Dorus, a pour drifter, was the famous character played by the dutch Tom Manders (1921-1972), Most dutchmen will know his "figaro- parody", "Twee motten" and "Poesje Mauw". This is a lesser known song from his, but one of my favorites. I've always suspected it to be a kind of parody on Lorne Greene's "Ringo". Jan Jansen (with one S!) is a very typical dutch name and the fictitious boy in this song was born in commonknown pour neighbourhood in Amsterdam. Dorus describes a life going down the drain: disaster pupil at school, wrong friends, dope, knives, jail, unemployment, alcoholism and death by drowning. The music is in dramatic contrast with the message in the lyrics, but: listen to the way key changes are introduced, cancelled and yet performed...
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DORUS
On a chilly dark night
who was drowning in the canals of Amsterdam
Jan Jansen... with one S...