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.
Aloha oe
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Naar 't schip dat heel ver weg zal gaan
Voor 't laatst ziet zij z'n blonde haren
En ze fluistert dan zacht, met een traan
refrain:
Aloha oe, jij moet naar zee
Maar ik zal altijd op je blijven wachten
't Meisje dat je achter liet
En voorbij zijn nu al vele jaren
Maar helaas, haar zeeman kwam niet meer
Vaak staat zij nog aan 't strand te staren
En dan zingen de golven steeds weer
refrain
Vergeet toch niet, wat ook geschiedt
't Meisje dat je achter liet
The lyrics to Zangeres Zonder Naam's song Aloha Oe tell the story of a girl named Nonja who is watching a ship sail away, taking with it her blonde-haired lover. Nonja is filled with emotion as she stands on the beach, knowing that this may be the last time she ever sees him. With a tear in her eye, she whispers a soft goodbye to him before the ship disappears from view. The chorus of the song expresses the message of the lyrics, which is that Nonja will always wait for her lover, no matter what happens in the future. The years go by, but Nonja is still waiting on the shore, hoping that her love will return. The waves sing their mournful melody to her, reminding her of what she has lost.
The lyrics to Aloha Oe are filled with emotion and longing. The song is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and the pain of separation that accompanies it. Nonja is a symbol of hope in the face of adversity, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love can overcome all obstacles. The lyrics are written in a simple, straightforward manner, but they carry a deep emotional resonance that is difficult to ignore. The music, which features lush instrumentation and beautiful harmonies, adds to the overall effect of the song, creating a sense of nostalgia and melancholy that is both beautiful and haunting.
Line by Line Meaning
Stil staat Nonja aan het strand te staren
Nonja stands still at the shore, gazing into the sea.
Naar 't schip dat heel ver weg zal gaan
She stares at the ship that will sail far away.
Voor 't laatst ziet zij z'n blonde haren
She sees his blonde hair for the last time.
En ze fluistert dan zacht, met een traan
Softly, with a tear, she whispers.
refrain: Aloha oe, jij moet naar zee
Chorus: Aloha Oe, you have to go to sea.
Maar ik zal altijd op je blijven wachten
But I will always wait for you.
Vergeet toch niet, wat ook geschiedt
Do not forget, whatever happens,
‘t Meisje dat je achter liet
the girl you left behind.
En voorbij zijn nu al vele jaren
Many years have passed since then.
Maar helaas, haar zeeman kwam niet meer
Unfortunately, her sailor never returned.
Vaak staat zij nog aan 't strand te staren
She often stands at the shore, gazing out into the sea.
En dan zingen de golven steeds weer
And then the waves sing again.
refrain
Chorus
Vergeet toch niet, wat ook geschiedt
Do not forget, whatever happens,
‘t Meisje dat je achter liet
the girl you left behind.
Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.