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.
Het lied van het pierement
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics
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Van lief en leed op plein en straat en gracht
En even wordt door 't zangere melodietje
In ieder hart wordt wat zonneschijn gebracht
Zing je lied van liefde en van leven
Zing je lied van zomer zonneschijn
Laat het vrij door open vensters zweven
Zing je lied waarin 't verlangen fluistert
Dat het hart van alle mensen kent
Zing je lied waar ieder graag naar luistert
Want geen stad kan zonder pierement
De orgelman draait onvermoeid de zwengel
Eerst links dan rechts terwijl het orgel gaat
En schokkend slaat een blond gelokte engel
Op 't pierement met houten arm de maat
Zing je lied van liefde en van leven
Zing je lied van zomer zonneschijn
Laat het vrij door open vensters zweven
Tot het dringt in 't hart van groot en klein
Zing je lied waarin 't verlangen fluistert
Dat het hart van alle mensen kent
Zing je lied waar ieder graag naar luistert
Want geen stad kan zonder pierement
The lyrics of Zangeres Zonder Naam's song "Het lied van het pierement" describe the joy and impact of a pierement, which is a type of street organ, on the people in a city. The pierement plays its songs all day long, bringing a mixture of love and sadness to the squares, streets, and canals. The uplifting melody of the pierement's music brings a little bit of sunshine to everyone's heart.
The first verse encourages the singer to sing songs about love, life, and the sunny days of summer. The singer is urged to let these songs float freely through open windows, so that they can reach the hearts of both young and old. The lyrics suggest that these songs contain a whisper of longing that is universally understood by all people. The pierement's music is so beloved that no city can do without it.
The second verse describes the organ grinder, who tirelessly turns the crank of the pierement. The organ grinder's motions are depicted as going from left to right, as the organ plays its tunes. In a playful manner, the lyrics mention a wooden-armed, blonde angel who rhythmically taps on the pierement to keep time with the music.
The chorus is repeated in both verses and emphasizes the importance of singing songs about love, life, and desire. The lyrics encourage these songs to reach the hearts of both young and old by letting them wander freely through open windows. The songs should contain the whispers of longing that resonate with all people. The chorus concludes by stating that no city can exist without a pierement, highlighting the vital role that this instrument plays in bringing joy and entertainment to the people.
Overall, the lyrics celebrate the pierement and its music as a source of joy and inspiration for the people in the city. They encourage the singer to share songs about love, life, and desire, and emphasize the universal appeal of the pierement's tunes. Through its melodies, the pierement brings a little bit of sunshine and happiness to everyone's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Het pierement speelt heel de dag zijn liedjes
The pierement plays its songs all day long
Van lief en leed op plein en straat en gracht
About love and sorrow on squares, streets, and canals
En even wordt door 't zangere melodietje
And for a moment, through the singing melody
In ieder hart wordt wat zonneschijn gebracht
Some sunshine is brought into every heart
Zing je lied van liefde en van leven
Sing your song of love and life
Zing je lied van zomer zonneschijn
Sing your song of summer sunshine
Laat het vrij door open vensters zweven
Let it float freely through open windows
Tot het dringt in 't hart van groot en klein
Until it reaches the hearts of young and old
Zing je lied waarin 't verlangen fluistert
Sing your song in which longing whispers
Dat het hart van alle mensen kent
That every heart knows
Zing je lied waar ieder graag naar luistert
Sing your song that everyone loves to listen to
Want geen stad kan zonder pierement
Because no city can be without a pierement
De orgelman draait onvermoeid de zwengel
The organ grinder tirelessly turns the crank
Eerst links dan rechts terwijl het orgel gaat
First left then right while the organ plays
En schokkend slaat een blond gelokte engel
And shakingly, a blond curly-haired angel strikes
Op 't pierement met houten arm de maat
On the pierement with a wooden arm, keeping the beat
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind