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.
Jericho
Stef Bos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ik liet je meegaan met de wind
Ik volgde jou in jouw gedachten
Verdwaalde in jouw Labyrint
Ik heb de weg teruggevonden
En alles laat me langzaam koud
Want ik kan de muur niet breken
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Die jij rond je hebt gebouwd
Je leeft verborgen in jouw wereld
Gesloten poorten, stad van steen
Al zou ik zingen tot de ochtend
Ik kom er met geen stem doorheen
Want het vuur begint te doven
En het huis wordt langzaam koud
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Die jij rond je hebt gebouwd
En de toekomst wordt verleden
Hoe vaak ik ook mijn handen vouw
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Ik kan de muur niet breken
Die jij rond je hebt gebouwd
The lyrics of Stef Bos's song Jericho express a deep sense of longing and inability to connect with someone who has built a wall around themselves. The first stanza depicts the singer waiting for the other person to join them, following them in their thoughts, but ultimately getting lost in their labyrinth. However, in the second stanza, a shift occurs as the singer realizes that they are unable to break through the walls that the other person has built around them. Despite their efforts, which include singing until morning and praying fervently, the other person remains closed off and distant. The singer is left feeling helpless, as they are unable to bridge the gap between them and the other person.
The metaphorical wall is a symbol of the emotional barriers that people put up when they are hurt or afraid. It is an acknowledgment of the difficulty of breaking through those walls, even when we care about someone deeply. The song is a reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we want to connect with someone, we cannot change them or force them to open up. We can only accept their choices and decide whether or not to continue waiting for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik heb geleerd op jou te wachten
I have learned to wait for you
Ik liet je meegaan met de wind
I let you go with the wind
Ik volgde jou in jouw gedachten
I followed you in your thoughts
Verdwaalde in jouw Labyrint
I got lost in your labyrinth
Ik heb de weg teruggevonden
I have found my way back
En alles laat me langzaam koud
And everything slowly leaves me cold
Want ik kan de muur niet breken
Because I can't break the wall
Die jij rond je hebt gebouwd
That you have built around yourself
Je leeft verborgen in jouw wereld
You live hidden in your world
Gesloten poorten, stad van steen
Closed gates, city of stone
Al zou ik zingen tot de ochtend
Even if I sing until morning
Ik kom er met geen stem doorheen
I can't get through with my voice
Want het vuur begint te doven
Because the fire is starting to fade
En het huis wordt langzaam koud
And the house is slowly getting colder
En de toekomst wordt verleden
And the future becomes the past
Hoe vaak ik ook mijn handen vouw
No matter how many times I fold my hands
Ik kan de muur niet breken
I can't break the wall
Die jij rond je hebt gebouwd
That you have built around yourself
Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.