Johannes Kerkorrel was born as Ralph Rabie in 1960. He was a South African … Read Full Bio ↴Johannes Kerkorrel was born as Ralph Rabie in 1960. He was a South African journalist and later a singer who publicly attacked the Apartheid system in his country.

In 1987, Johannes Kerkorrel was fired by Rapport newspaper for using quotes from PW Botha's speeches in his music; he then became a full-time musician and performer under the name Johannes Kerkorrel en die Gereformeerde Blues Band (Johannes Kerkorrel and the Reformed Blues Band), a deliberate reference to the Reformed Church. The band also included the Afrikaans singer-songwriter Koos Kombuis. Their brand of new Afrikaans music was dubbed 'Alternatiewe Afrikaans' (alternative Afrikaans) and exposed divergent political views to a new generation of Afrikaners.

Kerkorrel was the only white singer who performed at the inauguration of South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.

He pased away on 11 December 2002. The South African singer songwriter Valiant Swart wrote the song "Sonvanger" dedicated to the artist with Kerkorrel's mother Anne in mind, longing for her lost son.

Kerkorrel was popular in his own country as well as in Belgium.

--Discography--
Eet Kreef! (1989)
Bloudruk (1992)
Cyanide in the Beefcake (1994)
Ge-trans-for-meer (1996)
Tien Jaar Later (1998)
Sing Koos du Plessis (1999)
Die Ander Kant (2000)
Voëlvry Die Toer (2002)
Kerkorrel – Best Of: Pêrels Voor Die Swyne (2003)
Hoe Ek Voel (2012) – issued to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Rabie's death

After Rabie's death, several artists recorded tribute songs to his life and work. An incomplete list follows:

Stef Bos – Pelgrimsrus
Riku Lätti – Ysbeer
Amanda Strydom – Ek Het Gedroom
Karen Zoid – Foto Teen Die Muur
Jak De Priester – Kerkorrel
Kristoe Strauss – Sit Dit Self Af
Jan Blohm – Johnny K
Valiant Swart - Sonvanger
Valiant Swart en Koos Kombuis – Kleinmond Koebaai
Koos Kombuis - Johnny is nie dood nie

Daar Is Geen
Johannes Kerkorrel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Daar is nie meer petrol nie
Dit kos dieselfde as wyn
Daar is nie meer digters nie
Die het almal verdwyn

Gaan lees jou graffitti
Kyk dit staan op die muur
Daar is nie meer klere nie

Kyk ons almal staan naak
Daar is geen

Nee niks
Ja niks
Net dit

Daar is nie meer skandes nie
Net totale sensuur
Daar is geen genesing nie
Die hele wereld het aids

Daar is geen nuwe rigting nie
Ons het radar beheer
En geen analises nie
Ons het Sigmund gekeer

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Geen Dr Ruth nie
Haar bifocals sit skeef
Geen revolusie nie
Net emmers vol leuns

Daar is nie papier nie
Daarom breek ek my pen
Daar is nie meer tyd nie
Virewig is nou

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Daar is geen

Daar is geen
Daar is geen

Overall Meaning

The song "Daar Is Geen" by Johannes Kerkorrel is a reflection of the despair and hopelessness that the people of South Africa were feeling during the apartheid era. The lyrics describe a world where petrol has run out and is now as expensive as wine, where there are no poets left and only graffiti remains on walls. The lack of clothes symbolizes a loss of identity, and everyone is exposed and vulnerable. The song suggests that there is no hope for change, and censorship and AIDS have become rampant. The once revolutionary heroes, like Dr. Ruth and Sigmund, have disappeared or been silenced. There is no paper to write on anymore and no time left, only eternity.

The song was released in 1989, during the height of apartheid, and was banned from radio stations due to its critical message. However, the song became a rallying cry for the anti-apartheid movement, and live performances of the song at Kerkorrel's concerts were met with great enthusiasm. Kerkorrel's music, which blended rock and roll with Afrikaans poetry, was a radical departure from the traditional conservative Afrikaans music scene.

Line by Line Meaning

Daar is nie meer petrol nie
There is no more petrol left

Dit kos dieselfde as wyn
It costs the same as wine

Daar is nie meer digters nie
There are no more poets left

Die het almal verdwyn
They have all disappeared

Gaan lees jou graffitti
Go read your graffiti

Kyk dit staan op die muur
Look, it's written on the wall

Daar is nie meer klere nie
There are no more clothes left

Kyk ons almal staan naak
Look, we're all standing naked

Daar is geen
There is nothing

Nee niks
No, nothing

Ja niks
Yes, nothing