Noordkaap's story starts at Humo's Rock Rally. After their victory, the debut album "Feest in de stad" (Party in the City) is warmly received. Powered by their frontman and rock-journalist Stijn Meuris, the band evolves fast from slightly bombastic rock to more passionate pop music. Also the gloomy lyrics of Meuris about the "unbearable lightness of being" change to more humorous and optimistic lyrics. The album "Gigant" gets glorious reviews all over the country.
Noordkaap's big mainstream breakthrough comes with a soundtrack for the film "Manneken Pis". The nostalgic and naïve atmosphere of the waltz "Ik hou van U" (I love thee) goes straight to the hearts of the public and the song becomes a big hit.
After the album "Programma 96", Meuris seems to be tired of writing and performing. The band takes a step down, but continues touring Belgium and Holland with an acoustic show in the theater halls. Amidst rumours of a split, they record another soundtrack in 96, for the film "Alles moet weg" (Everything Must Go).
In 1997, three of the original Noordkaap-members leave the band : only Stijn Meuris and Lars Van Bambost remain. In 1999, the group resurfaces with the single "Pretentious moi" , and a new cd that carried the name "Massis" (a reference to the deceased Belgian strongman) is released. With the contributions of no less than three new musicians the album shows a "renewed" Noordkaap. It earns them a long awaited place at the Torhout-Werchter festival.
In September 1999, however, Stijn Meuris reveals the news that Noordkaap will stop playing at the end of March (2000). The reason is that Lars Van Bambost, the guitarplayer and songwriter, has decided to leave the band (to join Novastar). But the Noordkaap-story is not finished yet: in October 1999 a compilation album is released and on top of that a brand new single ("Goed nieuws voor slechte mensen") sees light.
Noordkaap went touring again a few years later.
Paris Texas
Noordkaap Lyrics
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Dit is Texas, eindeloze weg
Dit is Paris, niet in Parijs
Dit is Texas, dit is Texas
Met een blik in het zand dit is de dorst
Met een blik in de hand, een blik in de hand
Dit geeft me geen antwoord dit is te vaag
Dit is de vraag waarom ben ik hier
Dit geeft me geen antwoord dit is Texas
Dit zijn de States, dit zijn ze nog steeds
Dit is te groot voor ons, dit is de dood voor ons
Dit zijn de States, dit zijn ze nog steeds
Dit is te heet voor ons, dit is Texas
Dit is Paris, maar niet in Parijs
Dit is Paris, Texas
Dit is Paris, het eind van de reis
Dit is Paris, Texas
The lyrics to Noordkaap’s song “Paris Texas” paint a vivid picture of the state of Texas and the conflicting emotions it can elicit from someone who finds themselves there. “Dit is Texas, dit is de hitte” (“This is Texas, this is the heat”) and “Dit is Texas, eindeloze weg” (“This is Texas, endless road”) give a sense of the physical and emotional vastness of the state. The repeated refrain of “Dit is Paris, niet in Parijs” (“This is Paris, not in Paris”) contributes to the feeling of disorientation and confusion that can arise when one is in a place that seems familiar but is also foreign.
The singer in the song finds themselves asking “Dit is de vraag wat doe ik hier” (“This is the question, what am I doing here”) and “Dit is de vraag waarom ben ik hier” (“This is the question, why am I here”). Yet, there is no clear answer. The chorus repeats that this is Texas, these are the States, and they are still too big and too hot for us. The final lines bring us back to the titular “Paris Texas,” which seems to serve as a symbol for the end of a journey, though perhaps not a happy one.
Overall, the lyrics to “Paris Texas” evoke a sense of being lost, overwhelmed, and unsettled in a vast and unforgiving place. The various references to Paris, both in and outside of France, create a sense of displacement and longing for familiarity. Yet, the song ultimately leaves us with more questions than answers about the nature of our journey and what we hope to find at the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Dit is Texas, dit is de hitte
This is Texas, where the heat is scorching.
Dit is Texas, eindeloze weg
This is Texas, where the roads never seem to end.
Dit is Paris, niet in Parijs
This is Paris, but not in the city of Paris.
Dit is Texas, dit is Texas
This is Texas, and it's unmistakably Texas.
Met een blik in het zand dit is de dorst
With a glance at the sandy terrain, it's clear that thirst is inevitable.
Met een blik in de hand, een blik in de hand
With a can in hand, a thirst-quencher is always nearby.
Dit is de vraag wat doe ik hier
The question that lingers is, what am I doing here?
Dit geeft me geen antwoord dit is te vaag
The response is ambiguous and unclear, offering no clarity.
Dit is de vraag waarom ben ik hier
The question still stands: why am I here?
Dit geeft me geen antwoord dit is Texas
Still no answer, but it's undoubtedly Texas.
Dit zijn de States, dit zijn ze nog steeds
This is the United States, and it's still recognizable.
Dit is te groot voor ons, dit is de dood voor ons
It's overwhelming, too much to handle, and could be our undoing.
Dit zijn de States, dit zijn ze nog steeds
These are the States, and they're still present and accounted for.
Dit is te heet voor ons, dit is Texas
It's unbearably hot, almost intolerable, and definitely Texas.
Dit is Paris, maar niet in Parijs
This is Paris but it's not the Paris we know.
Dit is Paris, Texas
This is Paris, Texas.
Dit is Paris, het eind van de reis
This is Paris, the end of the journey.
Writer(s): erik sterckx, stijn meuris, nico calster, lars van bambost
Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.