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.

Slavenkoor
Zangeres Zonder Naam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid breekt aan
In je hart zal de zon dan eeuwig schijnen
Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid zal slaan
En je ziel en je lichaam zijn vrij van slavernij

Zwarte slaven, de wereld zal eind'lijk verstaan
Dat een huidskleur geen hindernis mag wezen
Zwarte slaven, de wolken zijn broeders voortaan

Ja, de mensen zijn allen gelijk, zij arm of rijk

Want een man is geen man als hij de vrijheid niet kent
Nee, zo'n man, nee, zo'n man is nooit tevreden
Want een man is pas man als men de vrijheid hem schenkt
Is hij vrij, is z'n leed voorgoed voorbij

Laat de wereld 't overal horen
Dat geen mens ooit als slaaf werd geboren

Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid breekt aan
En de tijd van verdriet is voorbij want jij bent vrij
Jij bent vrij, jij bent vrij
Al je leed is voorbij

Jij bent vrij, jij bent vrij
Al je leed is voorbij

Jij bent vrij
Jij bent vrij

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Slavenkoor" speak to the struggle and eventual triumph of black slaves over their oppressors. The song begins by proclaiming that the hour of freedom is at hand, and that with it, the sun will shine forever in the hearts of the slaves. This imagery of light and freedom is reinforced throughout the song, as the lyrics declare that the slaves' souls and bodies will be free from slavery once the hour of freedom arrives.

As the song continues, it becomes clear that the struggle for freedom extends beyond just the physical chains of slavery. The world must come to understand that skin color should not be a barrier to freedom, and that all people are equal in the eyes of humanity. The lyrics acknowledge that true freedom cannot be given, but must be earned and fought for. However, once a person experiences true freedom, they will never again be satisfied with anything less.

The song ends on a triumphant note, with the declaration that the time of suffering is over and the slaves are finally free. The repetition of "jij bent vrij" (you are free) serves as a powerful reminder that freedom is not just an abstract concept, but a tangible reality that the slaves have achieved through their struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid breekt aan
Black slaves, the hour of freedom is approaching

In je hart zal de zon dan eeuwig schijnen
In your heart, the sun will shine forever

Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid zal slaan
Black slaves, the hour of freedom will strike

En je ziel en je lichaam zijn vrij van slavernij
And your soul and body are free from slavery

Zwarte slaven, de wereld zal eind'lijk verstaan
Black slaves, the world will finally understand

Dat een huidskleur geen hindernis mag wezen
That skin color should not be a hindrance

Zwarte slaven, de wolken zijn broeders voortaan
Black slaves, the clouds are now brothers

Ja, de mensen zijn allen gelijk, zij arm of rijk
Yes, people are all equal, whether they are rich or poor

Want een man is geen man als hij de vrijheid niet kent
Because a man is not a man if he does not know freedom

Nee, zo'n man, nee, zo'n man is nooit tevreden
No, such a man, no, such a man is never satisfied

Want een man is pas man als men de vrijheid hem schenkt
Because a man is only a man if freedom is given to him

Is hij vrij, is z'n leed voorgoed voorbij
If he is free, his suffering is permanently gone

Laat de wereld 't overal horen
Let the world hear it everywhere

Dat geen mens ooit als slaaf werd geboren
That no person was ever born as a slave

Zwarte slaven, 't uur van de vrijheid breekt aan
Black slaves, the hour of freedom is approaching

En de tijd van verdriet is voorbij want jij bent vrij
And the time of sorrow is over because you are free

Jij bent vrij, jij bent vrij
You are free, you are free

Al je leed is voorbij
All your suffering is over

Jij bent vrij
You are free

Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

Yo-p Selasi

6y↑18

Ik ben Surinamer en ik vind dit een mooi lied, respect voor de artiest zonder naam heel gedurfd dit lied vooral destijds.... Ik hoor de oprechte blijdschap in haar muziek