Many of the lyrics are sketches of provincial everyday life: a young bird falling from its nest, a famous person in the village, a local funeral, scenes from the local pub or just waking up with a hangover.
Established in 1985, the band called themselves The Legendary Texas Four until Jack Poels joined as the new frontman. He joined on the condition that he wanted to add at least one song in the Limburg dialect to the band's repertoire. The other members agreed. Rowwen Hèze was born.
Rowwen Hèze translates loosely as 'Rough Hesen' and was the nickname of a notorious character from the village, Christiaan Hesen (1853-1947). Under this new name, the band started covering songs from Thin Lizzy. The band also wrote Dutch party songs for the annual carnival in the southern Netherlands.
The band saw two members leave in the early years. Mart Deckers (drums) and Geert Hermkes (accordeon) left the band. The line-up that was formed in 1991 is still intact today and has been unchanged for 29 years and counting.
- Jack Poels (lead singer, guitar)
- Tren van Enckevort (accordeon, piano, trombone)
- Jan Philipsen (bass)
- Theo Joosten (guitar, mandoline, tin whistle, percussion)
- Jack Haegens (trumpet, trombone, percussion)
The band's 1992 performance at Limburg's Pinkpop Festival was a breakthru moment. The band's set was shown live on Dutch television. At the time, the band had four studio albums under its belt: Rowwen Hèze (1987), Blieve loepe (1990), Boem (1991) and the live album, In de weiIn De Wei (1992). Their party anthem, Bestel mar (1992) hit #13 in the Dutch Top 40, still their highest charting single.
This pattern of three studio LPs and a live album repeated itself in the 1990s: Station America (1993), Zondag in het Zuiden (1995) and Water, lucht en liefde were followed by a 1999 live album entitled 't Beste van 2 werelden (1999), this time a recording of Rowwen Hèze semi-acoustic theatre incarnation.
The steady stream of albums continued in the 21st century.
Studio albums
Vandaag (2000)
Dageraad (2003)
Rodus & Lucius (2006)
Zilver (2010)
Manne van staal (2011)
Geal (2012)
Hemel op aarde: De liedjes (2013)
Vur altied: Ballades & Beer (2016)
De liefde, de muziek, de herinnering (2017)
Voorwaartsch (2019)
Onderaan beginne(2021)
Live albums:
D.A.D.P.G.S. (2003)
Andere wind (2004)
Saus (2008)
Wear of gen wear: Slotconcert 2019 (2019)
Compilation album:
Kilomeaters: 't beste van 20 joar Rowwen Hèze (2005)
Official site: www.rowwenheze.nl
D'n Harde Weg
Rowwen Hèze Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ze haj gedroemd en gevierd
ze haj jonges versierd
ze haj loepe gelierd op de rechte weg
ze waas 'n flinke vrouw
noeit kleinzerig of flauw
want minse klaage ni gauw
op de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
't ging verschrikkelijk vlug
mar vur gen geld woj ze terug nar de rechte weg
't veel ni mei in 'n werlt
woar allien de boetekant telt
als 't mar neet te wiet velt
langs de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
ge goat vanaf 't begin
vort altied wind in
op de rechte weg
al 't verlange en spiet
dat vervaagd op d'n tied
ge werd 't vur de voot kwiet op de rechte weg
als ge ziet oetgerend
en alle regeltjes kent
pas dan ziedde gewend
an de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
The lyrics of Rowwen Hèze's song D'n Harde Weg speak about a woman who had big dreams, had many men chasing after her, and had learned to walk on the straight path. She was a strong and steadfast woman who never complained, even when things got tough. She had already overcome a lot in her life and had no interest in returning to her old ways. She had experienced life in a fast-paced way and had realized that all that mattered was staying on the right path.
Throughout the song, the artist emphasizes the idea of walking on the straight path, which is something that is often easier said than done. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the path is not always easy and that sometimes it can be quite difficult. However, the artist continues to suggest that it is worth staying on the straight path, no matter how hard it may be. The song urges the listener to keep going, even when the going gets tough, and to never give up on living in a way that is true to who they are.
Overall, D'n Harde Weg is a powerful song about perseverance, self-discovery, and the importance of staying on the right course no matter what life throws your way.
Line by Line Meaning
ze haj gedroemd en gevierd
She had dreamed and celebrated
ze haj jonges versierd
She had courted boys
ze haj loepe gelierd op de rechte weg
She had learned to walk on the straight path
ze waas 'n flinke vrouw
She was a strong woman
noeit kleinzerig of flauw
Never whiny or weak
want minse klaage ni gauw
Because people don't complain easily
op de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
On the straight path, the hard path
'n leave achter de rug
A lover left behind
't ging verschrikkelijk vlug
It went terribly fast
mar vur gen geld woj ze terug nar de rechte weg
But for no money would she return to the straight path
't veel ni mei in 'n werlt
It didn't fit in this world
woar allien de boetekant telt
Where only the outer side counts
als 't mar neet te wiet velt
As long as it doesn't fall too far
langs de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
Along the straight path, the hard path
ge goat vanaf 't begin
You go from the beginning
vort altied wind in
Always a headwind
op de rechte weg
On the straight path
al 't verlange en spiet
All desire and regret
dat vervaagd op d'n tied
That fades away over time
ge werd 't vur de voot kwiet op de rechte weg
You get rid of it while walking on the straight path
als ge ziet oetgerend
When you're worn out
en alle regeltjes kent
And know all the rules
pas dan ziedde gewend
Only then you are accustomed
an de rechte weg, d'n harde weg
To the straight path, the hard path
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@henny2531
D'N Harde Weg mooi nummer😘😎😘
@dancelicious74
prachtig nummer, beetje onbekend en underrated maar weer een nummer met een prachtige tekst. Kippenvel.
@yurigagarin2662
het leave in dreej en halve minuut....op d'n harde weag blieve is meij lastig, kump dur dat dee zoe smaal is :D
@pietstiphout1830
Top nummer
@EricCartmanstotch
wat dan ??
@EricCartmanstotch
@naiefmonster schitterend nummer gaat over mensen die in een iets grotere plaats of dorp wonen
@yurigagarin2662
mmm bin de geij al ins op d'n onverharde weag gewest? vroag ik meij af......dink nog mer ins woar het nummer over gut ;)
@EricCartmanstotch
@Tommovich Want minsen klagen niet gauw op de rechte weg op dn harde weg het leaven achter de rug het ging verschikkelijk vlug moar vur ging geld woj ze terug noar de rechte weg
@EricCartmanstotch
@Tommovich Waar gaat het dan over meneer de belgische hooligan die mannen van beerschot hebben hier ook geen respect bij een amateur club vaders moeders met kinderen afkloppen stoer hoor !!! ik verwacht een antwoordt van u