Laat mij maar gaan
Alleen
je wandelt over straat
ze zeggen dat het went
maar ik voel niks
ik hoor mij zeggen dat het echt wel beter gaat
maar ergens
weet ik dat ik lieg
ben gevallen
en nog steeds niet echt opgestaan
het is wel best, alleen hier op de grond
Laat mij maar zitten
laat mij maar gaan
Het is nog te vroeg om op te staan
het is nog geen tijd
laat mij maar gaan
Onderweg nu
gehaast zoek ik een plek
ik kijk naar buiten
en zie geen mens op straat
Ik ben alleen in een overvolle tram
Je vraag mijn tas weg
ik zet hem op de grond
druk mijn jas dichter
kijk zijdelings achterom
ik zie je zitten
voel mijn weer hart overslaan
spreek mij niet aan
laat mij nu maar gaan
het is nog te vroeg om op te staan
tis nog geen tijd
laat mij maar gaan
Het is weer avond
alleen op de bank
Alone
I walk along the line
they tell me it will pass
but I feel numb
I hear myself proclaiming I am fine
But deep down
I know that it’s a lie
I have fallen
as of yet a mess I do not get
it’s quite alright, down here on the ground
leave me here, sitting
best let me go
It’s way too early for another show
no time for face to face
please let it go
On my way now
I’m rushing for a seat
looking out
and not a soul in sight
I am alone in an over-crowded bus
My bag is in your spot
I put it on the ground
pull my coat closer
dare to glance around
and there you are
my heart is fighting not to rage
No, don’t engage
go and leave me be
it’s too early as you can clearly see
it’s not yet time
go and leave me be
Another nightfall’s here
an empty place to clear
Translation Benne van der Velde
Martijn van Dijk. Thank you for allowing me to translated another one of your beautiful songs! Your ‘Erachter’ was a joy to put to English for our July 2026 issue. 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 his criminally undervalued EP 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.
Martijn singing his ‘Laat mij maar gaan’ live. Video by IJsbrand Klok