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.
Nooit meer terug
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Van een hopeloze man
Zomaar weggelopen
Zonder enig doel of plan
Wat was nou de reden
Van z'n eenzame bestaan
Waarom werd hij gemeden
Is hij hier plots weggegaan
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Een bed om in te slapen,
Dat was alles wat hij had
Nooit een vriend om mee te praten
Geen ene cent die hij bezat
Zoekend naar een antwoord waarom hij dit heeft gedaan
Niemand zal het weten
Hij is in stilte weg gegaan
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Zwervend over straten
Niemand keek hem aan
Niets om voor te leven
Het was het lot van zijn bestaan
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam,
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam,
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam..
The song "Nooit meer terug" by Jan Smit tells the sad story of a man who walked away from his life without any clear reason or destination. The lyrics begin with the singer searching for understanding of this hopeless man who disappeared without any plan or purpose. The man lived a lonely life, and nobody knew why he left or where he went. The song reflects on the man's struggles and the unanswered questions surrounding his sudden departure.
The chorus repeats the line "That was the man who never came back from his far journey alone," emphasizing the man's absence and the mystery surrounding his leaving. The verse continues to describe the man's meagre possessions and lack of companionship, which seems to have led to his feelings of desperation and hopelessness. He left without saying anything and didn't give any clue as to why he left or where he was headed.
Overall, the song reflects on the sadness and tragedy of a life lost without explanation. The lyrics are moving and impactful, highlighting the reality of loneliness and uncertainty that so many people experience in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Zoekend naar wat horend
Seeking to hear something
Van een hopeloze man
From a hopeless man
Zomaar weggelopen
Just walked away
Zonder enig doel of plan
Without any goal or plan
Wat was nou de reden
What was the reason
Van z'n eenzame bestaan
For his lonely existence
Waarom werd hij gemeden
Why was he avoided
Is hij hier plots weggegaan
Did he leave suddenly here
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam van zijn verre reis alleen
That was the man who never came back from his far journey alone
Met de noorderzon vertrokken
Left unnoticed and quietly
Nooit vertelt waarom, waarheen
Never told why or where
Een bed om in te slapen,
A bed to sleep in,
Dat was alles wat hij had
That was all he had
Nooit een vriend om mee te praten
Never a friend to talk to
Geen ene cent die hij bezat
He didn't have a penny
Zoekend naar een antwoord waarom hij dit heeft gedaan
Searching for an answer why he did this
Niemand zal het weten
No one will know
Hij is in stilte weg gegaan
He left silently
Zwervend over straten
Wandering the streets
Niemand keek hem aan
No one looked at him
Niets om voor te leven
Nothing to live for
Het was het lot van zijn bestaan
It was the fate of his existence
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam,
That was the man who never came back
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam,
That was the man who never came back
Dat was de man die nooit terug kwam..
That was the man who never came back..
Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Monica S
😘❤Too.. good..