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
Hillbrow
Johannes Kerkorrel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En kyk al die mense loop heen en weer
Die boemelaars raas by die Wimpy bar
En Fontana is oop tot laat in die aand
Kaalvoet kinders sit in die straat
Wys parkeerplek aan
En hou dan die hand
En hou dan die hand
Gee gee gee
Gee gee gee
Jou sente, jou drome, jou klere vol gate
Gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
Gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
Uit Quartzstraat hoor ek n meisie my roep
Daar’s ‘n Hari Krishna wat vra wat ek soek
Ken ek vir Jesus, vra ‘n man op die stoep
Tussen Hillbrow Records en Estoril Books
En dis lank na twaalfuur
En die Hillbrowtorings
Sy sein in die nag
Sy sein in die nag
Sy sein vir die junkies wat wag
En gee gee gee
Gee gee gee
Jou sente, jou drome, jou toekoms vol gate
Gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
Ja gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
En die ligte gaan aan in die Chelsea Hotel
En stemme en musiek klink in elke woonstel
Ons sit in die son en drink wyn
Ons survive met ‘n hel se lot pyn in die land, ja
Kom ons drink op die een wat sy drome oorleef
Op die een wat kry wat hy vra
Gee gee gee
Gee gee gee
Jou sente, jou drome, jou toekoms vol gate
Gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
Ja, gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
Komaan gee jou hart vir die Hillbrow
The song "Hillbrow" by Johannes Kerkorrel is a tribute to the bustling suburb of Johannesburg, named Hillbrow. The song opens with the image of an old man sitting at a street café, watching the people come and go. The bohemian and homeless people are causing commotions outside the Wimpy Bar and the Fontana, which stays open until late in the night.
The song then turns to the image of barefooted kids in the street who guide drivers to parking spaces and hold their hands out for change. The song encourages listeners to give, give, give - to give their cents, their dreams, their clothes full of holes, and their hearts to Hillbrow.
The song reinforces Hillbrow’s reputation for being a melting pot of different nationalities, religions, and cultures. The lyrics mention a call from a Hari Krishna in Quartz Street, and a man on the stoep asking if the singer knows Jesus. The Hillbrow Tower sends signals into the night, leading the way for the junkies waiting in the dark.
Overall, "Hillbrow" is a celebration of the lively yet gritty suburb, and an appeal to embrace it with open hearts and giving hands.
Line by Line Meaning
Ou man sit by die straatkafees
An old man sits at the street cafes
En kyk al die mense
And watches all the people
Loop heen-en-weer
Walking back and forth
Die boemelaars raas by die Wimpy Bar
The bums make noise outside the Wimpy Bar
En Fontana is oop tot laat in die aand
And Fontana is open late into the evening
Kaalvoet kinders in die straat
Barefoot children in the street
Wys parkeerplek aan
Indicating parking spots
En hou dan die hand
And then hold their hand
En hou oop die hand
And keep their hand open
Oh, en gee, gee, gee
Oh, and give, give, give
Gee, gee, gee
Give, give, give
Jou sente, jou drome, jou klere vol gate
Your feelings, your dreams, your clothes full of holes
Gee jou hart vir Hillbrow
Give your heart to Hillbrow
Uit Quartz Straat hoor ek 'n meisie my roep
From Quartz Street I hear a girl calling me
Daar's 'n Hare Krishna wat vra wat ek soek
There's a Hare Krishna asking what I'm looking for
En ken ek vir Jesus, vra 'n man op die stoep
And a man on the sidewalk asks if I know Jesus
Tussen Hillbrow Records en Estoril Books
Between Hillbrow Records and Estoril Books
En dis lank na twaalf-uur
And it's long after midnight
En die Hillbrow toring stuur
And the Hillbrow tower sends
Sy seine in die nag, sy sein in die nag
Its signals in the night, its signal in the night
Sy sein vir die junkies wat wag
Its signal for the junkies waiting
Whoa, en gee, gee, gee
Whoa, and give, give, give
Jou sente, jou drome, jou toekoms vol gate
Your feelings, your dreams, your future full of holes
Gee jou hart vir Hillbrow
Give your heart to Hillbrow
Ja, gee jou hart vir Hillbrow
Yes, give your heart to Hillbrow
En die ligte gaan aan
And the lights come on
In die Chelsea hotel
In the Chelsea Hotel
En stemme en musiek
And voices and music
Klink in elke woonstel
Sound in every apartment
Ons sit in die son en drink wyn
We sit in the sun and drink wine
Ons survive met 'n helse lot pyn in hierdie land, ja
We survive with a lot of pain in this country, yes
Kom ons drink op die een wat sy drome oorleef
Let's drink to the one who survives their dreams
Op die een wat kry wat hy vra, ja
To the one who gets what they ask for, yes
Kom aan, gee jou hart vir Hillbrow
Come on, give your heart to Hillbrow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@madmike786
Hillbrow will never b the same as it was 30 years ago 😢😢😢
@deniskrneta6228
My beloved Hillbrow!
@ChurchOfGod44
Rest In Peace Harper Hilarowowowrilrow.... I will always love working for him.... God is good.... Amen
@paulengelbrecht4262
Na soveel jaar, al is dit nie baie nie. Johannes Kerkorrel. Jy was legend.
@user-wc5tt6em3y
Stayed in Hillbrow cant believe what it has become it breaks my heart
@emileventer
It must be an African thing from the start
@emileventer
Y N, Y T will try and break a white boomer like me. Over & over.
@georgjacobs4442
The best rendition of his best song . Peace to you forever Ralph
@carlcruysberghs2298
❤
@alexbertram4271
RIP Johannes Kerkorrel! One of my favourite songs, thank you so much for uploading the video. Just did the Hillbrow walk with Dlala Nje last week. Too bad that the neighborhood looks different now, but things a slowly changing for the better.