In Dutch speaking countries he is best known for his 1991 hit record ‘Papa’ - about a father/son relation. Since then he has made several albums and has also become quite popular amongst the Afrikaner population of South-Africa where he recorded several songs with crossovers between his European style and the tribal sounds of Southern Africa.
In 2004 he published as a poet. He is still performing and developing new material.
De onderstroom
Stef Bos Lyrics
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De dagen van het jaar
Het lijkt of zij vertellen
Hoe het ons vergaat
Maar de onderstroom
Die niemand ziet
Bepaalt de richting
In this song, Stef Bos uses a metaphor to describe the various ups and downs of life. He compares the waves of the ocean to the days of the year, suggesting that the waves can tell us a lot about how our life is going. However, he points out that there is an underlying current that remains hidden from view and yet has a major influence on the direction we take in life. This current is unpredictable and can move us in unexpected ways, regardless of the direction we think we're heading in.
Bos suggests that just as the ocean currents influence the direction of the waves, the hidden forces of our own lives can also dictate the course we take. Despite our attempts to manage our lives and steer them in the direction we want, the underlying forces that drive us can be stronger than we realize. He urges the listener to pay attention to these undercurrents and try to understand how they shape our lives.
Overall, this song serves as a reminder that there are always hidden forces at play in our lives, and that we should try to understand and navigate them as best we can.
Line by Line Meaning
De golven zijn de dagen
The waves are like the passing days
De dagen van het jaar
Days that come and go throughout the year
Het lijkt of zij vertellen
It seems as if they tell us
Hoe het ons vergaat
How we are doing
Maar de onderstroom
But the underlying current
Die niemand ziet
That no one sees
Bepaalt de richting
Determines the direction
Op elk gebied
In every aspect
Contributed by Grace M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.