Lyrics of Platteland - Bok van Blerk

Platteland (original)

Hierdie grond, hierdie stof, wat ek hou in my hand.
Hierdie bloed, hierdie been van my mense, my land.
Hierdie stuk van my hart van my pa geërf.
Vir dit sal ek lewe, vir dit sal ek sterf.
Platteland, O menseland, geskep vir my uit God se hand.
Platteland, O traneland, gebou uit klip verval tot sand.
Hierdie woorde van haat wat ek hoor op die wind.
Hierdie mense wat sê dat my mense is blind.
Maar as jy kyk, as jy kyk, kyk wat staan daar.
Kyk waar’s die klippe van bouers bewaar.
Platteland, O menseland, geskep vir my uit God se hand.
Platteland, O traneland, gebou uit klip verval tot sand.
En wat bly, bly daaroor?
Hoekom veg ons oor grond?
En wat is, is 'n mens?
Dinamiet met 'n lont.
Wat moet ek sê sodat almal verstaan?
Dis hier waar ek lewe, dis hier waar ek staan.
Platteland, O menseland, geskep vir my uit God se hand.
Platteland, O traneland, gebou uit klip verval tot sand.
Die wêreld draai en die tyd vergaan.
En eintlik bloei ons almal saam.
Platteland, O sieleland, ek hoor jou roep, jy roep na my.
My hart se land, beloofteland, ek staan geboei maar ek is vry.

(translation)

This ground, this dust, which I hold in my hand.
This blood, this bone of my people, my land.
This piece of my heart inherited from my father.
For this I will live, for this I will die.
Rural, O human land, created for me from God's hand.
Countryside, O teary land, built of stone decaying into sand.
These words of hate I hear on the wind.
These people who say that my people are blind.
But if you look, if you look, look what's standing there.
See where the stones of builders are kept.
Rural, O human land, created for me from God's hand.
Countryside, O teary land, built of stone decaying into sand.
And what remains, remains about it?
Why are we fighting over land?
And what is, is a human?
Dynamite with a fuse.
What should I say so that everyone understands?
This is where I live, this is where I stand.
Rural, O human land, created for me from God's hand.
Countryside, O teary land, built of stone decaying into sand.
The world turns and time passes.
And actually, we all thrive together.
Countryside, O soulland, I hear you calling, you are calling to me.
My heart's land, land of promise, I stand bound but I am free.