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.
De blinde soldaat
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'n Weerzien dat echter aan beiden geen vreugd en geluk geven kon
Hij was naar de vreemde getogen en deed als soldaat trouw zijn plicht
Betaalde die plicht met z'n ogen, voor altijd verloor hij het licht
Twee ogen zo duister in beide 'n traan
Ze kijken haar somber en troosteloos aan
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
'n Hemelpoort ging voor 'm open in 't huis van de blinde soldaat
Wanneer op 'n zonnige morgen 'n wieg in het kamertje staat
Toch werden die avond in stilte veel bittere tranen geuit
Wanneer hij hij vraagt hoe m'n liefste hoe ziet onze jongen er uit
Twee ogen zo duister in beide 'n traan
Die zullen toch nimmer het wiegje zien staan
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
Waarom toch m'n jongen mag ik jou niet zien
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
Waarom toch m'n jongen mag ik jou niet zien
The song "De blinde soldaat," by Zangeres Zonder Naam, tells the story of a soldier who returns from war, having lost his sight in the battle. The soldier and his former lover reunite at the train station after years of separation. The reunion, however, is bittersweet as the soldier's forced blindness means that he cannot fully appreciate the moment. The song speaks to the harsh realities of war and its impact on the soldiers who fight, especially those who are left with physical and emotional scars.
The soldier's blindness is a central theme of the song. His eyes, once bright and full of life, are now dark and empty. The lyric "Twee ogen zo duister in beide 'n traan" (Two eyes so dark with a tear in each) reflects his pain and sorrow. This line is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the soldier's loss and his inability to see the world around him. Despite his disability, the soldier remains faithful to his duty and sacrifices his vision for his country. The song is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that soldiers make and the lasting effects that war can have on individuals, families, and society.
Overall, "De blinde soldaat" is a somber and emotional song that speaks to the harsh realities of war and the impact it has on people's lives. It is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that soldiers make and the lasting effects that war can have on individuals, families, and society.
Line by Line Meaning
Ze zag hem na jaren van scheiden terug op het grote station
After years of separation, she saw him again at the large station.
'n Weerzien dat echter aan beiden geen vreugd en geluk geven kon
But the reunion did not bring joy and happiness to either of them.
Hij was naar de vreemde getogen en deed als soldaat trouw zijn plicht
He had gone to a foreign land and faithfully served his duty as a soldier.
Betaalde die plicht met z'n ogen, voor altijd verloor hij het licht
But he paid for that duty with his sight, and forever lost his vision.
Twee ogen zo duister in beide 'n traan
Two dark eyes with tears in both.
Ze kijken haar somber en troosteloos aan
They look at her sadly and despairingly.
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
Two dark eyes that maybe ask,
Waarom toch m'n liefste mag ik jou niet zien
'Why can't I see you, my love?'
'n Hemelpoort ging voor 'm open in 't huis van de blinde soldaat
A heavenly door opened for him in the house of the blind soldier.
Wanneer op 'n zonnige morgen 'n wieg in het kamertje staat
When a crib is in the room on a sunny morning.
Toch werden die avond in stilte veel bittere tranen geuit
Yet that evening many bitter tears were shed in silence.
Wanneer hij hij vraagt hoe m'n liefste hoe ziet onze jongen er uit
When he asks, 'My love, what does our son look like?'
Twee ogen zo duister in beide 'n traan
Two dark eyes with tears in both.
Die zullen toch nimmer het wiegje zien staan
That will never see the crib standing.
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
Two dark eyes that maybe ask,
Waarom toch m'n jongen mag ik jou niet zien
'Why can't I see you, my boy?'
Twee ogen zo duister die vragen misschien
Two dark eyes that maybe ask,
Waarom toch m'n jongen mag ik jou niet zien
'Why can't I see you, my boy?'
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.