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.
Diep in het zuiden
Stef Bos Lyrics
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Worden mensen wakker
Als de zon gaat slapen
In de grote zee
Er wordt gezongen
En de kind’ren dansen
En de loop der dingen
Wandelt met ze mee
En ik sta in de regen maar ik ben niet hier
Mijn hoofd heeft mijn hart laten gaan
Ik sta in de regen en ik was te lang
Te bang om stil te staan
Diep in het zuiden
Lijkt het leven simpel
En de mannen zitten ‘s avonds
Rond het plein
Je ziet ze denken
En je hoort ze praten
Over hoe het leven
In de stad zal zijn
Diep in het zuiden ligt
Misschien mijn toekomst
Maar ik ben zo bang
Dat ik het missen zal
Het verre noorden
Met zijn koude winters
De grijze hemel
Waar de sneeuw uit valt
Maar... Diep in het zuiden
Loopt het leven langzaam
En de vrouwen zitten ‘savonds
Voor hun deur
Je ziet ze denken
Aan een ver verleden
En ze nemen vrede
Met wat is gebeurd
The song 'Diep in het zuiden' by Stef Bos is a contemplative ballad that describes the pace of life in a southern town. The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the song, describing how people in this town wake up as the sun is setting in the sea. They sing and dance and accept the natural cycles that govern their lives. In contrast to this, the singer is standing in the rain, feeling disconnected from the present moment because his head has taken over from his heart. He has been too scared to slow down and truly experience life.
The second stanza picks up on the theme of simplicity, showing how the men in the town gather around the square in the evening to talk and think about the bigger picture. They wonder about how life might be in the city, but they also seem content with their own way of life. The singer is torn between this simplicity and the lure of the north, where he is from. He is afraid that if he stays in the south, he will miss out on something important. The final stanza describes how the women in the town sit outside their doors in the evening, thinking about their past and accepting what has happened in their lives. They are at peace with their circumstances.
Overall, 'Diep in het zuiden' is a song about the beauty of living in the moment and accepting the ebb and flow of life. It celebrates the simplicity of living in a small town, while acknowledging the lure of something more. The singer is caught between these two worlds, unable to decide where he belongs.
Line by Line Meaning
Diep in het zuiden
The setting for this song is in the southern region where life seems more simple.
Worden mensen wakker
As the sun goes down, people become lively.
Als de zon gaat slapen
The sun setting is the trigger for the people to wake up.
In de grote zee
The sun setting triggers sounds of songs and children dancing in the backdrop of the ocean.
Er wordt gezongen
A celebration of life through song.
En de kind’ren dansen
Children also partake in the celebration - dancing and being carefree.
En de loop der dingen
Everything seems to be in sync and getting along well, with the flow of life.
Wandelt met ze mee
People are able to enjoy the moment and take it all in as they go along.
En ik sta in de regen maar ik ben niet hier
The artist is present, but not really invested in the moment he finds himself in. He feels disconnected and uninspired.
Mijn hoofd heeft mijn hart laten gaan
The artist's thoughts and worries are keeping him from truly enjoying his surroundings.
Ik sta in de regen en ik was te lang
The singer has been in his head for too long and missed out on opportunities in life.
Te bang om stil te staan
Fear has prevented the artist from stopping and taking in the beauty of life around him.
Diep in het zuiden lijkt het leven simpel
Life appears less complicated in the southern region compared to the northern regions.
En de mannen zitten ‘s avonds Rond het plein
Men gather in the evenings after work to talk about life in the city.
Je ziet ze denken
The men ponder their present and future.
En je hoort ze praten
The men share their thoughts and engage in discussions.
Over hoe het leven In de stad zal zijn
The men wonder and talk about how their lives in the city would be like.
Diep in het zuiden ligt Misschien mijn toekomst
The singer thinks that his future may lie in the southern region.
Maar ik ben zo bang Dat ik het missen zal
The singer is hesitant to move to the southern region because he fears he might miss out on opportunities elsewhere.
Het verre noorden Met zijn koude winters
The artist fears moving to the southern region and leaving behind the north with its trademark cold winters.
De grijze hemel Waar de sneeuw uit valt
The characteristic grey skies and snow of the north are missed and loved by the artist.
Loopt het leven langzaam
Life moves slowly in the southern region.
En de vrouwen zitten ‘savonds Voor hun deur
Women are typically found sitting outside their houses in the evenings.
Je ziet ze denken
The women ponder about past times.
Aan een ver verleden
Memories of the distant past are recalled by the women.
En ze nemen vrede Met wat is gebeurd
Women accept their past and make peace with it.
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.