I have been thinking about music that has affected me and inspired me over the years.
The song I present here is by Nordman and is called “Laglöst land”, roughly translated as “Country with no law”.
This song became a hit when I was writing on “Sparrow” that later became my first movie script. I remembered listening to the text and thinking that they where singing about my story. It was almost spot on. The song went right into my heart.
What affected me most was “Har du inte levt mitt liv, vet du ingenting” – “If you haven't lived my life, you know nothing.” If you haven’t lived my life, than you haven’t the knowledge or right to judge my actions. It is so important to remember that when we judge somebody’s actions we only know a little piece of that person and his/hers life.
Nordman sings folksong-like pop. I was so stunned when I saw the video, because I had completely different images in mind. I was more thinking middle ages or fairytale, and most images in this video are from a modern city. Well, it will have to do.
4 comments:
Oh my, listening to that song was so very strange in a number of ways. For it was the second song that I couldn't understand a word being sung that I've heard in the last week or so that I really liked. The other one was being sung in Turkish. Was this one in Swedish?
Another thing that I found so very strange was the instrument that was featured in the video. For it sounded like a flute. On the other hand, maybe what I was hearing really was a flute, and what was being shown couldn't be heard so well, which would be rather strange in, and of, itself.
Perhaps the strangest thing of all to me was how much it didn't sound like Abba or Aha singing. For that is what I think of when thinking of Scandinavian music.
Yeah, I suppose the fans of the Finnish rock band "The Rasmus" would have a thing or two to tell me in some back alley after hearing me say something that stupid, but hey, I've got to be me! Thanks for calling my attention to a great song, and a very penetrating series of articles. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
P.S.: I would be really cool if you could find the time to translate the lyrics of the songs that you include if they are in Swedish, or some language other than English, for dummies like me.
Thank you for your comments. I will try to translate the Swedish text. I maybe translate the text to this one in a comment later.
The instrument is a nyckelharpa, a key fiddle. It is an intrument that every folk-pop group in Sweden play nowadays, but Nordman was before their time (this song is not new). Åsa Jinder is another famous player.
Nordman's texts and melodies are very inspired by old Swedish folkmusic.
Here is the text translated to English. The translation is done by me and might be a little rough. I might have missed some metaphores. I have translated it pretty much straight away.
As a wolf in a country with no law
When then winter closes in
I ran with the danger of my life
I have no wish to die
For a longing that hurts
But it is too late to stop
When I got this far
So I still follow the road I chose
And leave no trace
Because the blood where I walked is not mine
I have not gained a chance
You are afraid of what I am
And it is too late to re-live the life we lived
Have you not lived my life
You know nothing
Just see me where I stand
And wish for nothing more
Have you not lived my life
You know nothing
Take my longing here and now
But wish for nothing more
Heaven calls for us tonight
What do you want with your life?
You can steal mine, do as you please
I am hungry and prepared
And if the sky will be my grave
It is open to enclose you if you wish
Have you not lived my life
You know nothing
Just see me where I stand
And wish for nothing more
Have you not lived my life
You know nothing
Take my longing here and now
But wish for nothing more
The sky/heaven calls for us tonight
And the earth demands its rights
When the fires we have lit have burned out
It was you and I on fire
Before the love disappeared
And it is too late to re-live the life we lived
Have we not lived our lives
We know nothing
We stands where we stands
And wish for nothing more
Have you not lived my life
You know nothing
Take my longing here and now
But wish for nothing more
I can now see why that song was so inspiring to you. Thanks for the translation, and for explaining what a nyckelharpa is!!!
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