A considerable amount of his songs were written by Belinda Meuldijk, his second wife, to whom he was married from 1984 to 2006. He has since remarried, namely with his former personal assistant Henriette Koetschruiter.
Bier Is Bitter
Rob De Nijs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heeft ogen als de volle zee
En ik wil op de golven mee
Omdat haar glimlach mij verbaast
De ballen op 't groen biljart
Slaan tikkend 't is tien over rood
En ik staar zwijgend naar haar hart
En zie haar langzaam roze bloot
refrain:
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
De vaste jongens krassen op
En voetbal voert de boventoon
Het is of ik hier jaren woon
De ober tapt de laatste mop
En de TV zonder geluid
Laat zwijgend moord en doodslag zien
Het lijkt wel ver achter die ruit
Maar morgen komt 't hier miscchien
refrain
Ik zit als laatste hier en drink
En roep de oude dromen op
En met m'n klaverjassenschop
Schep ik de gaten in 't zien
Ik streel haar blote zachte arm
En krijg in ruil een laatste glas
Misschien is 't morgen wel weer warm
En loop ik buiten zonder jas
refrain (5x)
The song “Bier Is Bitter” by Rob De Nijs tells the story of a man who is hopelessly infatuated with his neighbor’s daughter, who he calls a "sea of eyes" due to her striking blue eyes. The man spends his time in a local pub with his friends, playing pool and watching TV, where he observes the violence on screen with a sense of detachment. He continues to watch the daughter of his neighbor throughout the night, admiring her smile and eventually getting close enough to touch her soft skin. The song speaks not only of the singer's attraction to this woman but also of his isolation and longing for a simpler time.
The refrain, "Bier is bitter, bier is best, bier is beter dan de rest," reinforces the idea that seemingly ordinary moments are enhanced by the enjoyment and comfort of drinking beer. The singer finds solace in the routine and familiarity of his surroundings, and the beer seems to be a symbol of that comfort. Although the song is about unrequited love, it also manages to capture the nostalgic nature of returning to a familiar place and feeling a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
De dochter van de baas hiernaast
The boss's daughter next door
Heeft ogen als de volle zee
Has eyes as deep as the ocean
En ik wil op de golven mee
And I want to ride the waves
Omdat haar glimlach mij verbaast
Because her smile amazes me
De ballen op 't groen biljart
The balls on the green billiards table
Slaan tikkend 't is tien over rood
Strike ticking, it's ten past red
En ik staar zwijgend naar haar hart
And I stare silently at her heart
En zie haar langzaam roze bloot
And see her slowly revealing pink skin
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Beer is bitter, beer is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
Beer is better than the rest
De vaste jongens krassen op
The regular guys scratch
En voetbal voert de boventoon
And soccer dominates
Het is of ik hier jaren woon
It's like I've lived here for years
De ober tapt de laatste mop
The waiter tells the last joke
En de TV zonder geluid
And the TV without sound
Laat zwijgend moord en doodslag zien
Silently shows murder and killing
Het lijkt wel ver achter die ruit
It seems far behind that window
Maar morgen komt 't hier misschien
But maybe it will come here tomorrow
Ik zit als laatste hier en drink
I sit here last and drink
En roep de oude dromen op
And recall the old dreams
En met m'n klaverjassenschop
And with my jack card game shovel
Schep ik de gaten in 't zien
I dig holes in what I see
Ik streel haar blote zachte arm
I stroke her bare soft arm
En krijg in ruil een laatste glas
And get a last glass in return
Misschien is 't morgen wel weer warm
Maybe it will be warm again tomorrow
En loop ik buiten zonder jas
And walk outside without a coat
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Beer is bitter, beer is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
Beer is better than the rest
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Beer is bitter, beer is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
Beer is better than the rest
Bier is bitter, bier is best
Beer is bitter, beer is best
Bier is beter dan de rest
Beer is better than the rest
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.