Zangeres Zonder Naam (transl. Singer Without Name) was born as Mary Servaes… Read Full Bio ↴Zangeres Zonder Naam (transl. Singer Without Name) was born as Mary Servaes in Leiden, The Netherlands on 5 Augustus 1919 and died on 23 October 1998 was a Dutch singer who recorded more than 500 songs.

In the late 1950's she came to the attention of Dutch record-producer and songwriter Johnny Hoes. Her first single, "Ach Vaderlief, Toe Drink Niet Meer" (Dear Father, Please Stop Drinking) came out in 1959.

Hoes wrote the bulk of her songs, until their split in 1975. After this split she had only moderate succes. Still she sustained a dedicated -and typical- following of both working-class and highbrow audiences.

1986 saw her comeback with a (now legendary) concert at the Paradiso, Amsterdam. The live version of the song Mexico from this concert became her best known hit to date. A DVD of this concert was released together with a 5-CD overview of her career as the box-set "Mijn Leven" (My Life) in 2004 through Universal.

She had 29 top 40 hits in Holland between 1959 and 1993.

't is Kerstmis
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

't Is kerstdag, er loopt door de straten
Een schooier, in lompen gehuld
Hij heeft vrouw en kindje verlaten
Z'n hart is van wroeging vervuld
Als hij, door 't noodlot gedreven
Z'n vroegere huisje weer vindt
Beginnen z'n lippen te beven
En is 't als fluistert de wind:

't Is Kerstmis, 't is Kerstmis, 't is vrede op aard'
Nu zitten ze thuis rond de kerstboom geschaard
't Is Kerstmis, 't is Kerstmis, de mensen zijn blij
Maar jij, arme schooier, je hoort er niet bij

Terwijl hij verkleumd staat te turen
Loopt plots'ling zijn kind naar 't raam '
t Ziet hoe die man staat te gluren
En roept dan van vreugde een naam
Z'n moedertje loopt snel naar buiten
Ze kust 'm, ze huilt en ze lacht
Opeens gaan de kerstklokken luiden
Dan snikt ze: " 'k Heb op je gewacht"

't Is Kerstmis, 't is Kerstmis, 't is vrede op aard'
Nu zit je weer thuis rond de kerstboom geschaard
't Is Kerstmis, 't is Kerstmis, nu ben je weer blij
Want jij, arme schooier, jij hoort er weer bij

Overall Meaning

The song ‘t is Kerstmis by Zangeres Zonder Naam tells the heartwarming story of a homeless man on Christmas day. The man wanders through the streets, dressed in rags and burdened by the guilt of abandoning his wife and child. The man stumbles upon his former home, and as he gazes upon it, memories flood his mind and words of regret tremble on his lips. The wind seems to echo his apologies, and yet, he's a stranger to the people he once loved. The homeless man is reminded that it is Christmas day, a day that brings peace to people's hearts and gathers them around the tree with their families. While the man stands there, alone and forgotten, the song observes that he doesn't belong.

Suddenly, the man's child sees him from the window, and rushes out to greet him. The mother comes out too, weeping with joy as she embraces the lost husband. The sound of the church bells ringing in the distance announces the birth of Christ and the renewed hope of redemption, a reminder that no one is truly lost or forgotten. The song ends with the previously excluded husband being welcomed back into the fold of the family, a symbol of the reunion and forgiveness that Christmas ideals represent.

The song’s message is clear, even if the presentation is simple: that Christmas serves as a particularly potent reminder that everyone is deserving of love, care, and forgiveness. It’s about reconciling with loved ones, reminding us that our actions and decisions can hurt others, but also recognizing the healing potential of reconnecting with those who have been hurt.

Line by Line Meaning

't Is kerstdag, er loopt door de straten
It's Christmas Day, and a homeless man in rags is wandering through the streets

Hij heeft vrouw en kindje verlaten
He has abandoned his wife and child

Z'n hart is van wroeging vervuld
His heart is filled with remorse

Beginnen z'n lippen te beven
His lips begin to tremble

En is 't als fluistert de wind
And it is as if the wind is whispering:

't Is Kerstmis, 't is Kerstmis, 't is vrede op aard'
It's Christmas, it's Christmas, there is peace on earth

Nu zitten ze thuis rond de kerstboom geschaard
Families are gathered at home around the Christmas tree

Maar jij, arme schooier, je hoort er niet bij
But you, poor homeless man, you don't belong there

Terwijl hij verkleumd staat te turen
While he stands shivering and peering

t Ziet hoe die man staat te gluren
His child sees him and calls out his name joyfully

Z'n moedertje loopt snel naar buiten
His wife quickly comes outside