Katrina
Laurika Rauch Lyrics


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Katrina van die Bo-kaap het voor haar deur gestaan
‘n Boot lê in die hawe
Matrose kom al aan

Oor Strandstraat na die Boereplein, die donker strate in
En netnou sal Katrina se nagtaak weer begin

‘n Halfverlepte hoedjie hang parmantig oor een oog
Die rooi veer is verinneweer maar staan nog met ‘n boog

Katrina dra haar beste rok, sy stryk die kreukels plat
So fyn asof ‘n vryer wag het sy haar uitgevat

Maar eer sy van haar huis gaan kyk sy ‘n keer weer om
Lank sal die leë ure wees voordat sy daar kan kom

Katrina stap deur Roosstraat, astrant met slentergang
Wie raai nou aan haar houding dat sy na huis verlang

Nou kom sy by haar susters
Die rawe van die nag
Wat by die hoeke uitskel of somber staan en wag

Katrina ken haar roeping
‘n Harpy van die eer
‘n Noodgedwonge rower wat alles tog ontbeer

Katrina haat die lewe




Katrina vrees die dood
Katrina gaan haar slentergang verdien haar bitter brood

Overall Meaning

The song "Katrina" by Laurika Rauch tells the story of a woman named Katrina living in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa. The song describes her waiting for the matroses to come in while standing outside her door. She puts on her best dress and straightens out her wrinkles as if she is waiting for her lover. But in reality, she is a harpy of the night and a forced robber. She walks through the dark streets and meets her sisters who are also waiting on the corners. The lyrics mention that Katrina hates life and fears death but has to earn her living by doing what she does.


The song uses descriptive language to paint the picture of the life of a prostitute in the Bo-Kaap area. It highlights the struggle that women at the time had to go through to make a living. The lyrics show the tough choices that women sometimes have to make in life, and the difficulty they face in the sex industry. The song portrays a dark and gritty picture of life in Cape Town during the time it was written.


Line by Line Meaning

Katrina van die Bo-kaap het voor haar deur gestaan
Katrina from the Bo-Kaap stood in front of her door


‘n Boot lê in die hawe
A boat lies in the harbor


Matrose kom al aan
Sailors are already coming


Oor Strandstraat na die Boereplein, die donker strate in
Through Strand Street to Boereplein, into the dark streets


En netnou sal Katrina se nagtaak weer begin
And soon Katrina's night shift will begin


‘n Halfverlepte hoedjie hang parmantig oor een oog
A half-wilted hat hangs jauntily over one eye


Die rooi veer is verinneweer maar staan nog met ‘n boog
The red feather is worn out but still stands with a curve


Katrina dra haar beste rok, sy stryk die kreukels plat
Katrina wears her best dress, she irons out the creases


So fyn asof ‘n vryer wag het sy haar uitgevat
As fine as if a suitor is waiting for her


Maar eer sy van haar huis gaan kyk sy ‘n keer weer om
But before she leaves her house, she looks back once


Lank sal die leë ure wees voordat sy daar kan kom
Long will be the empty hours before she can return


Katrina stap deur Roosstraat, astrant met slentergang
Katrina walks through Roos Street, confident with a lazy gait


Wie raai nou aan haar houding dat sy na huis verlang
Who would guess from her demeanor that she longs for home


Nou kom sy by haar susters
Now she arrives at her sisters'


Die rawe van die nag
The scum of the night


Wat by die hoeke uitskel of somber staan en wag
Who loiter in the corners or stand solemnly waiting


Katrina ken haar roeping
Katrina knows her calling


‘n Harpy van die eer
A thief of dignity


‘n Noodgedwonge rower wat alles tog ontbeer
A forced robber who has lost everything


Katrina haat die lewe
Katrina hates life


Katrina vrees die dood
Katrina fears death


Katrina gaan haar slentergang verdien haar bitter brood
Katrina's lazy walk will earn her bitter bread




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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