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Willy Derby - On the Grebbeberg
Dutch songs with English translation, translated in English
Willy Derby - On the Grebbeberg
(about the Military War Cemetery on the Grebbe Hill)
Lyrics: Jacques van Tol / Melody: 'Hörst du mein Heimlisches Rufen'
(1940)
Willy Derby - Op de Grebbeberg
Tekst: Jacques van Tol / Melodie: 'Hörst du mein Heimlisches Rufen'
(1940)
© copyright translation
Dutch song Willy Derby - Op de Grebbeberg
with lyrics, music, video and English translation songtext
english translation
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dutch lyrics
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english translation
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dutch lyrics
cannot be shown
listen to the song
in the video
english translation
is archived
and can't be shown
publicly for now
dutch lyrics
cannot be shown
listen to the song
in the video
english translation
is archived
and can't be shown
publicly for now
dutch lyrics
cannot be shown
listen to the song
in the video
© copyright translation
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Willy Derby (1886-1944), stage name of Willem Dieben, was probably the most beloved and successful Dutch singer in the years between the two World Wars (the 'interbellum' in the 1920's and 1930's). He sold roughly ten million records. He started his career as singing bar waiter in Antwerp and New York and on the ferryboat from Holland to Harwich, England.
His wife Adelaïde encouraged him to find work in the theatres. First he sang with his brother Lou Bandy (as The Bandy Brothers), but their personalities clashed too much. From 1915 onward he had his own singing career and owned several record shops in The Hague. The financial success was very convenient, because he not only had his wife, but also provided for his mistress, Teddy.
Early in the 1930's Willy Derby lost all his money, because of the economic crisis. Although he had had a heart attack in 1933, he kept working fanaticly. Every year he released several albums. He had to record them in a studio in Berlin, Germany. Other well-known songs are 'Two lovely blue eyes'/'Twee ogen zo blauw' (1935); and 'White roses'/'Witte rozen' (1935).
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In World War II Willy Derby sang veiled critical songs about the Nazi-occupation, like above song. Two times he was put in prison. Several times his mistress smuggled his heart medications into prison (saving his life and risking her own), but unfortunately his health worsened nevertheless. A few weeks after Teddy ended their relationship in 1944, Derby died from a heart attack, only 58 years old.
The above song 'On the Grebbe Hill'/'Op de Grebbeberg' (1940) is about the Battle of the Grebbeberg (11-13 mei 1940) during the invasion of Nazi-Germany in the Netherlands. For three days a heavy combat took place on and around this hill, but eventually the Dutch had to surrender (the beginning of the five year occupation, 1940-45). Nowadays the Military War Cemetery Grebbeberg is situated on the hill, with over 800 graves.
The song was written by Jacques van Tol (1897-1969). He was the regular lyricist for Louis Davids and Snip & Snap, with famous songs like 'To the bulb fields'/'Naar de bollen' (1936); 'When on the Leidseplein'/'Als op het Leidseplein' (1943); and 'I've forgotten your name'/'Hoe je heette' (1954). He wrote above song on the melodie of a German song, without mentioning the Nazi's - but the occupiers forbade to sell the record nevertheless. The song remained very much beloved though, during and after the war.
 More translated Dutch songs in the genre 'war song or memorial song' and more with the theme 'songs about war'. See also the list of Dutch singers with all their songs on this website.
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© copyright translation
(2017)
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