In 1963 under the moniker Bob Revvel he formed the band "The Yelping Jackals". In 1967 he switched to front another band Gloria, later renamed Unit Gloria. He left the group to work on a solo career.
He released his first solo album, Vroeger Of Later, on which he criticised Dutch politics and sung about homosexuality and the Church, which was very unusual for that time. Vroeger Of Later sold over 500.000 copies and spent 118 week in the charts. A unique feat for an album made in the Dutch language.
Between 1974 and 1986 Robert Long worked on several theatre shows, mostly based on his songs and records. When he got tired of touring he started a career as a TV host. For seven years, he hosted the popular VARA game show Tien Voor Taal.
He returned to the stage in 1996 with the show Nu, a collection of new and old songs.
In 2002 Long released his critically acclaimed album Brand!, on which he returned to the sound of his first album. Due to health problems Long had to cancel the second leg of his Brand! tour.
In 2005 Long married his long-time boyfriend and manager Kristof Rutsaert. The wedding took place on the border of The Netherlands and Belgium, as Rutsaert is from Belgium and Long was Dutch.
After recovery he started to work on new material for a new tour, 'n Duivels Genoegen. Just before the tour started Robert Long suffered a heart-attack. Again he was forced to cancel his shows to concentrate on his recovery. Autumn '06 the CD was released which was supposed to accompany the cancelled tour.
In December 2006, the news was announced Long had cancer. Robert Long died in Antwerp (Belgium) on 13 December 2006, at the age of 63.
Het leven was lijden
Robert Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dat ik tijdens 't bidden m'n ogen sloot
Gaf ik toe, daar ik niet arrogant wilde lijken
Maar ik voelde hoe hij wel naar mij zat te kijken
En vanaf dat moment heb ik altijd geweten
Dat dat niet enkel gold voor 't gebed bij 't eten
Zodat ik toen die maaltijd meteen al betreurde
En op zondag het bos in, dat mocht dan nog wel
Net als in de romances van 't weekblad Libelle
Maar als ik op zondag dan je hand wilde vatten
Nou dan keek je alsof ik je kuisheid wou jatten
refrein:
Want 't leven was lijden, als je danste een heiden
Als je lachte te luchtig, als je kustte ontuchtig
Als je niet wilde werken of je ging niet ter kerke
Als je lui in de zon lag, als je fietste op zondag
Kortom alles was verkeerd, want dat had je geleerd
't Was verdomde moeilijk om jou te versieren
Want je zag haast geen kans om je teugels te vieren
Elke keer moest ik weer je complexen verdringen
Ja, ik mocht naar de kerk maar ik kon nooit eens zingen
Een keer sliep je met mij maar je was niet alleen
Want de satan of wie ook hing steeds om je heen
Als die er niet was was je vader d'r wel
Met een spreuk uit de bijbel van zonde en hel
refrein
Ja, ze hebben je leven wel grondig vergald
En je kans op wat liefde en vriendschap verknald
Wat men jou heeft geleerd is de angst om te leven
Om je borsten, je dijen, je hart echt te geven
Kom, ik stap maar eens op want ik ben overbodig
Heel veel sterkte voor later
Want dat heb je wel nodig
The song "Het leven was lijden" by Robert Long tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman whose life is dominated by her father's strict religious beliefs. The man recounts how he felt uncomfortable during a meal at the woman's house when the father demanded that they all close their eyes during prayer, and how he has since come to realize that the father's controlling influence extended far beyond this one incident. The woman's life is governed by a long list of prohibitions that dictate how she should behave in every aspect of her life, from what she wears to who she associates with. Any deviation from this strict code is deemed sinful and punishable by eternal damnation.
The man struggles to connect with the woman because she is unable to loosen up and enjoy life like he can. Her every move is watched and judged, and any hint of pleasure or enjoyment is viewed as evidence of her moral weakness. This makes it difficult for the man to pursue a romantic relationship with her, as he is constantly forced to subdue his own desires in order to respect her father's wishes.
The song highlights the damaging effects of religious extremism, particularly on young people who are still developing their own sense of identity and trying to navigate the complexities of the world around them. It also raises important questions about the role of tradition and authority in shaping our lives and the importance of individual freedom in achieving happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Toen ik bij jullie at en je vader gebood
When I ate with you and your father commanded
Dat ik tijdens 't bidden m'n ogen sloot
To close my eyes while praying
Gaf ik toe, daar ik niet arrogant wilde lijken
I agreed because I didn't want to seem arrogant
Maar ik voelde hoe hij wel naar mij zat te kijken
But I felt how he was looking at me
En vanaf dat moment heb ik altijd geweten
From that moment on, I always knew
Dat dat niet enkel gold voor 't gebed bij 't eten
That it wasn't just about praying before meals
Zodat ik toen die maaltijd meteen al betreurde
So I immediately regretted that meal
Hij beheerste je leven tot in 't absurde
He controlled your life to absurd levels
En op zondag het bos in, dat mocht dan nog wel
Going to the forest on Sundays was still allowed
Net als in de romances van 't weekblad Libelle
Just like in the romances of the weekly magazine Libelle
Maar als ik op zondag dan je hand wilde vatten
But when I wanted to hold your hand on a Sunday
Nou dan keek je alsof ik je kuisheid wou jatten
You looked at me like I was trying to steal your chastity
Want 't leven was lijden, als je danste een heiden
'Cause life was suffering, if you danced like a heathen
Als je lachte te luchtig, als je kustte ontuchtig
If you laughed too lightly, if you kissed too lustfully
Als je niet wilde werken of je ging niet ter kerke
If you didn't want to work or go to church
Als je lui in de zon lag, als je fietste op zondag
If you were lazy in the sun, if you cycled on a Sunday
Kortom alles was verkeerd, want dat had je geleerd
Basically everything was wrong, because that's what you had learned
't Was verdomde moeilijk om jou te versieren
It was damn difficult to seduce you
Want je zag haast geen kans om je teugels te vieren
Because you hardly ever took any chances to let loose
Elke keer moest ik weer je complexen verdringen
Every time I had to suppress your insecurities
Ja, ik mocht naar de kerk maar ik kon nooit eens zingen
Yes, I was allowed to go to church, but I could never sing
Een keer sliep je met mij maar je was niet alleen
One time you slept with me, but you weren't alone
Want de satan of wie ook hing steeds om je heen
Because Satan or someone else was always around you
Als die er niet was was je vader d'r wel
If he wasn't there, your father was
Met een spreuk uit de bijbel van zonde en hel
With a quote from the Bible about sin and hell
Ja, ze hebben je leven wel grondig vergald
Yes, they have thoroughly ruined your life
En je kans op wat liefde en vriendschap verknald
And ruined your chance of love and friendship
Wat men jou heeft geleerd is de angst om te leven
What you were taught is the fear of living
Om je borsten, je dijen, je hart echt te geven
To really give yourself, your breasts, your thighs, your heart
Kom, ik stap maar eens op want ik ben overbodig
Come, I'm leaving because I'm unnecessary
Heel veel sterkte voor later
Wishing you a lot of strength for the future
Want dat heb je wel nodig
Because you'll need it
Contributed by Alexandra W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.