Inspiration Friday: a haunting song by Koos du Plessis

(This post first appeared on 26 August 2011.)

One of the earliest songs I can recall hearing and seeing a music video for, was one of Koos du Plessis’ songs. Titled “Sprokie vir ’n stadskind”, or “Fairy tale for a city child”, it also formed part of various Afrikaans poetry lessons.  Much like his “Kinders van die wind” (Children of the wind), it is a beautiful and haunting piece with multiple layers of meaning. Of course, about twenty years later, the song’s meaning to me has grown and evolved, but I can still remember the whole family watching the bittersweet song on the television. Du Plessis made his own translation of the song – “The neon rainbow” – but I could not find it. So, I made my own translation. It is posted below the Afrikaans text, along with a video where the song is sung by Du Plessis.

Sprokie vir ‘n stadskind

                                                – Koos du Plessis

As die reën van stof en roet verby is,

en die rook verdwyn,

 sal daar in die sterrelose hemel,

’n neonboog verskyn.

En kyk maar goed,

want as jy hom vind,

vertel ek vir jou ’n sprokie, my kind,

van ’n skatkis met ou kettings gebind

aan die neonboog se punt.

Volg hom elke nag oor swart riviere,

 oor kranse van beton.

As jy aanhou stap vir tienduisend ure,

 sal jy dalk daar kom.

Maar hier moet jy jou nimmer laat bind,

want so lui die ou, ou sprokie, my kind,

as jy geluk en vrede wil vind,

soek die neonboog se punt.

Volg hom elke nag oor swart riviere,

kyk nie eenmaal om,

dalk vind jy die land

van blou saffiere

en, dalk, ’n brokkie son.

Fairy tale for a city child

When the rain of dust and soot has passed,

and the smoke disappears,

a neon rainbow will appear

in the starless sky.

And look well,

for if you find it

I’ll tell you a fairy tale, my child,

of a treasure chest bound with old chains

to the end of the neon rainbow.

Follow it every night across black rivers,

over cliffs of concrete.

If you keep on walking

for ten thousand hours

you may get there.

But here you must not let yourself be bound,

for so runs the old, old fairy tale, my child,

if you want to find happiness and peace;

find the end of the neon rainbow.

Follow it every night across black rivers,

do not look around once.

Maybe you’ll find the country

of blue sapphires

and, maybe, a small piece of the sun. 

Have a wonderful weekend!
A Agrai tellarias or s’agrélar silássa.

A Summer Christmas

Before you know it, the year is almost at its end. Summer is in full swing, the sale of ice and fans are booming and everyone is getting into a festive spirit. While I love traditional carols and many modern Christmas songs, it is sometimes nice to have songs that doesn’t sing about snow or how cold it is. One of my favourite Christmas songs is called “Somerkersfees” or “Summer Christmas”. It also brings back so many good memories of Christmas and the family or church singing it together. The song was written in 1971 and the lyrics of the first two verses and music was written by Koos du Plessis, while the third verse was added by Jannie du Toit. It has been included as song 358 in the Liedboek van die Kerk with the title “Welkom, o stille nag van vrede”.

Below are a translation of the lyrics along with the original and a video of the song.

Voor mens jou oë uitvee is die jaar amper verby. Somer is in volle gang, die verkope van ys en waaiers is aan die styg en almal kom in die gees van die seisoen. Alhoewel ek baie hou van tradisionele Kersliedere en baie moderne Kersfees-liedjies, is dit partykeer lekker om liedjies te hoor wat nie sing oor sneeu of hoe koud dit is nie. Een van my gunsteling Kersliedere is “Somerkersfees” – hier vertaal as “Summer Christmas”. Dit bring ook soveel goeie herinneringe terug van Kersfees en die familie of kerk wat dit saam sing. Die lied is in 1971 geskryf en lirieke van die eerste twee verse en die musiek is deur Koos du Plessis geskryf, terwyl die derde vers deur Jannie du Toit geskryf is. Dit is as lied 358 in die Liedboekvan die Kerk opgeneem met die titel “Welkom, o stille nag van vrede”.

Hieronder is ’n vertaling van die lirieke, saam met die oorspronklike teks en ’n video van die liedjie.

Summer Christmas

Welcome o silent night of peace

beneath the southern cross,

while voices from the old past

murmur across the starry heaven

Christmas comes, Christmas comes –

give the glory to God.

Gift to us a bright summer Christmas

in this country, o Lord.

Do you hear how softly the bells chime

in language centuries old.

Look, even the silence of the night

tells the old tale.

Christmas comes, Christmas comes –

give the glory to God.

Gift to us a bright summer Christmas

in this country, o Lord.

Do you also now feel his warm love

when we commemorate this day.

When He gave His Son to us –

our biggest Christmas gift.

Christ comes, Christ comes –

give glory to God.

Gift to us a bright summer Christmas

in this country, o Lord.

Somerkersfees/ Welkom, o stille nag van vrede[1]

Welkom, o stille nag van vrede, 
onder die suiderkruis, 
wyl stemme uit die ou verlede 
oor sterrehemel ruis. 

Kersfees kom, Kersfees kom – 
gee aan God die eer. 
Skenk ons ‘n helder Somerkersfees 
in hierdie land, o Heer.

Hoor jy hoe sag die  klokke beier 
In eeue-oue taal. 
Kyk, selfs die nagtelike swye 
vertel die ou verhaal. 

Kersfees kom, Kersfees kom – 
gee aan God die eer. 
Skenk ons ‘n helder Somerkersfees 
in hierdie land, o Heer. 

Voel jy ook nou sy warm liefde 
As ons die dag gedenk, 
Toe Hy sy Seun aan ons gegee het – 
Ons grootste kersgeskenk. 

Christus kom, Christus kom – 
gee aan God die eer. 
Skenk ons ‘n helder Somerkersfees 
in hierdie land, o Heer. 

---

[1] Text from the new edition of the Liedboek van die Kerk (2001) by NG-Kerk Uitgewers./Teks uit die nuwe uitgawe van die Liedboek van die Kerk (2001) deur NG-Kerk Uitgewers. 

Inspiration Friday: A South African Ghost Story

Not so much 'inspiration' as just a song I love, this ghostly tale was written and sung by Koos du Plessis, although I also enjoy the cover done by Theuns Jordaan and Robbie Wessels on the CD “Kouevuur” (Cold Fire). (Because the original text is quite long, I’ve decided to only post the English, but here’s a link to the Afrikaans. At the end of the post is a video of Koos du Plessis singing the song.)

On the road to Nooitgedacht

On a dark night, deep in the month of July, on the road to Nooitgedacht, where three boulders stand against the sickle moon, I waited for a long time that night.

Because there a thief of old buried a sack of gold next to the road, and every dark night – with the sickle moon – he returns to search for his treasure.

Far off I hear four hooves, like a heartbeat deep in the night; it’s as if the devil is chasing him, because the moon is already low in the sky, on the road to Nooitgedacht.

At the ghost boulders near Nooitgedacht, so the people told me, no man can dare it on a dark night, he finds himself in Hel. But I stood fast and said I would go, man alone, one dark night. I steeled myself and let my horse be fetched, but I never expected such a thing: because sparks of fire flies from its hooves and ten tongues of flame plays in the night and the rider lies against his steed because it knows the road to the treasure of Nooitgedacht.

I saw too much and I thought, maybe, the best place is home, because I know danger, but I got into a tangle, and I wished I was already home. But home is far and the morning star hangs ghost-like over the veldt. This is no place for me, I’d rather go – let the man keep his money.

But the striking of the hooves drones in my ears and the ghost shoots silently from his saddle and sparks of fire flies as he digs next to the road because he’s coming to fetch his treasure.
But the burghers give him no peace – like a veldt fire they’re approaching – and the Mauser fire drones and drops of lead rains down and I thought I was seeing the end.

But two coals glow in his eyes, at once his back in the saddle, and his horse ploughs the air in its hurried flight, because he knows death is coming for him.

On a dark night deep in the month of July, on the road to Nooitgedacht, where three boulders stand against the sickle moon I laid for a long time that night.

And I know no one will believe me, it all sounds like madness in the day... but let everyone who laughs be on the road to Nooitgedacht just once at night. 

I haven’t yet been able to find out whether the story was Koos’ original work or if it is based on another tale, but I can tell you this… In the year 1900, during the Anglo-Boer War/South African War[1], a battle was fought near Nooitgedacht between the British troops and the Boers – many of whom used Mausers.

---

[1] Depending on what you wish to call the conflict (in what is now South Africa) between the Boer Republics and Britain. For an overview of the war, see this site, or read ThomasPackenham’s book.

Inspiration Friday: a haunting song by Koos du Plessis

One of the earliest songs I can recall hearing and seeing a music video for, was one of Koos du Plessis’ songs. Titled “Sprokie vir ’n stadskind”, or “Fairy tale for a city child”, it also formed part of various Afrikaans poetry lessons.  Much like his “Kinders van die wind” (Children of the wind), it is a beautiful and haunting piece with multiple layers of meaning. Of course, about twenty years later, the song’s meaning to me has grown and evolved, but I can still remember the whole family watching the bittersweet song on the television. Du Plessis made his own translation of the song – “The neon rainbow” – but I could not find it. So, I made my own translation. It is posted below the Afrikaans text, along with a video where the song is sung by Du Plessis.

Sprokie vir ‘n stadskind

                                                – Koos du Plessis

As die reën van stof en roet verby is,

en die rook verdwyn,

 sal daar in die sterrelose hemel,

’n neonboog verskyn.

En kyk maar goed,

want as jy hom vind,

vertel ek vir jou ’n sprokie, my kind,

van ’n skatkis met ou kettings gebind

aan die neonboog se punt.

Volg hom elke nag oor swart riviere,

 oor kranse van beton.

As jy aanhou stap vir tienduisend ure,

 sal jy dalk daar kom.

Maar hier moet jy jou nimmer laat bind,

want so lui die ou, ou sprokie, my kind,

as jy geluk en vrede wil vind,

soek die neonboog se punt.

Volg hom elke nag oor swart riviere,

kyk nie eenmaal om,

dalk vind jy die land

van blou saffiere

en, dalk, ’n brokkie son.

Fairy tale for a city child

When the rain of dust and soot has passed,

and the smoke disappears,

a neon rainbow will appear

in the starless sky.

And look well,

for if you find it

I’ll tell you a fairy tale, my child,

of a treasure chest bound with old chains

to the end of the neon rainbow.

Follow it every night across black rivers,

over cliffs of concrete.

If you keep on walking

for ten thousand hours

you may get there.

But here you must not let yourself be bound,

for so runs the old, old fairy tale, my child,

if you want to find happiness and peace;

find the end of the neon rainbow.

Follow it every night across black rivers,

do not look around once.

Maybe you’ll find the country

of blue sapphires

and, maybe, a small piece of the sun. 

Have a wonderful weekend!
A Agrai tellarias or s’agrélar silássa.

Ageless Words Friday: “Gebed” by Koos du Plessis

Although this week’s “Ageless Words” are only a few decades old; I do believe these lyrics to be “ageless”. It is written in Afrikaans by one of my favourite songwriters; Koos du Plessis. Born on 10 May 1945 as Jacobus Johannes du Plessis, Koos started writing songs during his tertiary studies. Some of his best known and loved songs are “Kinders van die wind” (“Children of the wind”) and “Sprokie vir ’n stadskind” (translated as “The neon rainbow” by Koos himself). He also wrote one of my favourite Christmas songs, “Somerkersfees” (“Summer Christmas”)  This week, however, I bring you “Gebed” (“Prayer”) – one of my favourite songs. The English translation[1] can be found below the Afrikaans lyrics, as well as a recording of the song.

Koos du Plessis (1945-1984)

Gebed

Laat my nooit die grond verlaat nie.
Laat my in U skadu bly.
Gee dat elke aardse vreugde en vrees,
eindelik nietig word vir my.
Elke afdraai paadjie ken ek.
Elke keer het ek verdwaal.
Elke keer het u my iewers kom haal.
Maak dit Heer, die laaste maal.
Elke dag is ’n gedagte.
Elke kamer net gehuur.
Elke aardse droom van rykdom en roem,
net ’n skadu teen die muur.
Wat ek is, is net genade.
Wat ek het, is net geleen.
Eindelik smag ek na U waters van rus.
Lei my, Heer, vanaand daarheen.

Prayer

Let me never leave the ground.

Let me stay in Your shadow.

Grant that every earthly joy and fear

at last become insignificant to me.

All the branching paths I know.

Every time I lost my way.

Every time You came to collect me somewhere.

Make it, Lord, the last time.

Every day is a thought.

Every room only let.

Every earthly dream of wealth and fame

but a shadow on the wall.

What I am is only mercy.

What I have is only borrowed.

At last I yearn for Your waters of rest.

Lead me, Lord, there tonight.

[1] This translation was done by me.