Knolraap en lof, schorseneren en prei - Drs. P

Today is the 90th birthday of Heinz Polzer, better known as drs. P. in the Netherlands. (Foreign readers are probably looking away now.) He became best known for his songs 'Veerpont' and 'Dodenrit'. Released more recently, in 1987, 'Knolraap en lof, schorseneren en prei' ('Turnips and chicory, salsify and leeks') narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40, but it also rather wellknown these days.

Drs. P. has always sought his challenge in writing poetic lyrics about unpoetic subjects. The 'Tuindersliedboek' ('Songbook for gardeners') contains loads more poems about fruit and vegetables. See the dossier about drs. P. from the National library of the Netherlands for more information about drs. P.

My collection: 7" single no. 1153
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Knolraap en lof, schorseneren en prei' / 'Olijf', 'Het land is moe'

Veerpont - Drs. P.

Since this blog is written with an international audience in mind, I deliberated some time with myself whether I should publish this single. But in the end I decided that since I am publishing my entire singles collection, I couldn't simply omit this one.

'Veerpont' ('Ferry') is essentially the monologue of a ferryman, explaining his life going back and forth all the time. He explains that someone once explained to him that if the ferry were long enough to span the river, it could be turned into a bridge, but that would render other boats on the river useless. Well it sounds a bit boring but of course the joke is in the phrasing and the brilliant mind behind Drs. P.'s writing. So here it is, for the Dutch listeners - and the foreigners too.

My collection: 7" single no. 1776
Found: Record fair, October 25, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Veerpont' / 'Los Pompadoros'