Even staan
Nu de regen is verdwenen
de straten nog steeds nat
kom ik mezelf weer tegen
in het centrum van mijn hart
ik hou mezelf tegen
om niet terug te gaan
vanuit de hemel valt weer regen
ik kan ook niet blijven staan
het is elke keer hetzelfde
elke keer hetzelfde lied
de tekst ja, die veranderd
de melodie veranderd niet
kom hier, ga weg, blijf staan
je moet gaan
en ik zie dat het zo heeft moeten lopen
ik zie het in je ogen, je moet gaan
en nu de regen is gekomen
blijf ik nog even staan
het liep anders dan we droomden
loop maar weg want je moet gaan
Standing still
Now that the rain’s been dissipating
the streets still sleek and wet
I run into myself and
get us as centered as I get
I have to stop me pasing
for naught and not turn back
from the sky new tears start falling
it’s direction that I lack
It’s the same every incounter
everytime the same old song
the lyrics yes, they’re changing
the melody won’t before long
Come here, please go, stand still
go you will
and I know there’s no other road to travel
I see it in your stare, go you will
Now that the rain again is falling
I’ll remain because I know
the path we walked too winding
keep on walking, you must go
Translation Benne van der Velde
Martijn van Dijk. Thank you for allowing me to translate your beautiful songs! ‘Giswerk’ is criminally underrated/overlooked and its re-evaluation is more than deserved. Happy to be able to help make this happen. + I’m still grateful for your gorgeous rendition of my Dutch re-write of Jeff Buckley’s timeless Lilac Wine.
Martijn. The very first time I heard this crazy talented musician play and sing I was at some venue in Schiedam with partner in crime Gino, both stoned out of our minds, and I think Gino took me there for this exact reason. To hear this then young man perform. Must have been 30 years… Anyhow, stoner mind blown. Martijn and me became friends, and over the following decades we made some awesome stuff both together and as members of The Ongeboren Idee!
Martijn went to the Willem de Kooning academie, and after graduating taught there for years. Another couple of those ago he switched from active teaching to a lead backoffice job at the same institution. He’s been making music and being a podium animal for most of his adult life and hosted the Sunday jam sessions at The Grauwe Hengst for… at least a decade. In 2018 he released Giswerk and In 2021 he got his diploma as a sound engineer.
In 2024, though, he fell head over heels in love with improv theater and recently joined a second improv group, as one does :) You go, mate! Just don’t forget to also keep making music okay? Cheers.
The other tracks of his EP as published in this issue: