Nederlandse versie van de 3e track op mijn Engelstalige debuut genaamd 'perfect.' Als dank voor jullie liefde deze bonustrack.

Expliciet, direct, respectvol liefdeslied over, jawel, de liefde.

Deze op Youtube: https://youtu.be/LqIcDuQycto

Origineel is een gedicht van me dat eerder werd gepubliceerd in de bundel 'menage a deux' bij uitgeverij Nadorst (2014).

Zang en tekst ik/
muziek martijn van dijk/
opname zang en mix en master deze versie peter kanselaar van www.zapstudio.nl

2021

Perfect - Nederlandse versie

Track van mijn eerste en enige Nederlandstalige rap EP 'met hart en piel' uit 2011, nu met videoclip op youtube: https://youtu.be/-gyf_xBj8Z4

lyrics en vocals ik
beats XXL
productie El Stylo (Alain Bouadli)

Luister Naar Me

Every poem of mine that gets officialy published, gets a little youtube and soundcloud shine as well :)

Numero Uno:

I wish we were a little cat
we’d share fur, lick one itch
head to heads to show we care
howl up hair from our tail

I wish we were a little cat
I would purr all day for you
dull our nails because I could
one belly full of flower bed

Honored and proud this one found a home in issue 15 of https://thedillydounreview.com/issue-15/

https://youtu.be/WM1ygEjnsV4

2022

Poetry 'I Wish We Were A Little Cat' by Benne

My rough English version of this Dutch classic by the genius that was Guus Vleugel (R.I.P.)

https://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=vleu001

A beautiful rendition in Dutch by Herman van Veen:

https://youtu.be/BuRH6Yzc8U4

Lyrcis:

A man who wanted nothing more than to end his life

I knew a man who wanted nothing more than to end his life
why he didn’t really know
He knew he felt this way from about the age of five
when others start to sing or steal a show
and come spring the only real desire
was to hang amongst the green above the mire
that is quite a modest wish don’t you agree
a man’s lust is his life as you will see

But he felt he shouldn’t yet being a schoolboy
sitting by the tracks most every day
longing to jump in front of the train to Illinois 
to forget just what he couldn’t say
he chose to spare his parents their relentless mourning
heeding every conductors angry warning
because a conscience is a gift but if you accept
it does leave you severely handicapped

His intention was to wait until his parents passed
and he was in luck, both mom and dad died young
but as we tend to avoid the shadow that we cast
by that time her love took him along
he kept a range of sleeping pills to help his stalling
that he would often count when night came falling
oh, to end this silent inner strife
he didn’t do it, he had a loving wife 

And when she had finally gone after forever
to his grief he could still not come undone
feeling his chances to act fading to never
he was the father of a daughter and a son
but by now his patience slowly faltered 
to voice the choice to drown himself barely halted
he already picked a bridge that they had passed 
and thought please dear God, make it fast

It took a long, long time to finish obligations
but when they eventually had all but stopped to care 
one night he walked to said final destination
and came across an old, sick dog just lying there
what he wanted was to end the creatures suffering
but no he cared for it as best he could that spring
until it took it’s final breath leaving him cut
he thought: what will they do to him, that stupid mutt

I knew a man who wanted nothing more than to end his life
not knowing why, while reasons do exist
when I think of it I easily see four or five
Even though for me the thought does not persist
oh to act upon that dream feeling this fated
most others would likely not have hesitated
but this man for having so much fate in play
like most of us, he simply passed away

A man who wanted nothing more than to end his life (English cover)

My rough English version of this Flemish classic by the genius that is Lieven Tavernier:

http://www.lieventavernier.be

A beautiful rendition by the maestro himself:

https://youtu.be/JrjnWaZpRZ4

Lyrics:

The fanfare of hunger and thirst

We were walking ‘round midtown, the six of us soulmates
coming from nowhere and heading there too 
and from our park benches, through coffee bar windows
we’d look at the masses the things that they do
we would walk there with dreams full of freedom
and then we ‘d wake up with hunger and thirst
and everyone ‘d call out: “look there goes the fanfare
there goes the fanfare of hunger and thirst
the fanfare of hunger and thirst” 

We didn’t have money to buy any groceries
but trusted in kindness and knew our way ‘round
a hotdog at Louis’ leftovers from Shirley’s
she’d leave out a bottle for us to be found
and every night just before shuteye
the last quarters in Eddy’s jukebox
‘a hard rain’s gonna fall’
we would sing it together 
with the fanfare of hunger and thirst
the fanfare of hunger and thirst 

And if a woman would come for one of us soulmates
we’d say our goodbyes and farewells as we should
the fanfare walked on with fewer members
the tone set in minor but we understood
but no woman we met could ever sing fairer
then our fanfare of hunger and thirst
and it never took long to get back together
with our fanfare of hunger and thirst
our fanfare of hunger and thirst


Who of us could have ever imagined 
that all of us would stay gone one day
we dissolved our beautiful fanfare
and like all of you, what a price we did pay
the price of our freedom in exchange for some money
a job at a bank for better or worst
but somewhere in midtown there’s a new fanfare singing
a new fanfare of hunger and thirst
a beautiful fanfare of hunger and thirst

The Fanfare Of Hunger And Thirst (English cover)

My unpolished English version of this Dutch classic by singer/songwriter/comedian Andre Manuel

http://www.maneman.nl

The genius original :https://youtu.be/wiQypUJ-O5s

Lyrcis:
Junkie


I’m a son of the song and the offspring of a chord 
am a junkie for our language and addicted to the word
squeeze the blood from my fingers pump my veins full of ink
chase each sentence through my body until I start to stink

I’m a fish out of water and a toddler overboard
I’m plowing through each dialect a man of the word
I’m shaking on my legs and I’m sweating like a flood
put a pen in my flesh fill my heart with blue blood

Couldn’t care less what the neighborhood says
I’m a coward and a thief, a rapist’s sweet caress
I plunder and I lie never mind what you heard
I’m a junkie for this language and addicted to the word

I’m a burglar of the mind don’t see robbing being wrong
one who needs to feel the verbs burning on his tongue
I snort my way through books and then I steal some more
running after facts of life until I need to score

Couldn’t care less what the neighborhood says
I’m a coward and a thief, a rapist’s sweet caress
I plunder and I lie never mind what you heard
I’m a junkie for this language and addicted to the word

I’m a drifter between lines, with some papers as my sheets
I’ll drink from everybody’s lips give me a palm to read
a bike, a horse, my kingdom for who’s got left to share
with this blind man living in the margins of despair

I’m a son of the song and the offspring of a chord 
am a junkie for our language and addicted to the word

Junkie (English cover)

My rough English version of A Flemish masterpiece by the genius that was Wim de Craene

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_De_Craene

The rather genius original:

https://youtu.be/zz4t3yBH2u0

Lyrics
travel with you



No, don’t change on my account
please I like you just the way you are
like the way I met you outside Shaunassey’s 
like the way you fumbled with your keys
telling me you’re not used to guys showing their scars

No, you mustn’t change a thing
stay for me just the way you are
even though I know your heart is not your own
when I’m lost and wandering alone 

I know your friends have all the answers
and would love to go to war

Let me travel with you
to the haunted house built inside your dreams
where my thoughts got trapped since then or so it seems
show me the hallway, your wallpaper choice
please don’t change a single color scheme

Let me travel with you in the plans
that you had ready for tonight
and take the route that you decided on despite
the speed that we share, feeling unfair
lead me to where we’ll feel alright

Solo

Let me travel with you
to the haunted house built inside your dreams
where my thoughts got trapped since then or so it seems
show me the hallway, your wallpaper choice
please don’t change a single color scheme

Let me travel with you in the plans
that you had ready for tonight
and take the route that you decided on despite
the speed that we share, feeling unfair
lead me to where we’ll feel alright

So please don’t change on my account
even when such storms run through our home
summer’s just a day away, you know my spells
heavy rains will dissipate as well
regardless of the visibility 
we often lack outside

Let me travel with you
to the haunted house built inside your dreams
where my thoughts got trapped since then or so it seems
show me the hallway, your wallpaper choice
please don’t change a single color scheme

Let me travel with you in the plans
that you had ready for tonight
and take the route that you decided on despite
the speed that we share, feeling unfair
lead me to where we’ll feel alright

Travel with you (English cover)

My rough English version of A Dutch masterpiece by the genius that is Youp van 't Hek;

https://youp.nl

The original:

https://youtu.be/X9FKscVNPRM

Lyrics:

	Mr. Alzheimers


Mr. Alzheimer’s I would like to talk to you
I’m not that old 
yet 
and doing well
my sense of self is more or less intact I guess
but I know one day, and that’s scary as hell
I’ll have forgotten what I’m singing
or the other tunes I’ll share tonight
for now though I need to cling to winning
feeling young and strong and bright
Enough to ask you a simple, humble question
a small one I’ve no meaning to offend
It’s about my last days and some compassion
when you’ll come knocking just before the end
would you mind sifting just a little bit
let me keep some key points in my life
so that when I waste way you’ll see fit
to allow me remembering my wife
Whom I made love to for so many decades
and lived with for life times in an hour
just how she kissed me that this never fades 
when I stop feeling my body in the shower
oh I really wouldn’t mind to erase a lot
thinking of twelve women easily and more
the names of five of them I forgot
and the rest can vaporize for sure
There is more than enough to take from me
take my fears, my sorrows and despair
take them, I’ll never claim them you will see
but leave some loving memories please just a pair
take my fights, my money and my lying
my often condescending tone may come undone
but please leave some illusions flying
and the love for my daughters and my son
There’s just one thing I need you to take 
I guess that’s the kind of coward that I am
I’ll admit my place amongst the spineless fakes
I beg you take my fear of dying if you can
so that I may leave with my head held high
with a smile for those I care about because
I need that Mr. Alzheimer’s, I won’t lie
dying scares the life right out of us

Mr Alzheimers (English cover)

My rough English version of A Dutch masterpiece by the genius that is Rob Chrispijn;

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Chrispijn

The original (sang by Herman van Veen):

https://youtu.be/Oz6X3plZrQ0

Lyrics:

By chance or by love

If this looks like a poem
It’s because of how your eyes turn
blue
When you talk about seagulls and strawberry jam
If that looks like your face, love
The reason is one morning
Against the wind, through the polder
To your house

Picking blackberries together
Sheltering under your coat because
Sharing sets of circumstances
By chance or by love
That was what it was

The sun broke through the rain clouds
Tearing up the heavens
A single drop hung from your nose
And if I stuck around, dear
The reason is an august
In the shadow beneath the cherries
Unaroused

Picking blackberries together
Sheltering under your coat because
Sharing sets of circumstances
By chance or by love
That was what it was

We’d eat when we got hungry
Laying where we wanted
You’d forget all that I’d done
And me making me some tea now
Is because of overhearing
You cry when you thought that I’d 
Already gone

Picking blackberries together
Sheltering under your coat because
Sharing sets of circumstances
By chance or by love
That was what it was

By Chance Or By Love (English cover)

Second track from my debut EP 'armored gooesbump'. Original is a poem in Dutch by me, published in the volume ‘Dat ik het donderen doe’ on my website in 2018. I wrote them for my late Grandmother in law. I hope you like it and thanks for the love!

Now with video! https://youtu.be/ZqHn3AuzLFo

Lyrics & vocals by me
Music & production by Martijn van Dijk
https://soundcloud.com/meneervandijk
Official release 2021


Big & Strong


I might be 
a big strong man
but I can’t keep
my love from crying
believe me
not for a lack of trying
doing all I can
apart from lying
being such
a big strong man
being just
a big strong man

She’s been asking for a verse
to hang somewhere 
maybe between
tears already shed for you
and a portret I have not yet seen

But you, who would allow just one
to capture you 
and your believes
still resist to being framed
and refuse to rhyme with grief

I might be
a big strong man
but I can’t keep 
my love from crying
believe me
not for a lack of trying
doing all I can
apart from lying
being such
a big strong man
being just
a big strong man

I can’t mend what you broke
even though you went
by choice and proud
you leave my love distraught
beaten, but like you, unbowed

kissing me was not your thing
still I belonged
for you at least
cause I can make my sweetheart laugh
please dear grandma, rest in peace

I might be
a big strong man
but I can’t keep 
my love from crying
believe me
not for a lack of trying
doing all I can
apart from lying
being such
a big strong man
being just
a big strong man

Intermezzo

Kissing me was not your thing
still I belonged
for you at least
cause I can make my sweetheart laugh
my dear grandma, rest in peace



















.

Armored Goosebumps

big & strong

Big & Strong

Third track from my debut EP 'amored goosebump'. Original is a poem in Dutch by me, published in the volume ‘menage a deux’ by the publishing house ‘Nadorst’ in 2014. A naughty love song. Explicit but clean and respectful. Hope you like it and thanks for the love!

Now with video! https://youtu.be/gk9h6isW3XE

Lyrics & vocals by me
Music & production by Martijn van Dijk
https://soundcloud.com/meneervandijk
Official release 2021 


Perfect


I will lay you down and then
impregnate you as best I can
without all the fuss or mercy 

I will take you quiet and loud
we’ll caress and we’ll work out
in between a drawer and laundry

I’ll fold your legs behind your neck
found a cushion for your back
give it to you without worry

I will bind you up real tight
obeying you serves me right
wash and lick then wash your body

I will
we will
until
we are wrecked
I Will
we will
not give up
or redirect
I will
we will
keep at it
with respect
I will
we will
practice 
but you are perfect

I will lay you down and then
impregnate you as best I can
without all the fuss or mercy 

I will take you quiet and loud
we’ll caress and we’ll work out
in between a drawer and laundry

I’ll fold your legs behind your neck
found a cushion for your back
give it to you without worry

I will bind you up real tight
obeying you serves me right
wash and lick then wash your body

I will
we will
until 
we are wrecked
I will
we will
not give up
or redirect
I will
we will
keep at it
with respect
I will
we will
practice 
and you are perfect

Thus I will lay you down and then
impregnate you as best I can
don’t care who can hear or see us

perfect

Perfect

Fourth track from my debut EP 'armored goosebump'. Original is a poem in Dutch by me, written during the Corona pandemic in April of 2020, which got published on the website coronagedicht.nl About forced isolation and the tension that can bring in a relationship. Hope you like it and thanks for the love!

Lyrics & vocals by me
Music & production by Martijn van Dijk
https://soundcloud.com/meneervandijk
Official release streamingservices 2021

Now with video: https://youtu.be/ErwU-O7w5rQ

Happy days

I’m so happy that it’s you
that irritates me more
for you it’s my
persistent whining

We both had our fill
fed up until
we fuck for none to see
while crying

All work out, it will
all work out
every single thing
fucking annoying

Every little thing
worth anything

At least we have each other, love
at least we have each other
we’ve got ourselves 
a life at home worth trying 
at least we have each other

I’m keeping you upright
(afraid to sleep we got a bed light)
keeping me uptight
counting tears
and ways to taunt me

You’re happy to flee
(share a world that’s slowly shrinking)
I irritate you though 
I don’t know 
Who else I could be

All work out, it must
all work out
every little thing 
is worth everything

Every single thing
(you say and throw my way)
the games we play

At least we have each other, love
at least we have each other
we’ve got ourselves 
a life at home worth crying for 
at least we have each other, love

And now one cat is sick
(we beat ourselves with wishful thinking)
it won’t eat
I love you
for trying to feed it

One more stupid thing
(eating badly, started drinking)
making me cry
sad but true 
I really need it

All work out, it must
all work out
every little thing
worth anything

Every single thing
(you say and throw my way)
every single day

At least we have each other, love
at least we have each other
we’ve got ourselves 
a life at home worth dying for 
at least we have each other, love

happy days

Happy Days

Fifth track from my debut EP 'amored goosebump'. Original is a poem in Dutch by me, published in the volume ‘Dit harnas van kippenvel’ by publishing house ‘kleine Uil’ in 2008. It's a prayer. From someone who has cheated. Hope you like it and thanks for the love!

Now with video: https://youtu.be/skwnQq4I0r0

Lyrics & vocals by me
Music & production by Martijn van Dijk
https://soundcloud.com/meneervandijk
Official release 2021


Anime Christi 


She’s lying here
and more than that
she smiles I’ll take 
what I can get
please God don’t stop 
it all from rhyming 

I doubt You
doubt being free
but pray cause she
belongs with me
paint us pink again 
don’t mind the lining

on
and on
I wish I was as strong
as she needed
for me to be
on
and on
I wish I was as strong
as she once thought
I could be
yes as strong 
as she shows me

Naked before 
Your eyes and sad
my hard on pointed 
at the bed
where I think 
of cheating still

I have confessed 
to her, dear God,
screaming over 
guilt a lot
of rhythm and 
new faith to will

on
and on
I wish I was as strong
as she needed
for me to be
on
and on
I wish I was as strong
as she once 
thought I could be
yes as strong 
as she shows me

As she shows me

Despite of All 
my bullshit though
she’s lying there, 
laughs and shows
she’s hoping we 
grow old together

Yes thank You for 
letting me see
what it’s all 
about so we
might moan Your praise 
for all eternity

So we might moan Your praise 
for all eternity

So we might moan Your praise 

Moan your praise

anime christi

Anime Christi

Sixth track from my debut EP 'armored goosebump'. Original is a poem in Dutch by me, published in the volume ‘Onze nieuwe maat H’ by publishing house ‘Douane’ in 2010. It's about a friend of a friend who came over to help out with some gardening work. hope you like it and thanks for the love!

Now with videoclip! https://youtu.be/mCSsr7yY4VY

Lyrics & vocals by me
Music & production by Martijn van Dijk
https://soundcloud.com/meneervandijk
Official release 2021


A beautiful day

I’ve gone and cleaned my house again
Chase
Well To be honest it’s been twice since then
Chase
got scared sober just last night 
when this girl turned out to be
into me

I have been laughing at it all again
Chase
been allowed a kiss before I ran
Chase
rubbing cheese stains from my rug
cause my thug cat
still lacks some boundaries

It is a beautiful day
you’d say
up to our balls
in the dirt
in the rain

Yes It’s a beautiful day
you’d say
pulling weeds
from my backyard 
lending a hand

Friend of my friend

I was drinking in our local bar
Chase
where just last week you went too far
Chase
just to reach me one more time
rallying in rhyme
through our friend Sally

It is a beautiful mourning card 
Chase
damn it for hitting me this hard
Chase
damn my whining about better days
damn it, Chase,

the sun is shining 

It is a beautiful day
you’d say
up to our balls
in the dirt
in the rain

Yes It’s a beautiful day
you’d say
pulling weeds
from my backyard 
lending a hand

Just a friend

It is a beautiful day
you’d say
up to our balls
in the dirt
the pouring rain

Yes It’s a beautiful day
you’d say
never heard you whining
damn it, Chase,
the sun is shining

a beautiful day

A Beautiful Day

Covers, poetry and my own English and Dutch tracks. Thanks for the love!


Contact:
Bookings s.v.p. via https://deschrijverscentrale.nl/auteurs/12451
For more info (upload link, ISRC codes e.t.c.) mail me at vanderveldebenne@gmail.com


The poet Hanz Mirck in an issue of Bookblad Magazine: ‘This poet knows how to capture your attention, on paper as well as on stage.’

The poet and author Rob Chrispijn: ‘Benne writes sentences that stick, clean, dark and intense. This way a poem lasts!’

The poet Philip Hoorne on the website Poetry rapport: ‘There’s a genius hiding in Benne van der Velde, those are the Good Tidings of today. Amen.’

Creative Resume Benne van der Velde:  
 
 	after dominating the Dutch slam poetry scene in the early and mid 2000s (with wins in 7 cities and a place in the Nationals of 2012) and performances at the Lowlands-, Uitmarkt- and Parade festivals a/o, Benne successfully made the transition from the stage to paper by getting his first publishing deal in 2005. Since then, 4 publishing houses (kleine Uil, Douane, Nadorst and Stanza) released volumes of his poetry. For a 5th (Passage) he co-edited  an anthology of satirical verses with fellow poets Daniel Dee and Alexis de Roode. 

As a member of the artist movement ‘Het Ongeboren Idee’ he helped to organize (and was part of/presented) cultural lo-fi festivals, exhibitions, making a movie, monthly poetry stages in his hometown of Vlaardingen, Rotterdam and Nijmegen + a talent show for bands. 

In 2002 and 2003 he studied ‘writing for performance’ at the vocational university of the Arts in the city of Utrecht (HKU) and as a result saw 3 of his theater plays being performed on stage. He also gave numerous poetry and rap workshops at schools and other institutions. There were a lot of collabs too, for example voice over work for a Rock Opera and the R.J.S.O (The Rotterdam Youth Symphony Orchestra). 

Benne has been an editor for several literary magazines (Krakatau, Renaissance and Op Ruwe Planken), at one time he and his wife owned a secondhand bookstore, he’s been the official poet laureate for his hometown of Vlaardingen and released his first and only Dutch rap-EP in 2011. In 2012 he rhymed his way into the finals of Art Rocks. An EP with songs in English followed in 2021. This year he translated and recorded 6 Dutch classics in English. Some of his short sci-fi and fantasy stories have recently found their way to medium related magazines and anthology’s. 

According to the poet himself rewriting his poetry, lyrics and prose in English somehow feels like the next logical step in his career, a way to open up to the world at large. Which is both exhilarating and terrifying. 

In everyday (some claim real) life he worked as an industrial tank cleaner, in pest control, on a garbage truck, at a chemical waste disposal facility, driving forklifts, on a Ferry and as a bartender. At the time of submitting this resume he works at a greenhouse for a living. He’s been off the herb since 2008, has a wife, a cat and a dog, mild anxiety issues and likes to read every sci-fi and fantasy classic he can find.

Benne

Popular tracks