#blikkenslag

[dustseeker]

New song from our band. I like how this turned out, maybe you will, too?

Warning: Listening may cause temporary sea or space sickness. But don't worry, it's only in your mind.

Norwegian lyrics, but I made a rough translation:

-

There are eleven of them leaving, setting course for the moon, then for Mars, a planet no one has visited before.

Oh, but they choose to pass by, informing the control room: “We have a plan. We will fly as far as we can."

Everywhere people are following the daring, perilous journey into the vast, dark space.

Oh, they observe the space shuttle whiz away through spheres and nebulaes, towards unknown goals, like an arrow shot into eternity. And they are alone.

-

There are eleven of them on board. They're headed for galaxies no one has seen before, the Milky Way will soon end.

Oh, it's time for the last words, before all contact is lost. And everyone realizes now, they will never return home.

A crackle from distant space: "How can we explain what we're looking at here … Someone was here before us."

Oh, nothing more can be heard, just unintelligable pops and crackles, and a flashing signal that soon disappears.

-

And people are building a monument, a bar, and a research center, in their names. And then the ocean devours everything.

[dustseeker]

Flyktning. Refugee. A song from our band. I wrote the lyrics years ago, after having visited Syria (before the civil war) at a time when Iraqis fled their country by the millions to escape the increasing terrorism and lawlessness (in the wake of the much criticized, for good reasons, “coalition” invasion).

I was interviewing refugees for my work, and I met a newlywed young man who had paid traffickers to take his wife illegaly to Sweden (they couldn’t afford to go together). But. They robbed her, then left her in a forest somewhere in Germany. The lyrics were inspired by their story. (Written in Norwegian; a simple translation added below.)

Months later, the young, traumatized woman eventually made it to her uncle in Sweden. But two years later, my friend was still stuck in Syria. Today, I don’t know, I lost track. I so hope they are together. Somewhere safe.

*

Refugee

One of the many who travelled so far, over mountains, through the desert sand, one of the many who said goodbye then left, headed for a distant place.

In the middle of a town, on the city square, a stranger on her knees, holding a flag in her left hand, holding a flag.

Neon lights where we stood that night, before you left, and I asked: «Are you one of them who gets up before dawn to carry a candle through the streets?»

In the middle of a town, on the city square …

Do you see the light? Do you see the midnight sun? Did you get there? Can I find the way myself?

Your tracks are erased now. But you’re walking into a town, kneeling down on the city square, like a flag yourself.

[dustseeker]

The next time we wake up: The title track from “my” band’s album, to be released on October 13th (iTunes, Spotify, Apple music, etc.). Hope you like!

Lyrics (raw translation)

The city was quiet and warm. I saw the shimmer from blushing cheeks, saw a lady who ran to catch the train, saw a girl who was cycling in circles, saw a plane that let smoke over the sky, saw a pipe hanging from a mouth, saw a boy sitting on a shoulder, and a cat fleeing from a dog.

And now everyone’s going to sleep, and we will do all that we can. The next time we wake up, this has become a different land. But now everyone’s about to dream.

Some are lying down to sleep, mumbling a prayer to themselves. Saw a man who was dancing alone, but shouting in joy nevertheless. The day is almost over, night is coming, we’ll be dreaming of rivers and mountains. Toay I picked two summer flowers, I’ll bring them home with me tonight.

And now everyone’s going to sleep …

Dreaming. Needed someone who’d listen. Hoping. Are you there somewhere?

And now everyone’s going to sleep …

And we’re all doing the best we can. And the next time we wake up, this has become a different land. But now everyone’s about to dream.

––– (Lyrics by my brother Sindre. Music by him & myself.)