Good call, @sigh butterfly. It does belong here. Anyway, Niet of Nooit Geweest is one of their biggest hits, if not the biggest. The translation you posted is quite literal, but doesn’t provide an accurate translation. It’s close, but I’m missing some words and it’s too literal to convey the message. Acda & de Munnik are real wordsmiths, and many of their lines contain double entente or plays on words. I’ll try to give you a proper translation, and then perhaps you’ll be able to suss out what they song is about. You’re right about one thing though: the topic is serious. But doesn’t that remind of us another band, which didn’t shy away from matching dark lyrics to upbeat tunes? 

Not, or never were

I’m seeing two people at the beach
Close to the water, holding hands
The sun sets, they’re silenced by happiness
I recently met her, because that’s you
She smiles at him, he looks like me
But it can’t be, because I wreck everything

I couldn’t possibly be that guy
Such peace, such love, not my thing
But why then does it feel so natural?
I’m loving you, as you can see
But somehow, something here is off
I’m wearing a ring, but never married you

I’m not myself of never were in all those years
I’m the light of the wrong party
I’m not myself or never were

I see two people, they’re getting up
She faces him, we have to leave
Look into her eyes , see the reflection of my pain
Two people, already connected
So in love, such a waste
It’s us alright, but we don’t want it to be

I’m not myself of never were in all those years
I’m the cobbler using the wrong shoe form
I’m not myself or never were

Oh, let it be the sun**
Oh, let it be the beach
Let it be the sea
Let me do something right now
That makes you never want to see me again
Oh, let it be the salt
Let this be my stupidest mistake
But most of all, never let me forget this

I’m not myself of never were in all those years
I’m not myself or never were

** The let it be… bits can also be interpreted as ‘blame it on…’, as the protagonist is searching for reasons to explain the situation.

Thank you. Yes, their songs are full of Beatle references, especially when translated. The song about John (Laat Me Slapen) not only has his assassination as topic, but its title and lyrics (Let Me Sleep) are also a thinly veiled reference to A Day In The Life (and other songs):

Laat Me Slapen (Let Me Sleep)

I lay awake again last night, mum
Because of everything I don’t know
And I didn’t have an answer to anything
Except perhaps ‘my arse’
It’s not that I don’t care
But what do I know?
Sometimes I thought ‘what if…’
But it pretty much ended there

I lay awake again last night, mum
Ended up getting out of bed
And as if I didn’t have enough s**t yet
Turned on the radio

The Beatles all night long, mum
And each hour, that word
I’m sorry mum, I’m so sorry
John Lennon has been murdered

The son of god was back on earth, mum
Same message, same hair
And ‘All You Need Is Love ‘, so beautiful
But apparently not true

Let me sleep (4x)

This morning when the newspaper came, mum
I came up with the solution
I gave it back
I gave it back
To the boy that delivered it

And then I came across that line
That pretty much sums it up:
Life is what happens
When you’re making other plans

The son of god was back on earth, mum
And ‘Imagine ‘ was his Word
So the world is a paradise
And as for him being dead; I didn’t, I didn’t hear that

Let Me sleep (5x)

This is a song that always touched me, but now with John’s birthday next week and the 35th anniversary of that dreadful day just 2 months away, translating this really made me feel rather sad… I was barely 2 years old when it happened, so I have no recollection of the event. But it still depresses me to think about what happened. I’m grateful for that song, though. I think it conveys well how many people feel about what happened.

P.S. I really love the preview image of this music video. They’re doing an Abbey Road impersonation in New York, and Paul is not wearing any shoes. You know, just like Paul. I thought that was a nice inside joke. I also love how they scattered strawberries all over the field (at Central Park’s Strawberry Fields). Very clever music video with lots of hidden gems.

Don’t mention it, @Ahhh Girl. It’s really nice to be able to share with you all something that’s a part of my life other than the Beatles. These guys (and the Fabs) are the reason I picked up the guitar a few years ago. I was able to meet them backstage after a show, and they signed my guitar. Thomas (the lefthanded one, who named his son after Paul), turned it upside down and played a few bars for me, complimenting me on choosing such a great guitar. It was very special to meet them; apart from admiring their music and comedy a lot, they’re also great people. When my mum got cancer, they heard about it and sent her an autographed photo with a get-well message. How many artists do you know to do something like that?! So yeah, I’m chuffed to be able to share their music, especially with people who aren’t Dutch and otherwise would never have known these guys exist.

Now, if I could get ‘our’ Paul’s signature on that guitar too, my life would be complete….haha! 

Ahhh Girl said
JPM-fangirl’s review along with reviews from other folks for other tour dates are in the “Out There” thread. Here’s a link to JPM-fangirl’s first post about her experience. https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..3/#p178634

Damn, what happened to my photos in that post?! Anyway, the album should still work… http://myalbum.com/album/UAGSVh1wzxIU

And yes, that Give Peace A Chance moment was chilling. Apparently, that’s not a thing that happens a lot, or it wouldn’t have been mentioned. Then again, Paul’s response at the time already hinted in that direction. He was visibly moved…