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.
Ingabilé
Stef Bos Lyrics
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De dag is lang geweest
Nee nu niets vragen
De maan neemt jou mee
Speel mijn kind speel
Met een vallende ster
Droom mijn kind droom
Het leven is nog zo ver
Ik zie zijn handen ik zie mijn ogen
Vertrouwd en vreemd ineen
Kind van de nacht kind van de goden
Ingabilé
Dans mijn kind dans
Met een vallende ster
Slaap mijn kind slaap
Het leven is nog zo ver
Kind van de vijand
Kind van mij
Kind van de vijand
Ingabilé
Ingabilé
Wees kind van mij
The lyrics of Stef Bos's song "Ingabilé" are addressed to a child. The first verse encourages the child to go to sleep, as the day has been long and tiring. The child is told not to ask any questions, as the moon will take them away into a dream world where they can play with falling stars and dream of their future. The second verse expresses the connection between the child and the singer, as they share the same eyes and hands. The child is also referred to as "child of the night, child of the gods," a mystical association that evokes a sense of otherworldliness and magic. The chorus encourages the child to dance and dream with falling stars, and to trust that there is still plenty of time to live.
The title of the song, "Ingabilé," is derived from the Zulu language and means "born during a time of unrest." The song was inspired by Bos's visit to South Africa during the apartheid era, and in particular, his encounter with a young boy who was born during the Soweto uprising. The song is a tribute to this child, and to all children who are born into difficult times and who must navigate their way through an uncertain and often hostile world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ga nu maar slapen mijn kind
It's time for the child to sleep after a long day.
De dag is lang geweest
The day has been exhausting.
Nee nu niets vragen
No questions for now.
De maan neemt jou mee
The moon will accompany the child to sleep.
Speel mijn kind speel
Play, my child, play.
Met een vallende ster
With a shooting star.
Droom mijn kind droom
Dream, my child, dream.
Het leven is nog zo ver
There is still a long life ahead.
Ik zie zijn handen ik zie mijn ogen
The child's hands and eyes are both familiar and strange.
Vertrouwd en vreemd ineen
Familiar and strange at the same time.
Kind van de nacht kind van de goden
Child of the night, child of the gods.
Ingabilé
Ingabilé.
Dans mijn kind dans
Dance, my child, dance.
Slaap mijn kind slaap
Sleep, my child, sleep.
Kind van de vijand
Child of the enemy.
Kind van mij
My child.
Ingabilé
Ingabilé.
Wees kind van mij
Be my child.
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.