He became popular during the 1960s. His most famous songs include Sammy, Zing-Vecht-Huil-Bid-Lach-Werk En Bewonder (Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire), We zullen doorgaan (We shall go on), Pastorale and Laat me (Leave me be). He frequently collaborated with Dutch singer Liesbeth List.
Shaffy was born in Paris, in the suburb Neuilly-sur-Seine. His father was an Egyptian diplomat, his mother was a Polish duchess from Russian descent. He grew up with her in Cannes. When she was infected with tuberculosis, Shaffy was sent to an aunt in Utrecht. Eventually, he ended up in a foster family in Leiden.
He did not finish high school, but he was accepted at the Amsterdam school of theatre arts in 1952. In 1955, he made his debut with the Nederlandse Comedie (Dutch Comedy). Together with his life partner Joop Admiraal he went to Rome in 1960, hoping to find a job as a film actor. They eventually returned without success. In 1964, Shaffy founded the theatre group Shaffy Chantant, which led to his first collaborations with Liesbeth List. He also worked with together with Dutch pianist Louis van Dijk. Others, including Thijs van Leer, were members of the group for short periods of time. Together with Liesbeth List, he recorded the classic song Pastorale.
His hit Wij zullen doorgaan was parodied by comedian André van Duin in 1975.
In the 1980s, Shaffy returned to the stage and the set as an actor. He successfully played Don Quixote in the musical De man van La Mancha (The man from La Mancha) in 1993. Pieter Fleury made a documentary about Shaffy in 2002, titled Ramses. It won a Gouden Kalf (Golden Calve), the most prestigious Dutch film award. In the film, Shaffy's life as a somewhat confused, shaky old man in a rest home in Amsterdam is shown. He ended up there after being beaten up at night by thugs. Many years of extensive alcohol use are the main cause of his current condition. Some say he suffers from Korsakoff's syndrome, but his doctors have never diagnosed him with it.
In the years following the film, Shaffy's condition improved slightly. His memory had become better and he sometimes made public appearances again. In the fall of 2005 he even re-recorded his 1978 hit song Laat me, together with Liesbeth List and the band Alderliefste. It became a small hit.
Shaffy died of esophageal cancer on Tuesday the 1st of december 2009.
Kom Lieve Lieve
Ramses Shaffy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'k Heb duizend kleine sterren van plezier
Duizend kleine sterren in mijn hand
En wauw
Ik maak vuurwerk voor jou
Kom lieve lieve, kom eens luisteren
Duizend kleine woorden die lief fluisteren
En wauw
Ik maak verhalen voor jou
Van zeepbellen, zeeschuim en windvlagen
Gouden regen, schijnend opaal
Geheimen als spinrag
Muziek als een heimwee
Violen en harpen, fluit en cimbaal
Kom lieve lieve, kom eens mee
Duizend kleine lichtjes in de zee
Duizend kleine lichtjes in de nacht
En wauw
Ik zal toveren voor jou
Kom lieve lieve, wees niet bang
Het duizelend geluk duurt niet lang
Het duizelend geluk is een nacht
En wauw
Ik zal hem hebben met jou
Van zeepbellen, zeeschuim en windvlagen
Gouden regen, schijnend opaal
Geheimen als spinrag
Muziek als een heimwee
Ach kom, voor 't morgen wordt
Grijzig en vaal
Kom dan, kom dan
Kom lieve lieve lieve
Kom lieve lieve
The song "Kom Lieve Lieve" by Ramses Shaffy is a beautiful love song filled with vivid imagery and mesmerizing melodies. The lyrics are a call to a loved one to come closer and enjoy the magical moments that life offers. The singer sings of holding a thousand small stars of pleasure in his hand and making fireworks for his beloved. The lyrics are an invitation to let go of worries and fears and to come closer to the beauty and wonder of the world.
The song is filled with poetic imagery, from the bubbles, seafoam, and wind gusts to the golden rain shining like opals, and secrets like spiderwebs. The chorus is a repetition of the invitation to come closer and enjoy the beauty of the world while it lasts, before it fades away like the night. The final verse is a plea to the beloved to come quickly before the morning breaks and the world becomes gray and dreary.
Overall, "Kom Lieve Lieve" is a romantic and uplifting song that captures the fleeting moments of pure joy that come with love and life. The song encourages listeners to embrace these moments and to hold onto them tightly.
Line by Line Meaning
Kom lieve lieve, kom eens hier
Come, my dear, come closer to me
'k Heb duizend kleine sterren van plezier
I have a thousand little stars of joy
Duizend kleine sterren in mijn hand
A thousand little stars in my hand
En wauw
And wow
Ik maak vuurwerk voor jou
I will make fireworks for you
Kom lieve lieve, kom eens luisteren
Come, my dear, come listen
Duizend kleine woorden die lief fluisteren
A thousand little words whispering love
Duizend kleine woorden in mijn hart
A thousand little words in my heart
Ik maak verhalen voor jou
I will make stories for you
Van zeepbellen, zeeschuim en windvlagen
From soap bubbles, sea foam, and gusts of wind
Gouden regen, schijnend opaal
Golden rain, shining opal
Geheimen als spinrag
Secrets like spider webs
Muziek als een heimwee
Music like homesickness
Violen en harpen, fluit en cimbaal
Violins and harps, flute and cymbals
Kom lieve lieve, kom eens mee
Come, my dear, come with me
Duizend kleine lichtjes in de zee
A thousand little lights in the sea
Duizend kleine lichtjes in de nacht
A thousand little lights in the night
Ik zal toveren voor jou
I will perform magic for you
Kom lieve lieve, wees niet bang
Come, my dear, don't be afraid
Het duizelend geluk duurt niet lang
Dizzying happiness doesn't last long
Het duizelend geluk is een nacht
Dizzying happiness is one night
Ik zal hem hebben met jou
I will have it with you
Ach kom, voor 't morgen wordt
Ah, come, before morning arrives
Grijzig en vaal
Gray and dull
Kom dan, kom dan
Come on, come on
Kom lieve lieve lieve
Come, my dear, my dear
Kom lieve lieve
Come, my dear
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.