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 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.
