maandag, juni 28, 2010

The Dream That Must Be Interpreted



The Dream That Must Be Interpreted

This place is a dream.
Only a sleeper considers it real.

Then death comes like dawn,
and you wake up laughing
at what you thought was your grief.

But there's a difference with this dream.
Everything cruel and unconscious
done in the illusion of the present world,
all that does not fade away at the death-waking.

It stays,
and it must be interpreted.

All the mean laughing,
all the quick, sexual wanting,
those torn coats of Joseph,
they change into powerful wolves
that you must face.

The retaliation that sometimes comes now,
the swift, payback hit,
is just a boy's game
to what the other will be.

You know about circumcision here.
It's full castration there!

And this groggy time we live,
this is what it's like

A man goes to sleep in the town
where he has always lived, and he dreams he's living
in another town.


In the dream, he doesn't remember
the town he's sleeping in his bed in. He believes
the reality of the dream town.

The world is that kind of sleep.

The dust of many crumbled cities
settles over us like a forgetful doze,

but we are older than those cities.
We began
as a mineral. We emerged into plant life
and into the animal state, and then into being human,
and always we have forgotten our former states,
except in early spring when we slightly recall
being green again.
That's how a young person turns
toward a teacher. That's how a baby leans
toward the breast, without knowing the secret
of its desire, yet turning instinctively.

Humankind is being led along an evolving course,
through this migration of intelligences,
and though we seem to be sleeping,
there is an inner wakefulness
that directs the dream,

and that will eventually startle us back
to the truth of who we are.

~Rumi

woensdag, juni 02, 2010

Rokia Traore sings "M'Bifo" | Video on TED.com

Rokia Traore sings "M'Bifo"

This is a most amazing woman, and I'm glad I've heard from her now.
Listen and it might enrichen your life too.

zaterdag, april 17, 2010

Take this hammer by Leadbelly

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
You tell him I'm gone
You tell him I'm gone

If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'
You tell him I was flyin'
You tell him I was flyin'

If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
You tell him I was cryin'
You tell him I was cryin'

I don't want no cornbread and molasses
I don't want no cornbread and molasses
I don't want no cornbread and molasses
It hurts my pride
It hurts my pride

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
You tell him I'm gone
You tell him I'm gone

~Leadbelly

zaterdag, april 10, 2010

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas, il faut oublier
Tout peut s'oublier, qui s'enfuit déjà
Oublier le temps des malentendus et le temps perdu
A savoir comment oublier ces heures
Qui tuaient parfois
A coups de pourquoi, le coeur du bonheur
Ne me quitte pas
(4 fois)


Moi je t'offrirai des perles de pluie
Venues de pays où il ne pleut pas
Je creuserai la terre jusqu'après ma mort
Pour couvrir ton corps d'or et de lumière
Je ferai un domaine où l'amour sera roi
Où l'amour sera loi
Où tu seras reine
Ne me quitte pas
(4 fois)

Je t'inventerai des mots insensés que tu comprendras
Je te parlerai de ces amants-là
qui ont vu
deux fois leurs coeurs s'embraser
Je te raconterai l'histoire de ce roi mort
De n'avoir pas pu te rencontrer
Ne me quitte pas
(4 fois)

On a vu souvent rejaillir le feu de l'ancien volcan
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
Il est paraît-il
des terres brûlées
Donnant plus de blé qu'un meilleur avril
Et quand vient le soir pour qu'un ciel flamboie
Le rouge et le noir ne s'épousent-ils pas
Ne me quitte pas
(4 fois)

Je ne vais plus pleurer
Je ne vais plus parler
Je me cacherai là à te regarder
Danser et sourire
Et à t'écouter
Chanter et puis rire
Laisse-moi devenir l'ombre de ton ombre
L'ombre de ta main
L'ombre de ton chien
Ne me quitte pas
(4 fois)


Ne me quitte pas translated in English:

Do not leave me.
One must forget
that which is bygone.
Everything can be forgotten -
The instances
of misunderstandings
and all the moments lost.
Knowing how to
forget the hours
that sometimes killed
the essence (or the very heart) of happiness
- with all the doubts (or why's).
Do not leave me... (4x)


I will offer you
pearls made of raindrops,
found in countries where it never rains.
I will traverse the Earth,
until after I'm gone,
only to cover your body
with gold and with sunlight.
I will establish a kingdom
where Love will be king,
where Love will rule,
and you will be Queen.
Do not leave me. (4x)

Do not leave me.
I will invent for you
nonsensical words
which only you will understand.
I will tell you stories
about the lovers
whose hearts have been
twice ablaze,
and of that king
who died for not having met you.
Do not leave me.

One has often seen
a fire erupting
out an ancient volcano,
thought to be extinct.
And it seems
that a scorched earth
could give more wheat
than in the best of springs.
And when the evening falls
do the red and the black not unite
in order for sky to be set aflame?
Do not leave me.

Do not leave me.
I will no longer cry.
I will no longer talk.
I will just hide where
I can look at you
dance and smile,
and listen to you
sing and then laugh.
Let me become
the shadow of your shadow
the shadow of your hand
the shadow of your dog.
Do not leave me. (4x)


Ne me quitte pas translated in Dutch (Jaques Brel's second language) and a lot of other languages, like South African, you can find here: Ne me quitte pas

dinsdag, maart 23, 2010

Tattoo ( Taatje )

Yesterday evening 22-03-2010 at 20.30 my sweet old dog Taatje died.
He was 17 years old and a fantastic friend.
Taat was brave and strong, loyal and happy.
I'm really grateful that he's been my dog for so many years
My heart and house feel terribly empty.
I miss him SO much...




Hond met bijnaam Knak
God, zegen Knak
Hij is nu dood
Zijn tong, verhemelte, was rood
Toen was het wit
Toen was hij dood
God, zegen Knak

Hij was een hond
Zijn naam was Knak
Maar in zijn hondenlichaam stak
Een beste ziel
Een verre tak
Een oud verbond
God, zegen Knak



Jan Hanlo (1912-1969)

donderdag, februari 25, 2010

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

The first time, ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars
Were the gifts you gave
To the dark,
and the endless skies
My Love.

And the first time, ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hands
Like the trembling heart
Of a captive bird
That was there, at my command
My Love.

And the first time, ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy
It would fill the earth
And last, 'til the end of time
My Love.
The first time ever I saw your face,
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
and the moon and the stars
were the gifts you gave
To the dark
and the endless skies my love

The first time, ever I saw
Your face
Your face
Your face
Your face



Roberta Flack

dinsdag, februari 23, 2010

I want you

Oh my baby baby I love you more than I can tell
I don't think I can live without you
And I know that I never will
Oh my baby baby I want you so it scares me to death
I can't say anymore than "I love you"
Everything else is a waste of breath

I want you
You've had your fun you don't get well no more
I want you
Your fingernails go dragging down the wall
Be careful darling you might fall
I want you
I woke up and one of us was crying
I want you
You said "Young man I do believe you're dying"
I want you
If you need a second opinion as you seem to do these days
I want you
You can look in my eyes and you can count the ways
I want you
Did you mean to tell me but seem to forget
I want you
Since when were you so generous and inarticulate
I want you
It's the stupid details that my heart is breaking for
It's the way your shoulders shake and what they're shaking for
I want you
it's knowing that he knows you now after only guessing
It's the thought of him undressing you or you undressing
I want you
He tossed some tatty compliment your way
I want you
And you were fool enough to love it when he said
"I want you"
I want you
The truth can't hurt you it's just like the dark
It scares you witless
But in time you see things clear and stark
I want you
Go on and hurt me then we'll let it drop
I want you
I'm afraid I won't know where to stop
I want you
I'm not ashamed to say I cried for you
I want you
I want to know the things you did that we do too
I want you
I want to hear he pleases you more than I do
I want you
I might as well be useless for all it means to you
I want you
Did you call his name out as he held you down
I want you
Oh no my darling not with that clown
I want you
I want you
You've had your fun you don't get well no more
I want you
No-one who wants you could want you more
I want you
I want you
I want you
Every night when I go off to bed and when I wake up
I want you
I'm going to say it once again 'til I instill it
I know I'm going to feel this way until you kill it
I want you
I want you
I want you



This song never fails to make me cry, it still does ... reminding me of lost love ... sigh

zondag, februari 21, 2010

What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted

As I walk this land with broken dreams
I have visions of many things
Love's happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion,
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe.
The fruits of love grow all around
But for me they come a tumblin' down.
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can't stand this pain much longer
I walk in shadows
Searching for light
Cold and alone
No comfort in sight,
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and goin to where
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe.
I'm searching though I don't succeed,
But someone look, there's a growing need.
Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning,
All that's left is an unhappy ending.
Now what's become of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care.
I'll be looking everyday
I know I'm gonna find a way
Nothings gonna stop me now
I'll find a way somehow
I'll be searching everywhere


Jimmy Ruffin

woensdag, februari 03, 2010

Easy Hearts

put the houses in a row
down the streets we used to know
and all the things out in the yard
that can hang there to and fro

if the money isn't right
can i be yours tonight?
i've an easy heart

from the windows of your house
reflects back on yourself
then it gets you wonderin'
if it means anything

if the money isn't right
can i be yours tonight?
i've had a pretty hard life
i've had a pretty hard life
for such an easy heart

you move away when you're young
they take away where you're from
and all the things out in the trees
that can hang there in the breeze

if the money isn't right
can i be yours tonight?
i've had a pretty hard life
i've had a pretty hard life
for such an easy heart
easy heart


Whiskeytown


zaterdag, januari 30, 2010

"Walk On By"

If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry, each time we meet
Walk on by
Make believe that you don't see the tears
Yes let me grieve in private
'Cos each time I see you I break down and cry
Oh walk on by
I just can't get over losing you
And if I seem broken in two
Walk on by
Foolish pride, that's all I have left
So let me hide the tears and the sadness
You gave me when you said goodbye
Oh walk on by
Stupid pride that's all I have left
So let me hide the tears and the sadness
You gave me when you said goodbye
Oh walk on by
You know you really got to go
So walk on by
Baby leave me never see the tears I cry
Know you really got to go so walk on by
For my sister