Manke Nelis was born on december the 16th, in 1919 in The Nederlands. He's … Read Full Bio ↴Manke Nelis was born on december the 16th, in 1919 in The Nederlands. He's real name was Cornelis Pieters.

He became one of the most popular dutch singers with songs like "Oh Amsterdam, wat ben je mooi", "Er is een Amsterdammer Doodgegaan" and "Diep in mijn Hart", some of them with the accordeonist Johnny Meijer.

His biggest hit was 'Kleine Jodeljongen' in 1987.

He also gets very popular singing Ajax soccer team songs, like a version of "Que sera" originally of Doris Day.

He died of cancer in 1993.

Kerstmis in de Jordaan
Manke Nelis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

refr.:
Als met Kerst de torenklokken luiden
Wordt 't stil bij ons in de Jordaan
En dan zie ik steeds in mijn gedachten
Nog m'n allereerste kerstboom staan
Nooit zal ik die tijd vergeten
Waar ik ter wereld eens zal gaan
Ik zal nooit een mooier Kerstfeest weten

Dan bij ons, in de Jordaan

Ik zie me nog met moeder lopen
Op 't allerlaatst moment
Om een kerstboom te gaan kopen
Want dat scheelde weer een cent
't Fijnste van 't Kerstmis vieren
Was die boom te gaan versieren
En dan zongen wij heel zacht
Met mn moeder: Stille nacht

refr.

Ik zal nooit een mooier Kerstfeest weten
Dan bij ons, in de Jordaan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Manke Nelis's song "Kerstmis in de Jordaan" capture the nostalgic memories of the singer's childhood Christmas celebrations in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam. The song describes the calmness that descends upon the Jordaan when the church bells ring on Christmas day, filling the singer with memories of his first Christmas tree. The singer expresses his desire to never forget the simple joys of his childhood and the beauty of the Christmas celebrations in the Jordaan.

The song also depicts the singer's reminiscence of going to buy a Christmas tree with his mother, just before the festivities were about to begin. The process of decorating the tree with his family was the highlight of his Christmas, where the singer recollects singing "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) in hushed tones with his mother. The lyrics showcase the singer's fondness for his childhood home, where he experienced the most beautiful Christmas celebration ever.

Line by Line Meaning

Als met Kerst de torenklokken luiden
When Christmas comes and the sound of bells fill the air

Wordt 't stil bij ons in de Jordaan
The noises fade away and it becomes quiet in our neighborhood, the Jordaan

En dan zie ik steeds in mijn gedachten
My mind wanders back to my childhood memories

Nog m'n allereerste kerstboom staan
Remembering my very first Christmas tree

Nooit zal ik die tijd vergeten
I will never forget that period of my life

Waar ik ter wereld eens zal gaan
No matter where in the world I may travel

Ik zal nooit een mooier Kerstfeest weten
I will never experience a more beautiful Christmas than the ones spent in the Jordaan

Ik zie me nog met moeder lopen
I can still picture myself walking with my mother

Op 't allerlaatst moment
At the very last moment before the holiday

Om een kerstboom te gaan kopen
To buy a Christmas tree

Want dat scheelde weer een cent
Because every penny counts