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.
Kalverliefde
Robert Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
misschien zelfs min of meer een spel
dat werd gespeeld,
en met je hobby's werd gedeeld
soms zat je samen in een klas
of liep je door het hoge gras
buiten de stad
onhandig fluisterde je: schat!
ook ging je met haar mee naar huis
en deed je huiswerk bij haar thuis
dan zei ze: mam?! mag hij straks ook een boterham?
ze zeiden dat je met haar ging
want om je pink droeg jij haar ring
met rode steen, die gaf ze eerder aan geen een..
zo'n mooie ring had jij alleen
dan komt de tijd waarop je ziet
met meisjes lopen is toch niet zo als je dacht
wat had je eigenlijk verwacht?
je kleurde diep tot in je nek
als vriendjes riepen: Meiden gek!
omdat je wist, met vissen had men jou gemist
en liever had jij ook gevist
en 's avonds zeg je na een feest
waar je met haar bent heen geweest
hier is je ring..
wat moet ik met dat klere ding?!
en het leek haar 's avonds nog zo echt
en nu opeens heb jij gezegt..
ik wil nie meer..
de eerste keer doet zo iets zeer
dan lig je huilend in je bed
je voelt een redeloos verzet
en ook de pijn
je denkt zo zal het nooit meer zijn
zo zal het zeker nooit meer zijn
je weet zo zal het nooit meer zijn
The song "Kalverliefde" by Robert Long is a ballad that tells the story of a young boy's first love. The song describes how the boy and his love interest engaged in what was possibly a game of puppy love. They participated in activities that they both enjoyed, such as sitting in class or walking in the high grass outside the city. The boy is described as being clumsy, but still musters the courage to share his feelings by whispering "schat" ("darling" in Dutch) to her. He also visited her house and even did some homework there. The girl also seemed to have a liking towards the boy, as she even asked her mother if he could have a sandwich. They wore matching rings, where the boy proudly wore the red stone ring that the girl gave him, feeling as if he owned the most beautiful ring out there.
However, the young boy eventually realizes that being with girls isn't what he expected it to be, and that he would rather have been fishing with his friends. He breaks up with his first love, leaving her hurt and disappointed. The boy regrets his decision and feels despair as he lies in bed, realizing that he may never know such a pure and simple love again.
The song highlights the innocence and naivety of young love, and the pain that comes with its end. It is a reflection of how we learn from our first loves and grow from the experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja kalverliefde was het wel
It was indeed a juvenile love
misschien zelfs min of meer een spel
Perhaps it was a game more or less
dat werd gespeeld,
That was being played
en met je hobby's werd gedeeld
And was shared with your hobbies
soms zat je samen in een klas
Sometimes you sat together in a classroom
of liep je door het hoge gras
Or walked through the tall grass
buiten de stad
Outside the city
onhandig mompelde je wat
Awkwardly, you muttered something
onhandig fluisterde je: schat!
Clumsily, you whispered: dear!
ook ging je met haar mee naar huis
You also went to her house
en deed je huiswerk bij haar thuis
And did your homework at her place
dan zei ze: mam?! mag hij straks ook een boterham?
Then she said: Mom?! Can he have a sandwich later too?
ze zeiden dat je met haar ging
They said that you were going out with her
want om je pink droeg jij haar ring
Because you wore her ring on your pinky finger
met rode steen, die gaf ze eerder aan geen een..
With a red stone, which she hadn't given to anyone before..
zo'n mooie ring had jij alleen
You had such a beautiful ring alone
dan komt de tijd waarop je ziet
Then comes the time when you realize
met meisjes lopen is toch niet zo als je dacht
That walking with girls is not what you thought it would be
wat had je eigenlijk verwacht?
What did you actually expect?
je kleurde diep tot in je nek
You blushed deeply up to your neck
als vriendjes riepen: Meiden gek!
When your friends shouted: Crazy about girls!
omdat je wist, met vissen had men jou gemist
Because you knew, fishing was what they missed from you
en liever had jij ook gevist
And you would have preferred to fish too
en 's avonds zeg je na een feest
And in the evening, after a party
waar je met haar bent heen geweest
Where you have been with her
hier is je ring..
Here is your ring..
wat moet ik met dat klere ding?!
What should I do with that damn thing?!
en het leek haar 's avonds nog zo echt
And it seemed so real to her in the evening
en nu opeens heb jij gezegt..
And now suddenly, you said..
ik wil nie meer..
I don't want it anymore..
de eerste keer doet zo iets zeer
It hurts so much the first time
dan lig je huilend in je bed
Then you lie crying in your bed
je voelt een redeloos verzet
You feel a senseless resistance
en ook de pijn
And also the pain
je denkt zo zal het nooit meer zijn
You think it will never be like that again
zo zal het zeker nooit meer zijn
It will certainly never be like that again
je weet zo zal het nooit meer zijn
You know it will never be like that again
Contributed by Ava V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.