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.
Marije
Ramses Shaffy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In de bossen, op het strand
Wil ik mij nu gaan vermeien
Met Marije aan m'n hand.
Mijn Marije is zo mollig,
Is zo wollig, is zo zacht.
Mijn Marije is zo dollerig
En snollig in de nacht.
Op het water, in de plassen
In de regen, in de wind
Wil ik mijn Marije wassen
Omdat zij dat lekker vindt.
Ik wil mijn Marije versieren,
Ik tooi mijn Marije bont.
Duizend rozen, anjelieren,
Duizend kussen op haar mond.
Hosja, hup Marije.
Ik laat mijn Marije hollen
Door de golven van de zee.
Daarna door de duinen rollen.
Ach Marije, ik neem je mee.
Mijn Marije in de hei,
In de klei zo moddervet.
Mijn Marije in de wei,
Mijn Marije in m'n bed.
Hosja, hup Marije.
The lyrics to "Marije" by Ramses Shaffy describe the singer's desire to spend time with his lover, Marije, in various outdoor settings. The song begins with a list of possible locations - on land, in meadows, in the woods, on the beach - where the singer and Marije could "vermeien," or enjoy themselves. He describes Marije as "mollig" (plump), "wollig" (fluffy), and "zacht" (soft), and expresses that she is particularly lively and playful in the nighttime ("nachts dollerig en snollig"). The chorus features the phrase "Hosja, hup Marije," which has a playful, nonsensical quality that adds to the light-hearted tone of the song.
The second verse of the song continues with a list of outdoor settings - on the water, in puddles, in the rain and wind - where the singer wants to wash Marije because it's something she enjoys. He then talks about wanting to adorn her with flowers and kisses and describes her as "bont" (colorful or festive) and beautiful. The chorus repeats again before the final verse, where the singer wants to take Marije through the waves of the sea and roll with her through the dunes. He describes her as "moddervet" (mud-fat) when they are in the "klei" (clay) of the heath, and the song ends with an evocative image of Marije in the singer's bed.
Overall, "Marije" is a playful and somewhat silly song about love and enjoying the outdoors with a partner. The lyrics are full of specific, sensory details that paint vivid pictures of different natural settings, and the repetition of the nonsense phrase "Hosja, hup Marije" adds to the lighthearted, carefree tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Op het het land, in de wei en
I want to have fun with Marije everywhere--in the countryside, the fields, and the meadows.
In de bossen, op het strand
We'll enjoy each other's company in the woods and on the beach.
Wil ik mij nu gaan vermeien
I want to relax and have fun.
Met Marije aan m'n hand.
Marije will be with me throughout it all.
Mijn Marije is zo mollig,
Marije is sweet and cuddly.
Is zo wollig, is zo zacht.
She is soft and warm.
Mijn Marije is zo dollerig
Marije is playful and lively.
En snollig in de nacht.
Especially at night when she's feeling frisky.
Hosja, hup Marije.
Let's go, Marije!
Op het water, in de plassen
We'll have fun in the water, and the puddles too.
In de regen, in de wind
We'll enjoy each other's company regardless of the weather.
Wil ik mijn Marije wassen
I'll wash her because I know she likes it.
Omdat zij dat lekker vindt.
It's because she enjoys it.
Ik wil mijn Marije versieren,
I want to make Marije look beautiful.
Ik tooi mijn Marije bont.
I'll adorn her with a lot of lovely things.
Duizend rozen, anjelieren,
I'll give her a thousand roses and carnations,
Duizend kussen op haar mond.
and give her a thousand kisses on her lips.
Ik laat mijn Marije hollen
I'll let Marije run wild,
Door de golven van de zee.
and even let her play in the waves of the sea.
Daarna door de duinen rollen.
And then roll with her in the dunes.
Ach Marije, ik neem je mee.
Oh Marije, I'll take you with me always.
Mijn Marije in de hei,
We'll explore the heath with Marije,
In de klei zo moddervet.
and get all muddy and dirty in the clay.
Mijn Marije in de wei,
We'll also enjoy the beauty of the meadow with Marije.
Mijn Marije in m'n bed.
And finally, we'll lay down in bed with Marije.
Hosja, hup Marije.
Let's go, Marije!
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mar hoorn
Zo leuk me eigen liedje word er zo vrolijk van....
Marije van de Waerdt
leuk liedje!!!!!!!!!!!! ik heet ook marije
Marije Uyterlinde
jeeeej ik hoor bij ze <3
Marije x
Yeaahhh, mijn naam <3
MK1995
Als jullie nu die e aan het eind hadden vervangen door een n (Marijn) was ik dik tevreden. Misschien de volgende keer? Zou ik wel super vinden!😉
Mareille & Stuff
Ik heet ook Marije, maar dan schrijf je het anders; Marije. Je spreekt het wel hetzelfde uit
Annet En Andre Bloemendaal
Maak er ook een van Jolijn
Fred Merkus
Ik ben Marije😁😁❤️❤️
Marijee Groot Hok
Yearr mn naampjuhh 3
FreakySingerSinger
HAHAHA