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
Vur De Kerk Op 't Plein
Rowwen Hèze Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leup 't spoar
Als altied, verder weg
Nar 't volgende joar
Nar 'n gans nij begin
Nij refrein
Vur de kerk op 't plein
The song Vur De Kerk Op 't Plein by Rowwen Hèze talks about moving forward despite being dragged back by the past. The phrase "Vur de kerk op 't plein" means "in front of the church on the square," which symbolizes tradition and continuity. The train tracks that run in front of the church represent the passing of time, and the idea that life is constantly moving forward. The lyrics suggest that even though time is passing, some things remain the same, and it can feel like you're stuck in a rut.
The chorus of the song is about breaking that cycle and starting anew. The singer is heading towards a "gans nij begin" or "brand new beginning." They are leaving the past behind and creating a "nij refrein" or "new refrain." The words "verder weg nar 't volgende joar" mean "further away towards the next year," implying that they are leaving behind the past and moving towards the future.
Overall, the message of the song is about embracing change and moving forward, even if it means leaving some things behind. It's about breaking the cycle of the past and embracing a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
Vur de kerk op 't plein
In front of the church on the square
Leup 't spoar
The path was taken
Als altied, verder weg
As always, further away
Nar 't volgende joar
Towards the next year
Nar 'n gans nij begin
Towards a brand new beginning
Nij refrein
New refrain
Contributed by Emma D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rene Pereboom
RowwenHezeUploader: ga zo door!:) eindelijk eens iemand die er de liedjes goed op zet
Kenny Meesters
Lekker nummer, en ik denk dat de meesten denken aan: Night boat to Cairo van Madness
tiempiz
inderdaad ik ken die ook ergens anders van!
UniQuorn
al gevonden! Black met Wonderfull Life (It's a wonderfull, wonderfull life..)
Joyce
die trompett eh <3
doetmaar
Met de groeten aan Madness: nightboat to Caïro.
UniQuorn
wel potdomme.. een lekker nummer, maar het LIJKT ergens op.. en ik kom er toch niet op waarop.. de melodie is van een ander nummer ! wie kan me vertellen welke?
MissFunkuh
@UniQuorn vanaf ongeveer 3 minuten is de sirtaki (of zoiets) dat is de enige bekende melodie
willemoveres
't is meer gebaseerd op balkan-beat, Goran Bregovic e.a.
Lars Paulissen
je denkt misschien aan james bond?