Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop… Read Full Bio ↴Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop music and schlager singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (I sing this song only for you) in 1997. Being 12 years of age back then, he was known as Jantje Smit.

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.

Het Dwergenlied
Jan Smit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Daar boven in de bergen
Daar wonen zeven dwergen
Zij zijn zo blij

Zij vieren feest met veel plezier
En drinken dwergenbier.
Je vergeet het van je leven niet,
Als je dat ziet.

Ze dansen en ze springen,
Je hoort ze luidkeels zingen.
Daar in dat bos.

Val derie, o val deral deraal
'n lied in dwergentaal
Val derie, o val deral dera
Doe dat maar na.

Zij vieren feest met veel plezier
En drinken dwergenbier.
Je vergeet het van je leven niet,
Als je dat ziet.

'n Baby dwerg speelt luitje
En de oudste op een fluitje
Tu tu tu tuu.

De hoofdprijs, ja die wonnen zij
In de dwergen loterij.
En maakt dat die dwergens zo blij,
Zo blij, zo blij.

Zij vieren feest met veel plezier
En drinken dwergenbier.

Je vergeet het van je leven niet,
Als je dat ziet.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jan Smit's song "Het Dwergenlied" take us into a magical world where seven dwarfs live in the mountains, celebrating life and joy. The lyrics describe the festivities, the music, and the drinks that they enjoy. The lyrics showcase a cheerful ambiance in this fantasy world of the happy dwarfs, and it is evident in the description of their celebration.

The song is a representation of the beauty in simplicity; the dwarfs may not have much, but they have each other, and that is enough reason to celebrate. The song's chorus talks about how one can never forget the joy of seeing the seven dwarfs celebrate, drink, and sing. The lyrics remind us of the power of communal living, love, and friendship in bringing joy and happiness to people's lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Daar boven in de bergen
Up there in the mountains

Daar wonen zeven dwergen
Seven dwarves live there

Zij zijn zo blij
They are so happy

Zij vieren feest met veel plezier
They celebrate with great joy

En drinken dwergenbier.
And drink dwarf beer.

Je vergeet het van je leven niet,
You never forget it in your life,

Als je dat ziet.
When you see that.

Ze dansen en ze springen,
They dance and they jump,

Je hoort ze luidkeels zingen.
You hear them singing loudly.

Daar in dat bos.
There in that forest.

Val derie, o val deral deraal
Fall derie, oh fall deral deraal