Sandy Coast was a beat/rock/pop band from Voorburg, The Netherlands, fronte… Read Full Bio ↴Sandy Coast was a beat/rock/pop band from Voorburg, The Netherlands, fronted by Hans Vermeulen. They were active between 1961 and 1974. There was a succesful reunion in 1980-1981 and a less succesful one in 1988.

Hans Vermeulen formed The Sandy Coast Skiffle Group in Voorburg in 1961, aged 14. With the name abbreviated to Sandy Coast the group got a recording contract with Negram in 1965. Their début single, 1965's 'Subject Of My Thoughts', failed to chart but is now regarded as an early 'Nederbeat' gem. Début album, And their name is... Sandy Coast (1967), featured a melodic brand of sixties beat, 1968's From The Workshop was a bluesy, psychedelic album, whereas Shipwreck (1969) was an ambitious concept album about a shipwreck in 1739. The biggest Sandy Coast chart hits of the 1960s were 'I See Your Face Again' (1968) and 'Capital Punishment' (1969), both of which hit #12 in the Dutch Top 40.

Sandy Coast's greatest chart success came in the 1970s, when the group had developed a more radio-friendly sound, akin to the the 'west coast sound' of California. 1971's 'True Love That's A Wonder' became their biggest Dutch hit (#3) and the self-titled Sandy Coast album a big seller. The successor, Stone Mill (1973), was a disappointment in every way, both artistically and commercially. Sandy Coast folded in 1974.

Line-up: Hans Vermeulen (vocals, guitar, keyboards), his brother Jan Vermeulen (bass and guitar), Jos de Jager (bass, 1964-67), Henk Smitskamp (bass, 1970 till 1971), Onno Bevoort (drums, in 1970 temporarily replaced by Will Morkus), Ron Westerbeek (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Charles Kersbergen (guitar, until 1965) and Marianne Nobles (vocals, ex-solo, 1972).

After Sandy Coast's demise, Hans Vermeulen enjoyed solo success, wrote a #1 single ('The Alternative Way', recorded as a duet of Vermeulen and Anita Meyer), became a succesful producer and released albums with Rainbow Train and The Train.

Sandy Coast reformed in 1980 for a performance as The Hague's 'Beatnach' ('Beat Night') but also recorded a new album (Terreno, 1981) which yielded one of the band's most enduring hits, 'The Eyes Of Jenny', which hit #11 in The Netherlands, but also did well in other countries.

The second Sandy Coast reunion (1988) was much less succesful. They released Rendez-Vous, a rather forgettable album of re-recorded hits, which would turn out to be Sandy Coast's final outing.

'Mister Sandy Coast', Hans Vermeulen, struggled with addiction, divorce and tax debts in the early nineties, but managed to pay off his debts and build a new life (from 1994 onwards) on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand, where he lived happily until his unexpected death in November 2017, aged 70. During his 'Thai years' he had a big hit in Thailand with a re-recorded version of 'The Eyes Of Jenny'. He regularly travelled back to The Netherlands to perform Sandy Coast material in concert, on special occasions.

Just a Friend
Sandy Coast Lyrics

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When the day comes to an end and darkness takes it's place, I hear a sound that makes me go 'round
'Cause I am searching for someone to join me and to take away that sound that makes me go 'round
I gotta go round
Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
Just a friend

I don't really like this walking through the lonely streets but it's that sound that makes me go 'round

I gotta go round
Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
Just a friend

Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?

It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
Just a friend

Overall Meaning

In Sandy Coast's song "Just A Friend," the singer speaks of his loneliness and feelings of isolation. The song opens with the day coming to an end and darkness setting in, followed by a sound that makes him go 'round. The singer then expresses his desire to find someone to join him and take away that sound. The use of the word 'round indicates the repetitive nature of the feeling or thought that the sound provokes in him.

The refrain of the song asks a question that many people can relate to when experiencing loneliness - is there somebody out there who wants to help a lonely man? The singer doesn't seem to be looking for a romantic partner, but rather just a friend. This conveys the idea that even the simple act of having someone to talk to or spend time with can alleviate feelings of loneliness.

The second stanza finds the singer walking through the lonely streets - an indication that he hasn't found the somebody he was looking for. However, he reiterates his desire for companionship, regardless of whether it's romantic or not. The repetition of the refrain at the end of the song drives home the idea that sometimes all we need is just a friend to help us through the tough times.

Overall, "Just A Friend" conveys a universal truth that it's easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed by life's challenges. The song reminds us that there's no shame in reaching out for help and that sometimes the simple act of having a friend can make all the difference.

Line by Line Meaning

When the day comes to an end and darkness takes it's place, I hear a sound that makes me go 'round
As night falls, I'm overwhelmed by a lonely feeling that consumes me.

'Cause I am searching for someone to join me and to take away that sound that makes me go 'round
I want someone to help me overcome my feeling of loneliness and cure me of my emotional distress.

I gotta go round
I'm compelled to keep searching for someone who will be there for me.

Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
Is there anyone out there who understands and cares about my struggle with loneliness?

It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
A romantic relationship isn't necessary; I just need a true friend to support me.

I don't really like this walking through the lonely streets but it's that sound that makes me go 'round
I hate feeling alone as I wander through the deserted city, but my search for companionship motivates me to keep going.

Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
Is there anyone out there who understands and cares about my struggle with loneliness?

It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
A romantic relationship isn't necessary; I just need a true friend to support me.

Could there be somebody who wants to help a lonely man?
Is there anyone out there who understands and cares about my struggle with loneliness?

It doesn't have to be a lover, just a friend
A romantic relationship isn't necessary; I just need a true friend to support me.

Just a friend
I'm not looking for a lover, just someone who will be there for me as a friend.

Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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