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.
We Leven Nog
Ramses Shaffy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Een spijker in m'n schoen
Uit de tram geduwd
M'n hand verbrand aan de gijzer
Vergeten de kraan open te draaien
Alles loopt mis vandaag
De brief weer niet gepost
De Gelaghkamer nog dicht
Geen voer voor de marmot en de papegaaien
refrain:
Maar we leven nog, maar we leven nog
En we leven nog, dus niet zeuren
Alles loopt mis vandaag
Niet dronken en niet nuchter
Ik hoor weer nergens bij
De dag gaat dus gierend naar de haaien
Alles loopt mis vandaag
Te laat voor het bezoekuur
Van een vriend met mensenvrees
En jouw hoed voor m'n verjaardag
Heb ik in de gracht laten waaien
refrain
Alles loopt mis vandaag
Maar ik hou zo van je
En je was er niet
De sleutel weg, de voordeur dicht
Dus ik kan alleen maar naar je raaien
Alles loopt mis vandaag
Een nieuw mens ontmoet
Gemind en gehuild van het lachen
Een nieuw gezicht, een nieuwe droom
Die nu al onrust gaat zaaien
refrain
The lyrics of "We Leven Nog" describe a day when everything seems to go wrong for the singer. He steps on a nail, gets pushed out of a tram, burns his hand, forgets to turn the faucet on, forgets to post a letter, angers his neighbor, and can't feed his pets. Despite all of this, the refrain repeats that "we live on, so don't complain." The singer feels like he doesn't fit in anywhere and the day is spiraling out of control. He misses a friend with social anxiety during visiting hours and loses a gift in the canal. However, he still loves someone who isn't there and meets someone new with whom he shares laughter and tears.
The lyrics of "We Leven Nog" are a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. No matter what the singer faces, he remains determined to keep going and finds joy in the people and experiences that surround him. The refrain, with its optimistic message, serves as a call to appreciate the present moment and not dwell on the negative.
Line by Line Meaning
Alles loopt mis vandaag
Everything is going wrong today
Een spijker in m'n schoen
There's a nail in my shoe
Uit de tram geduwd
Pushed out of the tram
M'n hand verbrand aan de gijzer
Burned my hand on the stove
Vergeten de kraan open te draaien
Forgot to turn on the faucet
De brief weer niet gepost
Forgot to mail the letter again
De buurman kwaad
The neighbor is angry
De Gelaghkamer nog dicht
The Gelaghkamer (a cafe or meeting place) is still closed
Geen voer voor de marmot en de papegaaien
No food for the marmot and parrots
Maar we leven nog, maar we leven nog
But we're still alive, yes we are still alive
En we leven nog, dus niet zeuren
And we're still alive, so don't complain
Niet dronken en niet nuchter
Neither drunk nor sober
Ik hoor weer nergens bij
I don't belong anywhere again
De dag gaat dus gierend naar de haaien
The day is going down the drain
Te laat voor het bezoekuur
Too late for visiting hours
Van een vriend met mensenvrees
From a friend who has a fear of people
En jouw hoed voor m'n verjaardag
And your hat for my birthday
Heb ik in de gracht laten waaien
I let it blow into the canal
Maar ik hou zo van je
But I love you so much
En je was er niet
And you weren't there
De sleutel weg, de voordeur dicht
The key was gone, the front door was locked
Dus ik kan alleen maar naar je raaien
So I can only wave at you
Een nieuw mens ontmoet
Met a new person
Gemind en gehuild van het lachen
Laughed and cried at the same time
Een nieuw gezicht, een nieuwe droom
A new face, a new dream
Die nu al onrust gaat zaaien
That's already causing unrest
Contributed by Kaelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tineke Buist
We leven nog, gelukkig
Maurice Pieterson
Ik had ook al zo'n dag, maar ik ga niet zeuren want ik leef nog...
Steef Hol
We leven nog!!
C S FTS
✝️💜💓
Dennis Geerlings
Ramses🖤
Dennis Geerlings
Ramses,Sinatra & me We had our fun At Café the Kerk He zoon je smaakt naar tomaten & toen gingen we zingen Ramses Sinatra & Me & Hansie wist niet hoe X
B Jr
Wow
B Jr
Fantastisch
C S FTS
Idd✝️