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
De Neus Umhoeg
Rowwen Hèze Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
noeits huure klaage waas altied gezond.
Veur altied saame de kaarte versteurd,
dan zujje ze leave toen is het gebeurd.
Weej goan allemaol, oh ,oh, oh
weej goan allemoal, oh, oh, oh
weej goan allemoal, oh, oh, oh
(chorus 2)
Groete parade latste ier-betoen,
doezende minse of hiel gewoen.
Op zoaterdaag merge haj heej nog gewerkt,
't leave ging verder 't haj niemand gemerkt.
(refrein)
(solo)
Neet mier an denke 't het toch gen nut, want vanaaf 't begin zien ow kaarte geschud
(refrein)
The song "De Neus Umhoeg" by Rowwen Hèze is a tribute to the impermanence of life, highlighting the idea that we will all pass on someday. The lyrics describe the different attitudes people have towards life and death. The singer alludes to people who complain about life despite being healthy and those who work hard, but then easily move on to the next phase of life. The verse "Hoeg in de wolke of dicht beej de grond, noeits huure klaage waas altied gezond" illustrates how some people are naturally healthy and complain even though they have no genuine reason to do so.
The chorus, "Weej goan allemaol" which means "we all go," emphasizes the inevitability of death. Regardless of our status in society or how good or bad we have lived our lives, we will all be equal in death. The chorus also builds the narrative around the idea of facing death boldly and not being afraid to go. The final solo sets the theme of releasing the worry and fear of one’s life and death's situation as the singer concludes, "Neet mier an denke 't het toch gen nut, want vanaaf 't begin zien ow kaarte geschud" meaning, "no use worrying about things predestined since the beginning of our lives, for it's all written on our cards."
Line by Line Meaning
Hoeg in de wolke of dicht beej de grond,
Whether high in the clouds or close to the ground,
noeits huure klaage waas altied gezond.
Never complaining was always healthy.
Veur altied saame de kaarte versteurd,
Forever together we scattered the cards,
dan zujje ze leave toen is het gebeurd.
Then you will leave when it's happened.
Weej goan allemaol, oh ,oh, oh
We all go, oh, oh, oh
weej goan allemoal, oh, oh, oh
we all go, oh, oh, oh
weej goan allemoal, oh, oh, oh
we all go, oh, oh, oh
allemoal met de neus umhoeg
all with our nose up high
(chorus 2)
Groete parade latste ier-betoen,
Big parade, last year's concrete,
doezende minse of hiel gewoen.
Thousands of people, so ordinary.
Op zoaterdaag merge haj heej nog gewerkt,
On Saturday morning, he still worked here
't leave ging verder 't haj niemand gemerkt.
Life went on, nobody noticed.
(refrein)
(solo)
Neet mier an denke 't het toch gen nut,
No need to think about it anymore, it's useless,
want vanaaf 't begin zien ow kaarte geschud
because your cards have been shuffled from the beginning.
(refrein)
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gc8651
Ik was bijna vergeten hoe onwijs goed dit nummer is... de cilp ook.. beter Limburgs gaat het niet meer worden👌🏽
@jan..469
toppertje van deze band
@nielskerszemaker5377
dat gaan swe allemaal tot die tijd! onhoog
@g.j.koster1986
Ik houd niet zo van Nederlandsetalige muziek, maar dit is kwaliteit. En de toegift maakt dit tot de beste versie. Doet me ook een beetje denken aan de Nits
@hboer3548
Goede tekst, goede muziek, goede toegift en goede clip. Top bedankt mannen!!
@Bono2223
Dit is bij verre de beste versie
@stappie45
zo is het leven nu eenmaal
@nielskerszemaker5377
ik ook van hullie
@RobertPunt
Net op radio 1 zegt de DJ laten we het hopen voor de Limburgers allemaal met de neus omhoog. Ik geloof dat hij niet naar de tekst geluisterd had
@ldepree5502
Oleee