Het duivenvrouwtje
Marianne Weber Lyrics
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In het oude Rotterdam
Een lief goedhartig oudje
Dat duiven voeren kwam
Die altijd voor de lauweren stond
En granen strooide op de grond
refr.:
Het is voor haar dat ik dit liedje zing
Al weet geen mens wellicht meer hoe ze heette
Toch leeft ze voort in de herinnering
Er fladderen nieuwe duiven
In het hart der Maasstad rond
Het is of ze groeten wuiven
Naar het plekje waar ze stond
Dat brave vrouwtje, oud en stram
De duivenmoeder van Rotterdam
refr.
Al weet geen mens wellicht meer hoe ze heette
Toch leeft ze voort in de herinnering
Marianne Weber's song "Het Duivenvrouwtje" tells the story of an old woman living in the old Rotterdam who used to feed pigeons. The song speaks of her kindness and good heart and how she stood up for the pigeons by always feeding them before others. The lyrics also mention how she would often sprinkle grains on the ground to feed the pigeons. Although she has now passed away, the song conveys that she is still remembered for her good deeds, and that the singer is singing this song in her memory.
The chorus of the song speaks of how the duivenvrouwtje may have been forgotten, as nobody remembers her name, but that she will always be remembered for her kind heart and the good that she did in life. The song also describes how there are new pigeons in the city, and they seem to be paying their respects to the spot where the old woman once stood. This shows that even though time passes and things may change, the memory of the duivenvrouwtje still lives on.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to a kind-hearted old woman who dedicated her life to caring for pigeons. It highlights the importance of being kind and compassionate to others, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the act may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Er was een duivenvrouwtje
Once in the old town of Rotterdam, there was a woman who fed the pigeons.
In het oude Rotterdam
The place where this woman lived and fed the pigeons was the old town of Rotterdam.
Een lief goedhartig oudje
Despite her old age, this woman was kind-hearted and loved the animals.
Dat duiven voeren kwam
The main activity of this woman was to feed the pigeons.
Die altijd voor de lauweren stond
She always stood by the laurels, which probably means she stood by those who were praised or admired.
En granen strooide op de grond
She spread grains of food on the ground for the pigeons to eat.
Zij komt niet meer maar zij is niet vergeten
Even though she is not alive, people still remember her.
Het is voor haar dat ik dit liedje zing
This song is dedicated to her memory.
Er fladderen nieuwe duiven
New pigeons are flying over the city of Rotterdam.
In het hart der Maasstad rond
These pigeons are flying around the heart of the city, the Maasstad.
Het is of ze groeten wuiven
It seems like these pigeons are waving a greeting.
Naar het plekje waar ze stond
They might be paying tribute to the spot where the old woman once used to feed them.
Dat brave vrouwtje, oud en stram
The kind-hearted old woman who used to feed the pigeons despite her age and poor health.
De duivenmoeder van Rotterdam
She was known as the mother of the pigeons in Rotterdam.
Al weet geen mens wellicht meer hoe ze heette
It's possible that hardly anyone knows her name anymore.
Toch leeft ze voort in de herinnering
However, she lives on in the memories of those who knew her and benefited from her kindness.
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.