single in The Netherlands, making him one of the most successful soloists in Dutch chart history. Only George Michael and Dutch singer Marco Borsato had more Number Ones.
Eens Zit Het Leven Je Weer Mee
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jouw stem klinkt als in een triest chanson
Je humor is verdwenen en ook je lieve lach
Maar achter de wolken schijnt toch ook voor jou de zon
Eens zit het leven je weer mee, kan je weer lachen
Dan breng ik bloemen voor je mee
Voor elke lach een orchidee
Dan schijnt het zonnetje weer blij, voor jou en mij
Eens kan voor jou het leven nooit meer stuk
Blijf dus maar dromen, heerlijk dromen van geluk
Soms doet het me veel pijn als ik je daar zo zie
Dan voel ik in m'n hart, een diep berouw
Dat ik je niet getroost heb met je stil verdriet
Maar weet dat ik altijd, ja voor altijd van je hou
Eens zit het leven je weer mee, kan je weer lachen
Dan breng ik bloemen voor je mee
Voor elke lach een orchidee
Eens zijn jou zorgen weer voorbij, kan je weer dromen
Dan schijnt het zonnetje weer blij, voor jou en mij
Eens kan voor jou het leven nooit meer stuk
Blijf dus maar dromen, heerlijk dromen van geluk
Eens zit het leven je weer mee, kan je weer lachen
Dan breng ik bloemen, mooie bloemen voor je mee
The lyrics of Jan Smit's song, "Eens Zit Het Leven Je Weer Mee" as translated to English means, "Your eyes tell me that you are sad. Your voice sounds like a sad chanson. Your humor is gone, and so is your lovely smile. But behind the clouds, the sun still shines for you too. Once life goes well for you again, you can laugh again. I will bring flowers for you, an orchid for every smile. Once your worries are over, you can dream again; the sun will shine happily for you and me. Once life can never hurt you again, you can keep dreaming, dream happily."
The song talks about a loved one who is going through a difficult time and how it pains the singer to see them in such a state. However, they believe that things will get better and that happiness will come back to them. The lyrics assure the listener that they will stand by them through thick and thin and that they will bring them flowers to celebrate when they can smile again.
Line by Line Meaning
Jouw ogen zeggen mij dat jij verdrietig bent
I can see in your eyes that you're feeling sad
Jouw stem klinkt als in een triest chanson
Your voice sounds like a sad song
Je humor is verdwenen en ook je lieve lach
Your sense of humor and your sweet laugh have disappeared
Maar achter de wolken schijnt toch ook voor jou de zon
But behind the clouds, the sun is still shining for you
Eens zit het leven je weer mee, kan je weer lachen
Someday life will treat you well again and you'll be able to laugh
Dan breng ik bloemen voor je mee
And I'll bring you flowers
Voor elke lach een orchidee
One orchid for every smile
Eens zijn jou zorgen weer voorbij, kan je weer dromen
One day your worries will be gone and you'll be able to dream again
Dan schijnt het zonnetje weer blij, voor jou en mij
Then the sun will shine happily again, for you and me
Eens kan voor jou het leven nooit meer stuk
Someday life will never bring you down again
Blijf dus maar dromen, heerlijk dromen van geluk
So keep on dreaming, dreaming of happiness
Soms doet het me veel pijn als ik je daar zo zie
Sometimes it hurts me a lot to see you like this
Dan voel ik in m'n hart, een diep berouw
Then I feel in my heart, a deep regret
Dat ik je niet getroost heb met je stil verdriet
That I haven't comforted you in your silent sorrow
Maar weet dat ik altijd, ja voor altijd van je hou
But know that I will always love you, yes forever
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.