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.
Heel mijn leven
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dan zijn mijn gedachten bij jou
want jij bent alles voor mij
elke nacht denk ik aan jou
Ik fluister jou naam in mijn dromen
ik tel elk uur elke dag
tot jij weer terug komt bij mij
`t is een feest als jij weer lacht
Heel mijn leven, wil ik geven
`t is voor jou als wij samen zo verder gaan
voor altijd, ja zolang als er sterren staan
`K breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
van de morgen tot laat in de als de avond valt
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
Kom geef mij je hand
loop met me langs dit mooie strand
kom aan m`n zij
`k breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
van de morgen tot laat als de avond valt
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
Hoe kan ik jou ooit vergeten
in jouw stem klinkt een lied, een chanson
dus neem mij mee op een reis
naar een land ver in de zon
Heel mijn leven, wil ik geven
`t is voor jou als wij samen zo verder gaan
voor altijd, ja zolang er sterren staan
`k breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
van de morgen tot laat als de avond valt
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
Kom geef mij je hand
loop met mij langs dit mooie strand
kom aan m`n zij
`k breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
van de morgen tot laat als de avond valt
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
The lyrics of Jan Smit's "Heel mijn leven" express a deep devotion and love towards someone special in the singer's life. They use specific imagery to evoke the powerful emotions that the singer feels towards their love interest. The first verse places us in a moment where the singer sees their love interest walk by, and in that moment, they become all that the singer thinks about. They crave the presence of the person and every night, they think of them. The second verse uses metaphors to depict the depth of the singer's longing for their love interest. They whisper their name in their dreams and count every hour and every day until their love interest returns. The singer also uses a simile to compare the happiness felt when their love interest laughs to that of a celebration.
The chorus is the most passionate part of the song. It emphasizes the singer's promise to give their whole life to their love interest, and that as long as they stand by each other, they will be together forever. The singer constantly reaffirms their dedication to their love interest by offering them roses and a song, promising to continue doing so until the evening falls. Additionally, we learn that the singer cannot imagine life without their love interest, which heightens the intensity of their emotions even further.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that they could never forget their love interest because their voice reminds them of a song they hold dear. They then extend an invitation to go on a journey together, wanting to experience the joys of life hand in hand with their love interest. The song conveys an intense devotion and love towards someone that has profoundly impacted the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Steeds als ik jou weer zie lopen
My thoughts always go to you whenever I see you walk.
dan zijn mijn gedachten bij jou
My thoughts are with you at that moment.
want jij bent alles voor mij
You mean everything to me.
elke nacht denk ik aan jou
I think of you every night.
Ik fluister jou naam in mijn dromen
I whisper your name in my dreams.
ik tel elk uur elke dag
I count every hour every day.
tot jij weer terug komt bij mij
Until you come back to me.
`t is een feest als jij weer lacht
It's a celebration when you smile again.
Heel mijn leven, wil ik geven
I want to give my whole life.
`t is voor jou als wij samen zo verder gaan
It's for you if we continue on this path together.
voor altijd, ja zolang als er sterren staan
Forever, as long as there are stars.
`K breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
I'll bring you roses, I'll sing.
van de morgen tot laat in de als de avond valt
From morning until late until the evening falls.
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
Believe me, I can't exist without you.
Kom geef mij je hand
Come, give me your hand.
loop met me langs dit mooie strand
Walk with me along this beautiful beach.
kom aan m`n zij
Come to my side.
Hoe kan ik jou ooit vergeten
How can I ever forget you?
in jouw stem klinkt een lied, een chanson
A song, a chanson sounds in your voice.
dus neem mij mee op een reis
So take me on a journey.
naar een land ver in de zon
To a land far in the sun.
Kom geef mij je hand
Come, give me your hand.
loop met mij langs dit mooie strand
Walk with me along this beautiful beach.
kom aan m`n zij
Come to my side.
`k breng je rozen, ik zal zingen
I'll bring you roses, I'll sing.
van de morgen tot laat als de avond valt
From morning until late until the evening falls.
geloof me, zonder jou kan ik niet bestaan
Believe me, I can't exist without you.
Contributed by Keira O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Die Frieda
Wenn ich seine Stimme höre, dann ist einfach alles toll um mich herum🙏🙏😍😍ich liiiiiebe seine Stimme und seine Ausstrahlung ❤️
Moontje De G
Je bent de beste ben al fan van je sins mijn 5de
Vesna Covo
Beste und schönste Stimme dieser Welt. Definitiv. Jan ist auch der schönste mann dieser Welt.❤️😘❤️😘❤️😘.
TrekBeertje0475
🥰
Jerro Jammeh
Dank uit je wel jan
Jerro Jammeh
Dank je wel