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.
Mammie waar ben je
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zij kon dansen als een vlinder want dat leerde mammie haar
Mammie was verzot op dansen als een zeer moderne vrouw
Lies vroeg dikwijls aan de dienstmeid "Zeg waar blijft m'n mammie nou"
En waarom mocht ik nu niet mee
Of is 't vandaag weer matinee
Mammie waar ben je heeft mammie weer pret
Mammie waar ben je toe mammie kom gauw
Want jouw kleine liev'ling verlangt zo naar jou
Omdat mam alleen maar aandacht voor de dancing woede had
Nam zij steeds minder notitie van haar lieve kleine schat
'T Gaf niet of de kinderjuffrouw troostend op de schoot haar nam
Liesje bleef in 't bedje snikken "Kom dan toch toe kom dan mam"
Het kinderzieltje werd vermoord
En mammie danste lustig voort
Mammie waar ben je heeft mammie weer pret
Dans je weer Charleston je kindje is naar bed
Mammie waar ben je toe mammie kom gauw
Want jouw kleine liev'ling verlangt zo naar jou
Kort daarna kwam plots een crisis kleine Lies lag 's avonds laat
Met een hoge vuur'ge koortsgloed op 't engelengelaat
In een ijldroom vroeg zij zachtjes "Mammie kom toch even weer"
Toen een zucht en 't was geleden kleine Liesje was niet meer
De juffrouw drukt haar oogjes dicht
En sprak "Slaap zacht mijn lief klein wicht"
Mammie waar ben je heeft mammie weer pret
Dans je weer Charleston 't kind ligt dood in bed
Dans dan toe dans dan o eerloze vrouw
Want jouw kleine liev'ling vraagt nooit meer naar jou
The lyrics of "Mammie waar ben je" by Zangeres Zonder Naam tell a poignant story of a little girl named Liesje and her absent mother, who is consumed by her love for dancing. Liesje, a six-year-old girl, is taught to dance like a butterfly by her mother and eagerly anticipates her mother's presence to share in the joy of dancing together. However, her mother is often preoccupied with her own desires for modern dance and neglects her daughter's longing for her attention.
Despite Liesje's attempts to seek her mother's company and affection, her mother remains detached and focused solely on her passion for dancing. This neglect causes Liesje to feel abandoned and lonely, yearning for her mother's love and presence. The lyrics convey the sense of a child feeling emotionally neglected and searching for the comfort and security that only a mother's love can provide.
As the story progresses, Liesje's health deteriorates, and she falls seriously ill with a high fever. In her delirium, she continues to yearn for her mother's love and presence, hoping for her comfort during her illness. Tragically, Liesje passes away, with her final moments filled with longing for her mother who was not there to comfort her in her time of need.
The song concludes with a heartbreaking realization that Liesje's mother, who was consumed by her love for dancing and neglectful of her daughter, will never be able to dance or find joy again as her precious child has passed away. The lyrics highlight the profound tragedy of a child's unfulfilled need for a mother's love and the devastating consequences of emotional neglect and absence in a parent-child relationship.
Overall, "Mammie waar ben je" serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of parental presence, love, and emotional connection in a child's life, and the lasting impact that neglect and absence can have on a vulnerable young heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Kleine Liesje was een meisje van pas nauwelijks zes jaar
Young Liesje was just barely six years old.
Zij kon dansen als een vlinder want dat leerde mammie haar
She could dance like a butterfly because her mommy taught her.
Mammie was verzot op dansen als een zeer moderne vrouw
Mommy was crazy about dancing like a very modern woman.
Lies vroeg dikwijls aan de dienstmeid 'Zeg waar blijft m'n mammie nou'
Lies often asked the maid, 'Tell me, where is my mommy?'
En waarom mocht ik nu niet mee
And why couldn't I come with her now?
Of is 't vandaag weer matinee
Or is it another matinee today?
Omdat mam alleen maar aandacht voor de dancing woede had
Because mom's only focus was on dancing, she was furious.
Nam zij steeds minder notitie van haar lieve kleine schat
She paid less and less attention to her dear little treasure.
'T Gaf niet of de kinderjuffrouw troostend op de schoot haar nam
It didn't matter if the nanny comfortingly held her on her lap.
Liesje bleef in 't bedje snikken 'Kom dan toch toe kom dan mam'
Liesje kept crying in her bed, 'Please come, come to me, mom.'
Het kinderzieltje werd vermoord
The child's soul was murdered.
En mammie danste lustig voort
And mommy continued to dance merrily.
Kort daarna kwam plots een crisis kleine Lies lag 's avonds laat
Shortly after, a crisis suddenly arose, Liesje lay late at night.
Met een hoge vuur'ge koortsgloed op 't engelengelaat
With a high fiery fever on her angelic face.
In een ijldroom vroeg zij zachtjes 'Mammie kom toch even weer'
In a delirious dream, she softly asked, 'Mommy, come back for a moment.'
Toen een zucht en 't was geleden kleine Liesje was niet meer
Then a sigh, and it was over, little Liesje was no more.
De juffrouw drukt haar oogjes dicht
The nanny closed her eyes.
En sprak 'Slaap zacht mijn lief klein wicht'
And said, 'Sleep peacefully, my dear little one.'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind