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.
Laat me maar gaan
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
t is precies dezelfde liefde die ik mis
In de spiegel zie ik niet
Die persoon die jij wel ziet
Ga op weg...
Dus mis me niet....
Schat ik kan jou liefde niet meer langer aan
Waar jij groeide ben ik domweg blijven staan
Waar ik vroeger voor je ging.. is nu nog 1 herinnering..
Laat me maar gaan
Schat ik kan jou liefde niet meer langer aan
Waar jij groeide ben ik domweg blijven staan
Ik ben jou niet langer waard
Ben niet de prins op't witte paard
Laat toch geen traan
Laat me maar gaan
In gedachten zie ik onze eerste kus
Aan het water hand in hand
Zo warm en knus
Dat gevoel ben ik nu kwijt
Het heeft plaats gemaakt voor spijt
ga op weg
De hoogste tijd
Schat ik kan jou liefde niet meer langer aan....
Waar jij groeide ben ik domweg blijven staan....
Wwaar ik vroeger voor je ging.. is nu nog 1 herinnering..
Lat me maar gaan....
Shat ik kan jou liefde niet meer langer aan
War jij groeide ben ik domweg blijven staan
Ik ben jou niet langer waard
Ben niet de prins op't witte paard
Laat toch geen traan
Laat me maar gaan
The song "Laat me maar gaan" by Jan Smit talks about a relationship that has reached its end. The singer acknowledges the kind of love that he misses and realizes that he can no longer handle the love that his partner is offering. He talks about seeing a different person in the mirror than the person his partner sees, indicating that he has lost himself in the relationship. Although he reflects on the beautiful memories they shared together, he knows that it is time for him to move on and let go of the relationship. He acknowledges that he is not the perfect partner for his significant other, and so he decides to set them both free.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is experiencing conflicting emotions, as he still remembers the good times but realizes that their relationship has run its course. The song has a melancholic tone and conveys a sense of sadness and disappointment. Overall, the song talks about the challenges of letting go of someone you once loved deeply and acknowledging when it is time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
't is zo simpel om te zien wat liefde is...
Love seems so simple and obvious at first glance...
t is precies dezelfde liefde die ik mis
...but it's the very same love that I'm missing now.
In de spiegel zie ik niet
I don't see, in my reflection,
Die persoon die jij wel ziet
The person you used to see in me.
Ga op weg...
I'm leaving now...
Dus mis me niet....
...so please don't miss me too much.
Schat ik kan jou liefde niet meer langer aan
My dear, I can no longer handle your love
Waar jij groeide ben ik domweg blijven staan
while you kept growing, I just stood still.
Waar ik vroeger voor je ging.. is nu nog 1 herinnering..
The things I used to do for you are just a memory now.
Laat me maar gaan
So let me go.
Ik ben jou niet langer waard
I'm no longer worthy of you.
Ben niet de prins op't witte paard
I'm not the prince on a white horse.
Laat toch geen traan
So don't shed a tear.
In gedachten zie ik onze eerste kus
In my mind, I see our first kiss,
Aan het water hand in hand
holding hands by the water.
Zo warm en knus
It was so warm and cozy.
Dat gevoel ben ik nu kwijt
But that feeling is now lost.
Het heeft plaats gemaakt voor spijt
It has been replaced by regret.
De hoogste tijd
It's the right time
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darina Podlucká
To je nádherná pesnička, krásny hlas, Jan je vždy super. ❤❤❤
Marcel Van Dyck
Jan ik geniet hier van ,knap opgenomen!!!!😎🥵
ria tuinklein
wat een geweldig nummer van jan elke keer tranen zo mooi toppie jan
Nel Verbeek
Nog steeds een van zijn mooiste nummers!
Jootje374
prachtig nummer <3. Jan Smit woohoo
lammie Rooijakkers
Zo mooi doet me denken aan mijn verloren liefde waar ik maar niet overheen kan komen
marie kuenen
Heel mooi
Sem Schraven
Dit was het lievelingslied van mijn overleden oom 😢😢😢😢😢
Robin Alberts
Nog nooit eerder gehoord doet me een beetje denken aan de gevoelige nummers van nick en simon! Top nummertje.
Christa Keil
bitte noch mehr Deutsche Liedchen💌💌💌💌💌💌💌