Medisin & psykiatri
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
We tend to be in agreement on which songs are good enough to wager on, we are quite compatible like that, but there was a bit of disagreement about this one. Some felt that the "doomsday country" quota had been filled up with Hevnervals from Evig Pint, while others thought it was an up-tempo breath of fresh air that there absolutely was room for on Maestro. As we know, the benefit of the doubt was never given to the innocent this time, and "Medisin & Psykiatri" remained unrecorded.
It has been performed live a number of times, and on the last round we did it, fall 2008, we had worked out a new and improved arrangement with the solo theme as a pompous intro. We felt that elevated the song and made it ripe for a proper recording.
Vicente is the protagonist in these lyrics, the same man who in "På ditt skift" manages to escape from Dieter Meyer's Inst. Vicente is not sick in ways other than being rebellious, and in "Medisin & Psykiatri" he plans what he later succeeds in on "På ditt skift", namely to be the first to run away from DMI, and on the boss's shift at that.
The story of Vicente continues on the Maestro song "Delikatessen" where he, as a free man, describes Delikatessen as the worst ward in DMI. Additionally, it is documents from here that he is later stopped with on the way to Poland in the song "Die Polizei".
Medisin & psykiatri | Medicine & psychiatry |
| Morgen kommer til en heilt ny dag | It's the morning of a brand new day |
| Du med dine spørsmål og meg med mine svar | You with your questions and I with my answers |
| Gi meg medisin, gi meg psykiatri | Give me medicine, give me psychiatry |
| Eg gir deg ingenting annet enn mi tid | I don't give you anything but my time |
| Morgen kommer til en heilt ny dag | It's the morning of a brand new day |
| Til mitt besvær og til ditt behag | With my discomfort and your pleasure |
| Du ser på meg og trekker din konklusjon | You look at me and draw your conclusion |
| Og i Dieter Meyers navn... | And in Dieter Meyer's name ... |
| Du trekker din konklusjon i Dieter Meyers navn | You draw your conclusion in Dieter Meyer's name |
| De kler meg av, de kler meg av, de kler meg av | They undress me, they undress me, they undress me |
| De gir meg spørsmål og eg gir deg svar | They ask me questions and I give you answers |
| Men eg har tenkt, og eg har tenkt og eg har tenkt | But I've been thinking, and I've been thinking and thinking |
| Dette her er min dag. Nå stikker eg av | This is my day. Now I run |
| For eg vil ut, for eg vil ut, for eg vil ut | Because I want to get out, I want to get out, want to get out |
| De tok meg inn men det er kun for eg blei lurt | They admitted me, but only because I was fooled |
| Her kommer eg til å blø, til å blø til eg dør | I will be bleeding here, bleeding until I die |
| Nå stikker eg av på ditt skift, herr Direktør | Now I will run away during your shift, Mr. director |
| Morgen kommer til en heilt ny dag | It's the morning of a brand new day |
| Ikkje et sekund lenger. Såpass er klart | Not one second longer. That's for sure |
| Aldri om eg ligger her den dagen eg skal dø | No way that I'll be lying here on the day that I die |
| Nå stikker eg av på ditt skift, herr Direktør | Now I will run away during your shift, Mr. director |
Våre demoner
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
Dieter Meyer's Institution is the arena for most of the material on Maestro. It is a place that, under the cover of being a mental institution specializing in war trauma, is involved in shady activities like drug dealing, whitewashing of money, as well as selling organs to wealthy private hospitals. The institution is built up and run by a mysterious figure who no one knows the identity of. He is referred to as Meyer, Maestro, and Papa among others, but no one has ever seen him. The protagonist in these lyrics has been confined to Dieter Meyer for life with the diagnosis of incurable paranoia. Really, he is just an ordinary man who has discovered what goes on in this place and has therefore been committed and subdued. After a few years hospitalized, he has realized that he is alone in the fight against the corrupt system, and now only wishes to end it all with hope of better times in heaven.
"Våre demoner" is one of several "genre songs", this time in surf/rockabilly tradition. We tend to say that we like the best of all genres and use the inspiration actively. Sometimes the result is a bit more clearly genre than other times. It is usually these songs we like the least of our own material, and so they often fall to the wayside. In the rehearsal phase for this album we tried to "Kaizer-ify" several of these songs, including this one, but we found out it was both livelier, more fun to play, and also better if we instead genre-ified them.
Våre demoner | Our demons |
| Takk for nok en idé, men eg får aldri fred | Thanks for another idea, but I'll never find peace |
| Ingenting kan endra det | Nothing can change that |
| Mitt hjerta går i utakt, eg ser ut som et slakt | My heart beats unsteadily, I look like a wreck |
| Snart stryker eg med | Soon I'll be finished off |
| En manns golv er en annen manns tak | One man's floor is another man's roof |
| Ta det dag for dag | Take it day by day |
| Eg trenger nytt preparat, en nye start | I need a new drug, a new start |
| før alt blir svart | before everything turns black |
| For våre demoner | Because our demons |
| har jagt oss i generasjoner | have been haunting us for generations |
| De kommer i alle versjoner | They come in all kinds |
| Kan kun stoppa dei med patroner | You can only stop them with bullets |
| Så gje meg en | So give me one |
| Få meg til himmelen | Get me into heaven |
| Eg har folda mine hender, spilt blod, knekt tenner | I have folded my hands, spilled blood, crushed teeth |
| nå sitter eg her | now I'm sitting here |
| Krigen er ikkje over, de kommer når du sover når | The war isn't over, they come while you sleep, when |
| ingen ser | nobody's watching |
| Denne hekseprosessen tar alle unntatt presten. | This witch trial takes everyone except for the priest. |
| Han er en av de | He's one of them |
| Eg vett kva han koker på. | I know what he's cooking. |
| Det brenner snart nå | Now it will soon burn |
| Det ryker for mi fortid | My past ends up in smoke |
Die Polizei
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
The English translation is taken from www.kaizers.de.
Background information about the song:
Every December 22nd, Janove and Geir go to "Kalas". A festive get-together where old buddies from Bryne meet, hang out, drink, and update each other on what's happening in their lives. A tradition that began with a birthday party for Kris in 1995, which has continued every year since. Every year Janove or Geir makes a new "Kalas song" which is performed together at the piano later that evening. This slightly pompous mens'-choir-song style fits Kaizers very well, so two-three of the songs have, after a total lyrical renovation and improvement of basic melodies, made their way into the Kaizer catalog. The most well-known is probably "Mr Kaizer, hans Constanze & meg", but Die Polizei was also another Kalas song.
Die Polizei is from the Maestro era, and continues the story of Vicente from "Delikatessen", who escapes from Dieter Meyer's Institution on a draisine with a suitcase full of documents. The escape ends in Germany where he is arrested by the police and questioned. The conversation in the refrain, where the interrogator addresses the accused in English, is an exact copy of Jim Jarmusch's interpretation of how German Nazis talk in interrogations in old war films, from his own film "Blue in the Face". A lovely scene we felt just had to be set to a tone. "Good thing they don't usually sing in English, with that pronunciation!" We've heard it, yes. Bat vi ar spiking it cherman style, vid ze purpes, ja!? As our dear fans know, this is a popular live closer for us. Fun chorus to sing together with a sold-out house and a good, pompous atmosphere. Thank you! See you next time… Herr Polizei… you'll never find me again, because I've gone off the path… Safe travels!
Die Polizei | The police |
| Det var seint og eg var på vei i fra Tyskland til Polen | It was late, and I was on my way from Germany to Poland |
| De vil ha alt eg har hørt, og alt eg har sett | They want to know about all I have heard, and all I have seen |
| Die polizei, die polizei, die polizei | The police, the police, the police |
| De vil ha alt eg har hørt, die polizei | They want to know about all I have heard, and all I have seen, the police |
| Og det var blitt kjent eg bar på et dokument | And they had found out that I carried a document |
| av en sånn karakter som gjorde at de tok meg inn | of a kind that made them take me in |
| og spurte meg ut | and question me |
| Die polizei, die polizei, die polizei | The police, the police, the police |
| De tok meg inn, de spurte meg ut, die polizei | They took me in, they questioned me, the police |
| We know who you are | We know who you are |
| We know everything about you | We know everything about you |
| And we know where you live | And we know where you live |
| Men Herr polizei, Herr polizei | But Mr. police, Mr. police |
| Du finner meg aldri igjen | You will never find me again |
| for eg har gått av stien, Herr polizei | 'cause I have left the path, Mr. police |
| Du ser meg aldri igjen | You will never see me again |
| Og eg sprang. Gud vett kor eg sprang | And I ran. God knows how I ran |
| Men eg såg ingenting | But I didn't see anything |
| For alt eg vett sprang eg i ring | As far as I know, I ran in circles |
| Men de klarte ikkje følga med | But they couldn't follow me |
| Die polizei, die polizei, die polizei | The police, the police, the police |
| De klarte ikkje følga med, die polizei | They couldn't follow me, the police |
Fanden hakk i hel
Thanks to Jez for the English translation! Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
This was a song we had a lot of faith in when it came up. Janove especially liked it very much, and that tends to be a very promising starting point for a Kaizers Orchestra song. Nevertheless, it was never part of any release. Janove actually fell into making an English solo version of it, but that was also never released. To assess it a little, we can say that there were two factors which took the air out of it for Kaizers:
1. The timing. "Fanden" was one of the first songs that turned up in the Maestro rounds. That meant that we were a bit tired of it when we were recording the album two years later.
2. The tone. After composing several songs and finding a sort of red thread in the material for Maestro, we thought this was not fully fitting. Guitar rock is a nice, but also dangerous and overpopulated landscape. And since we had many other songs to choose between, this one came up short. But it is a fun song to play, so we are glad that the opportunity has opened up now! The lyrics are about a young couple, who in good Romeo and Juliet style pursue their love against all odds and against everyone's will. They know that as soon as they are discovered it will all be over, so they live the time they have together intensely, with the devil on their heels.
Fanden hakk i hel | The devil on our heels |
| Eg har aldri tatt i en bibel | I have never touched a bible |
| Den porten er nok stengt når eg dør | That gate is probably closed when I die |
| Eg har mange minner frå då eg var liten | I have many memories from when I was a child |
| Det er som eg ser tilbake gjennom et slør | It's like I'm looking back through a veil |
| Og du har alltid vært jentå mi | And you have always been my girl |
| Me gikk hånd i hånd med kver sitt stort smil | We walked hand in hand, both with a big smile |
| Alle såg på oss når me gikk forbi | Everyone looked at us when we passed by |
| Men ingen såg kva me gjorde nattestid | But no one saw what we did during the night |
| Og nå springer me med fanden hakk i hel | And now we run with the devil on our heels |
| Og holder på å le oss i hjel | And we're laughing ourselves to death |
| Gjennom parken og over ei eng | Through the park and over a meadow |
| Og duene de letter en og en | And the doves take off one by one |
| Og alt som de har sagt ikkje var lov | And everything that they said wasn't allowed |
| Det gjorde me mens alle låg og sov | We did it when everyone lay down sleeping |
| Me kommer aldri til å få som fortjent | We will never get what we deserved |
| for de tar oss aldri igjen | because they will never catch up with us |
| Det fins en plass bare me to vett om | There's a place only the two of us know of |
| Kor me kan vær aleina i skjul | Where we can be alone by ourselves, hidden |
| Og hvis det begynner å regne, har me plastikk | And if it starts to rain we have plastic |
| Det er nesten som å bu i Konsul | It's almost like living in Consul |
| Det er vanskelig å skille rett frå galt | It's hard to distinguish right from wrong |
| Eg har gjort så mange feil blir eg fortalt | I have made so many mistakes, I was told |
| Og hvis eg kunne levd mitt liv igjen | And if I could live my life again |
| Ville eg gjort de samme feilene om igjen en etter en | I would make the same mistakes again one by one |
Kavalér
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
After the Ompa til du Tour tour was expanded from 15 to 150 concerts in the wake of success and live-demands in 2001-2002, there was little time to sit at home and write songs. Janove moved the pump organ from his apartment in Storhaug in Stavanger to a side room in the bar Cementen (for locals: the one that is now Gnu) and sat there in free moments. In addition, there was some writing in hotel rooms around the country. Partial amnesia might be a side effect of a hard rock life. In any case, Janove remembers nothing of the circumstances around the origin of this song, but it was made, weighed, and apparently found too light.
This version is more guitar-based, heavier, and more droning than the violently rattling demo taken up at NRK Rogaland in 2003. When we brought it out again, we felt we were able to "crack the code" and make a cool composition for a melody we had always liked, but hadn't figured out how we should resolve it. A full guitar downpour through a whole song is not something we do often, but here rock-Kaizers comes fully into its own.
The lyrics are about paranoia in the mafia world, where you can never be completely sure who is friend or enemy. The rules are such that when you've got the red feather and know that you are the next one out on the plank, it could be the person you thought was your best friend and partner who's strangling you. A kind of "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" lesson here.
Kavalér | Gentleman |
| Du vett aldri kem som går bak din rygg | You never know who's hoodwinking you |
| Føl deg aldri trygg | Don't ever feel safe |
| Når månen henger høgt og ser på når du blir forfulgt | When the moon is up high and watches while you're being pursued |
| Det siste blikket du ser | The last gaze you see |
| Den siste stemmen som ler | The last voice that is laughing |
| Han som går i dine sko er din kavaler | He who walks in your shoes is your gentleman |
| Og når du ser at du ikkje lenger kaster skygge | And when you realize that you don't cast a shadow anymore |
| Då er di tid forbi | Then your time's out |
| Det er for seint å redde liv | It's too late to save lives |
| Redde ditt liv | To save your life |
| Du går med raske skritt | You walk with hurried steps |
| Men hans er raskere enn ditt | But his are quicker than yours |
| Ditt liv er satt ring rundt med kritt | Your life is lined in a ring of chalk |
| Men du er i live | But you are alive |
| Og du sprang gjønå regnver | And you ran through the rain |
| Og det brant en revolver | And a gun fired |
| Og du datt i en ring av kritt | And you fell in a ring of chalk |
| Og klokkene kimer | And the bells are ringing |
| Han er din kavalér | He's your gentleman |
Gruvene på 16
Thanks to Jez for the English translation! Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
Lyrically, this song is most closely related to the more famous "Bøn fra helvete". The mines on 16 are the place described as a hell on earth, the place that it's no use to pray from.
The story is about the sailor Marcelo Conradas who, after being captured in a raid somewhere in Asia, is sold as a slave to gold miners. From "the bars at Kringsjå" he describes the ruthless and psychopathic Henry who torments and tortures the mine workers until it all culminates in commotion and mutiny.
In the following chaos and escape attempt, Marcelo is the only one who comes out alive, with a bag of gold in his sack. In safety, the thought of revenge is so strong that he later spends his whole fortune on having it realized. In "Marcelos leksjon", another unreleased song that is not in this collection, he learns voodoo in Egypt (from a certain Mr. Kaizer) and finally gets his revenge on Henry by letting the world's heaviest Siamese cat eat the head of the voodoo doll that represents Henry (and people ask us what we are inspired by when we write lyrics…!)
Musically, "Gruvene på 16" was considered too "ballad-like" for the Ompa album. It had too much of the precursor to Kaizers "gnom" in it, we thought, and was therefore not "fresh" and hard-hitting enough. Now, however, we have grown up and are no longer afraid to admit that we also very much love nice ballads.
Gruvene på 16 | The mines at 16 |
| Eg er din siste som synger denne viså | I am the last one to sing this tune |
| For ting har gått over stokk og stein her | 'Cause things have run out of hand here |
| Ingen vinker frå sprinklene på Kringsjå | No one is waving from the bars at Kringsjå |
| Eller frå gruvene på 16 | Or from the mines at 16 |
| For ved perrongen der lokomotivet stod | Because at the platform where the locomotive stood |
| fins nå ingenting bortsett frå ekkoet | there's now nothing except for the echo |
| av en gjenlagt megafon som sa | of a forgotten megaphone that said |
| Siste avgang 15:30 | Last departure 15:30 |
| Eg er den siste som synger denne viså | I am the last one to sing this tune |
| Toget har gått for de andre | The train has left for the others |
| Det var tungt regn alltid | There always was heavy rain |
| enten det var sommer eller vinter der | whether it was summer or winter there |
| Og det står rissa inn i murene på Kringsjå | And it is scratched into the walls of Kringsjå |
| Det er lovd ut en dusør | There's a reward offered |
| til den som kan få Henry oppi kistå | to the one who can get Henry into a coffin |
| For nogen blei nettopp stengt inne | 'Cause some were recently locked in |
| Andre har vært der si manns minne | Others have been there since the beginning of time |
| Men Henry hadde en pisk som var så lang | But Henry had a whip that was so long |
| Ei stripa over ryggen, strø litt salt | A lash over the back, sprinkle some salt |
| og få respekt trodde han | and get respect, he thought |
| Men alt han ville ha det var applaus, applaus | But all he wanted to have was applause, applause |
| Men ikkje faen om me klapte for han | But like hell that we clapped for him |
| Aldri om eg klapper for han | No way I'd clap for him |
| Eg er din siste som synger denne viså | I am the last one to sing this tune |
| før hu går i glømmebokå | before it gets completely forgotten |
| De hørte kviskring om kvelden når det var stille | They heard whispering in the evening when it was silent |
| Men ikkje kva som blei sagt der inne | But not what was said in there |
| Eg er den einaste frå gruvene på 16 | I am the only one from the mines at 16 |
| som kom seg ut av mørket | who made it out of the darkness |
| Eg fekk en pose gull med meg på reisen | I got a bag of gold with me on my journey |
| Og klokka den var 15:30 | And the time was 15:30 |
| då eg tok siste avgang nogensinne | when I took the last departure ever |
Señor Torpedo
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
When we were making "the difficult second album", we had only 12 songs with us in the studio - the 12 that in turn became Evig Pint. The reason was that there weren't more to choose from, we said then. We simply had not made more.
But after going through the demos from this period, we found out that was not fully correct. We have never been occupied with looking backwards, so we were a bit surprised by these songs we had left orphaned without any remorse in 2003, because there were some curious notes here. Señor Torpedo is an example, a bit like "Veterans klage" from Evig Pint perhaps, a very strange song that isn't like much else out there.
The lyrics ask the question of who can take over the mafia throne after Sonny, who was exposed in a plot in the song "Hevnervals", ended up with life in prison and a death sentence in the song "Drøm hardt". The family business is bleeding and shouting for someone who can take over for Sonny. Sonny has a "right hand", a man on the outside. It is he who is the narrator and runs the show all throughout Evig Pint. In this song, he presents a merciless replacement by the name Señor Torpedo who gives you everything you ask for. But in practice, it is he himself who rules the mafia, up until he quietly passes away as a blind old man in the song "Sonny".
Sometimes as a songwriter, one has one theme or another, a stanza or a melody line that rides one like a mare for a long time. The potential is there, but it never materializes. The organ riff of Señor Torpedo was one for Janove, in the end it ended up in "Knekker deg til sist" from the Maestro album, but before that it was part of "Señor Torpedo". It is, after all, legal to steal from oneself.
Señor Torpedo | Señor Torpedo |
| Eg kan sei det igjen men eg har sagt det før | I can say it again, but I've said it before |
| Familiebedriften dør | The family business is dying |
| Sjå på meg den som tør | Look at me who dares |
| å sette seg i stolen | to sit in the chair |
| Og alle kjenner Sonny sitt navn | And everyone knows Sonny's name |
| Og alle sammen føler hans savn | And everyone feels his loss |
| Han er så Helgen som en Helgen kan bli | He's as Hallow as a Hallow can be |
| Det fins ingen ny Sonny | There's no new Sonny |
| Og rekk opp hånda hvis du kjenner nogen | And raise your hand if you know somebody |
| En som eg kan ha inni armkroken | Someone I can link arms with |
| En som er komfortabel i sjefsstolen | Someone who's comfortable in the boss' chair |
| En som alltid har ei hånd på pistolen | Someone who always has a hand on the gun |
| Det var for han eg måtte sy sju sting | For him I had to sew seven stitches |
| Det var for han eg måtte bli halvt blind | For him I had to turn half blind |
| Og du var alltid velkommen inn | And you were always welcome |
| Måtte eg gått i døden for han, ville eg gått rett inn | If I had to die for him, I would have done so right away |
| For han er min far | Because he is my father |
| Herren gir og Herren tar | The Lord gives and the Lord takes |
| Så lenge du er lojal | As long as you're loyal |
| er du velkommen i vår hage | you are welcome in our gardens |
| Det fins ingen vei tilbake | There's no way back |
| Ett feil ord, ett skeivt skritt så er dine dager talte | One wrong word, one skewed step and your days are numbered |
| 123456789 10 | 123456789 10 |
| La meg presentere Señor Torpedo | Let me introduce Señor Torpedo |
| Av han får du meir enn du ber om | You get more from him than you ask for |
| Han legger ingenting i mellom | He doesn't mince matters |
| Guds gave til oss er Señor Torpedo | God's gift to us is Señor Torpedo |
| Og snart kjenner alle hans navn | And soon everybody will know his name |
| Når han forsvinner kjenner alle hans savn | When he disappears, everyone will feel his loss |
| Han blir så Helgen som en Helgen kan bli | He'll be as Hallow as a Hallow can be |
| Men han blir ingen ny Sonny | But he won't be a new Sonny |
Den sjette sansen
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
This is yet another example of what we call a "genre song", in this case a blues rock song. Even though we like a lot of music in this genre ourselves, we think it is difficult to find our place in it. That is the main reason that "Den sjette sansen" was cut from the Maskineri album.
Like "Medisin & Psykiatri", this is also a song we have played quite a few times live. Therefore, we have gotten a number of inquiries about whether it will be released, and finally we have found a place for it.
The lyrics are a sort of surrealist reflection over a life lived so far, and what one eventually could do differently if one got a second chance. Like the other lyrics on Maskineri, it is not a part of a conceptual story but uses themes we often engage with: the big questions in life, and life after death. Nothing less.
Den sjette sansen | The sixth sense |
| Eg sko likt og sett mitt liv i perspektiv | I would have liked to see my life from the perspective |
| i frå et helikopter | out of a helicopter |
| Og zoomt inn med lupe og studert | And to zoom in with a magnifying glass and study |
| mine avgjørende punkter | my decisive features |
| Men sjøl om det er ingenting eg kunne gjort om | But even though there is nothing I could have changed |
| hadde det vært til hjelp i mitt neste liv om | it would have been of help in my next life if |
| eg fekk sjå mitt liv i perspektiv frå et helikopter | I got to see my life from the perspective of a helicopter |
| Og det hadde vært interessant og skrudd opp lyden og | And it would have been interesting to turn up the volume and |
| hørt kva det var eg snakkte om | hear what I was talking about |
| Men du måtte skrudd kraftig opp volumet | But you would have to turn the volume up a lot |
| for så mange ord var tomme | because so many words were empty |
| Men oppe i det blå er det bare bråk fra propeller | But up in the blue there is only the noise from the propellers |
| Eg står ikkje inne for det eg sa heller | I don't stand up for what I said either |
| men det kunne vært interessant og skrudd opp lyden | but it could have been interesting to turn up the volume |
| og hørt kva det var eg snakkte om. | and hear what I was talking about. |
| Om eg bare hadde et minimum av kontroll | If only I had a minimum of control |
| på det eg har snakkt om | over what I talked about |
| Om bare kvert år hadde vært en sesong | If only every year had been a season |
| hadde eg snakkt om større ting neste gong | I would have talked about bigger things next time |
| Og eg håper det er heim eg skal, | And I hope I'm going home, |
| når eg ser en ambulanse | when I see an ambulance |
| Hadde eg visst det eg vett i dag | Had I known what I know today |
| hadde eg hatt et snev av en sjangse | I would have had a ghost of a chance |
| Men alt eg gjor når livet gjekk meg imot var å dansa | But all I did when life wasn't kind to me was dance |
| Til slutt sa det stopp for både meg og mitt hjerta | Finally, it was the end for both me and my heart |
| Eg håper det er heim eg skal, når eg ser en ambulanse | I hope I'm going home when I see an ambulance |
Sonny
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
With the Evig Pint album we wanted to show a slightly different side of ourselves than we had on Ompa til du dør, and show that we weren't just a party band with only one gear that had gotten lucky. Therefore, we did away with some of the song ideas that leaned in the direction of ompa in favor of heavier and darker rock songs. So in came "Di grind", "De involverte", "Salt & pepper", and out went "Kavalér" and this one, "Du og meg Sonny", a romantic nostalgic song in waltz time. This song is actually one of the reasons we wanted to do this rarities album. We think it is so good that it would be simply terrible of us not to share it with Kaizer-sympathizers out there.
Lyrically, "Sonny" is tied to "De involverte". The narrator has been high up in the mafia, and is actually the boss Sonny's right hand on the outside. Sonny now sits inside, condemned to death ("Drøm hardt"), but controls things on the outside from the prison through his right hand man, who in this song reminisces about the past. He has gotten sentimental in his blind, older days, recalls the good, old times, and now only prepares himself to die.
Sonny | Sonny |
| Hjelp nå en blind mann med stokk og med hatt | Help a blind man with a cane and hat now |
| Hold fast mi hånd. La oss gå ut i natt | Hold my hand tight. Let's go out tonight |
| For me gjekk under åpen himmel | Because we walked under open skies |
| Og me delte våre gamle minner | And shared our old memories |
| Å Sonny. Hey Sonny. | Oh Sonny. Hey Sonny. |
| Du har alltid vært min egen Sonny | You have always been my own Sonny |
| Alt du har gjort for meg | Everything you did for me |
| Alt det du kan | Everything you know |
| Alt de har hørt om deg, alt det er sant | Everything they heard about you, all that is true |
| Du har gått så mange runder | You went the distance during so many rounds |
| Sammen har me gått mange hundre | Together, we went the distance many hundred times |
| Å Sonny. Hey Sonny. | Oh Sonny. Hey Sonny. |
| Du har alltid vært min egen Sonny | You have always been my own Sonny |
| Den tid er forbi kor me gjorde alt i lag | The time when we did everything together is over |
| Snart er det min tur. Mitt hjerte er svakt | Soon it's my turn. My heart is weak |
| Min far var alltid med din far | My father was always with your father |
| Og våre fedres fedre var alltid i lag | And our fathers' fathers were always together |
| Å Sonny. Hey Sonny | Oh Sonny. Hey Sonny |
| Du har alltid vært min egen Sonny | You have always been my own Sonny |
| Ingen kan vanna mine blomster frå nå | Nobody can water my flowers from now on |
| Mitt verk står for fall. Det er opp til andre å så | My work is starting to fail. Others will need to start seeding |
| Ja for innen kvelden er omme | Yes, because before the night is over |
| legger eg meg ner og sovner | I'll lie down and sleep |
| Å Sonny. Hey Sonny | Oh Sonny. Hey Sonny. |
| Innen kvelden er omme så sovner eg | Before the night is over I'll sleep |
| Å Sonny. Hey Sonny. | Oh Sonny. Hey Sonny. |
| Du har alltid vært min egen Sonny | You have always been my own Sonny |
Prosessen
Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
In the year 2000 there was naturally no one who had heard of the newly-founded band Kaizers Orchestra. The few who had heard of it had little faith that it would ever get anywhere, and no one could really blame them for that.
BUT, Janove had other plans, and in addition to talking a lot about these bright outlooks, he also made a song about them, a sort of pep-talk for the band. In short, Prosessen is about Kaizers' future "rise to fame" as he imagined it. "The revolution" and "the new religion" are Kaizers, who contribute to saving the music world from the mire we thought the industry was in at the time. The new homemade apricot wine, if you will. The main problem with Prosessen, and the reason it wasn't on Ompa, was that it was a little too pop-catchy. We were terrified of getting a "hit" we couldn't completely stand up for, end up in the DH-rock category, and come off the ski jump askew in what could have been a great musical flight. We felt that the melody went off like a gunshot, but unfortunately a gunshot of the irritating sort. If we were presented and associated with this song, the rest of the album would simply not be in keeping with it. So for the sake of the whole we dropped the frivolous "Prosessen" in favor of dark Romani style, which is what we were really passionate about. We did the right thing with that, with the future taken into consideration.
A fun fact to end with: Author and Kaizer friend Tore Renberg heard Prosessen in concert once at Blå in 2000 and has been humming the catchy/irritating tune ever since. So here you finally have it, Tore, you're welcome!
Prosessen | The process |
| Velkommen til mafia rekruttering | Welcome to the mafia recruiting |
| Her er alle under læring | Everyone here is under training |
| Så ta godt i mot presten | So let's welcome the priest |
| For alle vil bli med på sukksessen | Because everyone wants to be part of the success |
| så lenge det er penger i bildet | as long as there is money in the picture |
| Det er penger i bildet | There's money in the picture |
| Me blir større og større for kver dag | We become bigger and bigger every day |
| Me representerer alle sosiale lag | We represent all social layers |
| i frå toppen av pyramiden og ner | from the top of the pyramid and down |
| Eg ser det på deg | I see it in you |
| Eg ser det på deg. Du er som oss | I see it in you. You are like us |
| For det vil bli revolusjon | Because there will be a revolution |
| når du ser folk konverterer til en annen religion | when you see people convert to another religion |
| Og dei som ikkje trur på meg i dag... | And those who don't believe in me today ... |
| Det er en del av prosessen | That's a part of the process |
| Alt du har hørt om oss er sant | All that you've heard about us is true |
| Me begynner å bli mange | We're starting to become many |
| Me har folk over heile landet | We have people all over the country |
| Det er ingenting som å sjå når de promenerer | There's nothing like seeing them promenade |
| Enkelte reagerer, men andre applauderer | Some react to it, but others applaud |
| og det er sånne som oss | and those are people like us |
| Me tar dag for dag | We take day by day |
| konstruerer svar | construct answers |
| gjer deg alt du vil ha | give you all you want to have |
| tenk strategi, tenk strategi | think strategic, think strategic |
| Åh du er i mine hender kva enn som skjer | Oh, you're in my hands whatever happens |
| La meg få din stemme. Eg ber på mine ker | Lend me your voice. I ask on my knees |
| Åh du har så mange ting i vente | Oh, you have so much to expect |
| Bli med på sukksessen | Join the success |
| Sei til venner og kjente | Tell friends and acquaintances |
| de kan bli med på prosessen | they can join the process |
Stormfull vals
Thanks to Jez for the English translation! Thanks to Anthony and Casper for translating the background info!
Background information about the song:
"Stormfull vals" was on the list of songs to go on the Ompa album, but was beat out in the last stage of composition by newcomers Kontroll på Kontinentet and 170 (Janove has always had a tendency to come up with the best album tracks right before the deadline. For example, Evig Pint was the last song to be made for that album, and Maestro was the last song for its album). "Stormfull vals" is a real rattler, one of the first we made as Kaizers Orchestra, and it's not a waltz either. It is about Egil Ei, who after foreseeing the great flood in the song "Katastrofen" - without being believed - turns to the bottle for comfort.
The village, and specifically his great love Ms. Victoria Zudine, are (seemingly) taken by the flood, the wind rages on, and it is stormy both inside Egil's head and outside. Humorous tragedy is something we have dealt with many times in our lyrics, yes, and here as well. This song is also a genre song, and we found out the only way to do it was to get drunk on Terje's Christmas present, a 23 year old rum from Cuba, invite everyone we knew with an instrument into the big room in the studio, count to four, stumble away and hope for the best.
Stormfull vals | Stormy waltz |
| Ute blåser vinden kaldt på mitt kinn | Outside the wind is blowing cold on my cheek |
| Eg slepper han ikkje inn | I'm not letting him in |
| Eg roper til han at forsvinn nå du vind | I yell at him go away now, you wind |
| Det gamla treet vaier som om det sko ha drukke | The old tree is waving like if it had been drinking |
| brennevin | brandy |
| Snart blir det ved i min kamin | Soon it'll be wood in my fireplace |
| Eg tar fram sagå mi og sage det eg greier | I take out my saw and saw all I can |
| For ingen danser vals som gamle Egil Ei | 'Cause no one dances waltz like old Egil Ei |
| Månen henger lågt og han | The moon is hanging low and he |
| speiler seg i ett glass med vann | mirrors himself in a glass of water |
| Ikkje diskutér med han | Do not discuss with him |
| Han er så overflatisk at det er synd om han | He is so superficial it's a shame about him |
| Eg truer han med neven og med en | I threaten him with the fist and with a |
| masse ord eg trur han ikkje kan | bunch of words I believe he doesn't know |
| Den mannen er ikkje sann | That man is not genuine |
| Eg lurer på koss han kan sviva i sånn tilstand | I wonder how he can float in that condition |
| Eg kan notera meg for nok en stormfull kveld | I can note down another stormy evening |
| Både for véret og mitt eget vedkommende | For the weather as well as for my part |
| For gulvet har blitt min kavalér | Because the floor has become my partner |
| Me danser stormfull vals | We dance a stormy waltz |
| og eg er trofast til din hals | and I am faithfull to your neck |
| Huset mitt står skjeivt | My house stands crooked |
| Horisonten er ikkje der han en gong var | The horizon is not where it used to be |
| Akkurat som eg sa | Exactly as I said |
| Det heile bikker litt mot venstre | It all is tilting a little to the left |
| Eg vett ikkje kor det skal | I don't know where it's going |
| Ikkje ring til ambulansen | Don't call the ambulance |
| om eg sko detta ner ei litå trapp | if I should fall down a few stairs |
| Så snart eg får sjangsen | As soon as I get the chance |
| så skal eg ta ett tak og gjenvinne balansen | I'll take a grip and find back the balance |
| Men fysst må eg ha meg en liten en i min venstre fot | But first must I have a little one in my left foot |
| Ellers så blir det bare rot | Else it'll only become a mess |
| Og har du lyst til å ta en skål | And should you feel like raising a glass |
| så setter eg ikkje meg i mot | then I will not oppose |
| Og vinden herjer fortsatt. | And the wind still rages. |
| Han er forbaska i kveld | He's darned tonight |
| Og regnet kom i strie strømmer | And the rain came down in stern torrents |
| Og eg sitter her og prøver å glømma | And I sit here and try to forget |
Under månen
Thanks to Jez for the English translation!
The Norwegian lyrics were never officially published, so they might contain errors.
Under månen | Under the moon |
| Eg har alltid gått litt på sidå | I have always walked a little beside |
| av den veien som folk flest går | the path that most people go |
| Har låge på ryggen rett under månen | Have lain on my back right under the moon |
| Og tenkt på ting eg ikkje forstår | and thought about things I don't understand |
| Og eg har hatt nogen øyeblikk kun for meg sjøl | And I have had a few moments all to myself |
| Kor verden har stått helt i ro | where the world has been standing completely still |
| Og eg har bevegd meg. Ingen har sett meg | And I have moved, no one has seen me |
| Tenk om me kunne vært to | Imagine it could've been us two |
| Og er du der ute | And are you out there |
| Under den samme, kalde, kvite månen nå | Under the same cold white moon now |
| Ligger du og lurer, sånn som eg gjer | Are you lying down and wondering, just like I do |
| Ikkje for du vil, men for du må | Not because you want to, but because you have to |
| Eg har alltid vært på vei heim | I have always been on the way home |
| Og eg har leita under kver ein stein | And I have searched under every single stone |
| Har vært sånn i tvil på kor eg ska gå | Have been in such doubt about where to go |
| Hadde vært enklare om veien var bein | Would've been simpler if the road was straight |
| Men tenk om det var du | But imagine it was you |
| Som sto bak neste sving | Who stood behind the next turn |
| og blinka meg inn | and picked me out |
| og spør om eg vil bli din | And asked if I want to be yours |
| Ja, nei, det vil eg aldri la meg gå forbi | Yes, no, I would never let that pass me by |
| Bare du vett kem eg ska bli | Only you know who I will be |
| Og er du der ute | And are you out there |
| Under den samme, kalde, kvite månen nå | Under the same cold white moon now |
| Ligger du og lurer, sånn som eg gjer | Are you lying down and wondering, just like I do |
| Ikkje for du vil, men for du må? | Not because you want to, but because you have to |