Nocturne
Nelleke Burg Lyrics
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Aan 't kantje van de sloot
De avond was zo wonderstil
De bomen leken dood
Hij zei dat hij nu trouwen ging
Met een, hier ver vandaan
We moesten bei verstandig zijn
En van elkander gaan
In de nacht, in de nacht
Ik kon hem niet veel zeggen
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
De tranen kropen in m'n keel
M'n lippen leken dood
Hij praatte veel van standsverschil
Van drang van vaderszij
En dat er wel een ander kwam
Die beter was dan hij
En ik lachtte o zo zacht
In de nacht, in de nacht
We stonden stil te praten
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
Ik zag het aan z'n ogen wel
Z'n liefde die was dood
Eens bracht'ie met z'n sterke blik
Mij rust en warmt' en licht
Nu dwaalde met een aarzeling
Z'n oog langs m'n gezicht
En z'n stem klonk o zo zacht
In de nacht, in de nacht
Ik kon geen tranen vinden
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
De nacht was bleek en wonderstil
De bomen leken dood
Hij heeft mij zacht de hand gestreeld
En keek me ernstig aan
Toen zei 'ie: "Kom, wees sterk, m'n kind"
En zo liet hij me staan
En ik hoorde nog z'n stap
O zo zacht, in de nacht
The song "Nocturne" by Nelleke Burg tells the story of a bittersweet parting between two lovers. The scene takes place by a still, quiet stream at night, as the man reveals to the woman that he is getting married to someone far away. They must say goodbye and be responsible, he tells her, and his voice is gentle and soft in the night. The woman is struck by emotion but cannot find the words to express herself. Tears well up in her throat and her lips feel dead. The man tells her about their different social standings and the pressure from his family, and says that there will be someone better for her than he. She tries to laugh softly, but her heart is breaking.
The second part of the song describes the moment when she realizes that his love has died. His once-strong gaze no longer brings her comfort or light. Instead, his eyes linger hesitantly over her face, and she knows that he is leaving her for good. There are no tears left in her, and the night is pale and still. As the man leaves, he gently touches her hand and tells her to be strong, but the sound of his footsteps as he walks away is barely audible. The song captures the quiet tragedy of a love that has to end, and the pain and emotional numbness that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
We stonden zacht te praten
We were talking quietly
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
By the side of the canal
De avond was zo wonderstil
The evening was so wonderfully quiet
De bomen leken dood
The trees seemed dead
Hij zei dat hij nu trouwen ging
He said he was getting married now
Met een, hier ver vandaan
To someone far away from here
We moesten bei verstandig zijn
We both had to be wise
En van elkander gaan
And go our separate ways
En z'n stem klonk o zo zacht
And his voice sounded so soft
In de nacht, in de nacht
In the night, in the night
Ik kon hem niet veel zeggen
I couldn't say much to him
De tranen kropen in m'n keel
Tears welled up in my throat
M'n lippen leken dood
My lips felt lifeless
Hij praatte veel van standsverschil
He talked a lot about social differences
Van drang van vaderszij
About the pressure from his family
En dat er wel een ander kwam
And that there would be someone else
Die beter was dan hij
Who was better than he
En ik lachtte o zo zacht
And I laughed so softly
In de nacht, in de nacht
In the night, in the night
We stonden stil te praten
We stood still and talked
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
By the side of the canal
Ik zag het aan z'n ogen wel
I could see it in his eyes
Z'n liefde die was dood
His love was dead
Eens bracht'ie met z'n sterke blik
Once he brought me peace and warmth and light with his strong gaze
Mij rust en warmt' en licht
Now his eyes wandered hesitantly across my face
Nu dwaalde met een aarzeling
And his voice sounded so soft
Z'n oog langs m'n gezicht
In the night, in the night
En z'n stem klonk o zo zacht
His voice sounded so soft
Ik kon geen tranen vinden
I couldn't find any tears
Aan 't kantje van de sloot
By the side of the canal
De nacht was bleek en wonderstil
The night was pale and wonderfully quiet
De bomen leken dood
The trees seemed dead
Hij heeft mij zacht de hand gestreeld
He gently touched my hand
En keek me ernstig aan
And looked at me seriously
Toen zei 'ie: "Kom, wees sterk, m'n kind"
Then he said, "Come on, be strong, my child"
En zo liet hij me staan
And he left me standing there
En ik hoorde nog z'n stap
And I heard his footsteps
O zo zacht, in de nacht
So soft, in the night
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.