Dutch cycling song

[Simon Mason]

Every month I put on my website an obscure Dutch song from my extensive collection(usually with
English lyrics, but in Dutch this time) . This month's offering is cycling related as the first line
of the song is:

"Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser" ("How tough is the lone cyclist") except the singer has a small
child with him on the album sleeve.

http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/zdutch.htm
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 17:54:12 +0100, Simon Mason wrote:
> Every month I put on my website an obscure Dutch song [...] "Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser"

Obscure?! A classic!

 

[Simon Mason]

"Ewoud Dronkert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 17:54:12 +0100, Simon Mason wrote:
> > Every month I put on my website an obscure Dutch song [...] "Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser"
>
> Obscure?! A classic!

Obscure to UK readers Ewoud! If I'd wanted to be obscure to Dutch readers, I would put Bo singing
"In Your Life"/Slow Motion Mind" when he sang in English in "The Tower" in 1968 ;-)

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

[Martin]

"Simon Mason" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Every month I put on my website an obscure Dutch song from my extensive collection(usually with
> English lyrics, but in Dutch this time) . This month's offering is cycling related as the first
> line of the song is:
>
> "Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser"
is that not what they put on cans of Grosch? OT anyone know the meaning (apart from its literal
translation, which is "not for the pussycat, but for the cat") of "Niet voor de poos, maar voor de
kater"? (from a Dutch postcard)

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On 16 Sep 2003 14:19:07 -0700, martin wrote:
> OT anyone know the meaning (apart from its literal translation, which is "not for the pussycat,
> but for the cat") of "Niet voor de [poes], maar voor de kater"? (from a Dutch postcard)

Not for pussies, but for tomcats. ("Niet voor de poes" means: "it's quite something", and here the
wordplay is extended to a male/female thing).

 

[Mark Van Gorkom]

martin wrote:

>> "Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser"
>is that not what they put on cans of Gro(l)sch?

AFAIK it's always been "vakmanschap is meesterschap" (loosely translated: " mastery through
craftmanship"). But then I only drink Guinness, so what do I know?

I'm allmost sure there is actually a bicycle-themed beer, but for the life of me, I can't remember
where it's made, or what it's called.

Mark van Gorkom.

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 18:15:02 GMT, Mark van Gorkom wrote:
> I'm allmost sure there is actually a bicycle-themed beer, but for the life of me, I can't remember
> where it's made, or what it's called.

Don't know it. But if you're ever in Gent, be sure to visit "Het Velootje", an extremely peculiar
little café in a side alley somewhere. All the abdij beer you'll ever want, and tens of (very) old
bicycles up on the walls and the ceiling.

 

[Martin]

Ewoud Dronkert <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> On 16 Sep 2003 14:19:07 -0700, martin wrote:
> > OT anyone know the meaning (apart from its literal translation, which is "not for the pussycat,
> > but for the cat") of "Niet voor de [poes], maar voor de kater"? (from a Dutch postcard)
>
> Not for pussies, but for tomcats. ("Niet voor de poes" means: "it's quite something", and here the
> wordplay is extended to a male/female thing).

Thanks, that's been bothering me since 1989 (still don't understand the photo on the card though of
a man carrying two beers past a window with a cat looking out of it).

 

[M-Gineering Imp]

martin wrote:
>
> Ewoud Dronkert <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
> > On 16 Sep 2003 14:19:07 -0700, martin wrote:
> > > OT anyone know the meaning (apart from its literal translation, which is "not for the
> > > pussycat, but for the cat") of "Niet voor de [poes], maar voor de kater"? (from a Dutch
> > > postcard)
> >
> > Not for pussies, but for tomcats. ("Niet voor de poes" means: "it's quite something", and here
> > the wordplay is extended to a male/female thing).
>
> Thanks, that's been bothering me since 1989 (still don't understand the photo on the card though
> of a man carrying two beers past a window with a cat looking out of it).

It's a pun: Kater also means hangover
--
Marten

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 23:27:55 +0200, M-Gineering wrote:
> It's a pun: Kater also means hangover

It does, but do you really think it's meant that way? Surely not if the card was from the
brewery itself..?! More like: a heavy beer, strong, not for pussies, only for the experienced
(male) beer drinker.

Anyway. I'll stop the stupid late night bar talk now.

 

[Martin]

Ewoud Dronkert <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 18:15:02 GMT, Mark van Gorkom wrote:
> > I'm allmost sure there is actually a bicycle-themed beer, but for the life of me, I can't
> > remember where it's made, or what it's called.
>
> Don't know it. But if you're ever in Gent, be sure to visit "Het Velootje", an extremely peculiar
> little café in a side alley somewhere. All the abdij beer you'll ever want, and tens of (very) old
> bicycles up on the walls and the ceiling.

Last time I was in Ghent we went to the Belgian equivalent of BHS, the top floor cafe sold mussels,
chips and draught beer and nothing else (slight exaggeration). Belgian shoppers have got their
priorities spot on!

 

[Martin]

Ewoud Dronkert <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 23:27:55 +0200, M-Gineering wrote:
> > It's a pun: Kater also means hangover
>
> It does, but do you really think it's meant that way? Surely not if the card was from the brewery
> itself..?! More like: a heavy beer, strong, not for pussies, only for the experienced (male) beer
> drinker.
>
Hardly, it was one of those 25cl glasses of Heineken /whatever with the froth scooped off by a
letter opener.