170
Kaizers Orchestra Lyrics
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do vett me får tilstrekkelig med stipend
Nå går eg inn som frivillig soldat
Når eg går ut har eg blitt far
Det var kveld og det blei dag og kveld igjen
Eg skreiv brev på brev men eg fekk aldri brev igjen
Et halvt år med skudd og åpne sår
Et halvt år. Herre Gud, tiå går så seint
Takk Gud for sanitetens personal
For de syr samen rekrutt og general
Dagen kom, eg venta på signal
Eg fekk min siste ordre i frå høgaste befal og han skreik
170 gå å sjå om det er klart
Nei general, la meg få sleppa general
Det er lett for deg å senda inn en frivillig soldat
men kven skal ta seg av min hustru og mitt barn?
170 er det klart, er det klart?
170 me vente på et svar!
The lyrics to Kaizers Orchestra's song "170" tell the story of a young soldier who is leaving behind his wife and child to serve as a volunteer soldier. The soldier initially expresses confidence that he will return soon and that they will have enough financial support through his stipend. However, he soon experiences the harsh realities of war, suffering from open wounds and spending what feels like an interminable amount of time on the battlefield. The soldier expresses gratitude for the medical personnel who care for him, but ultimately faces an impossible decision when he receives his final orders from a high-ranking officer to investigate an unclear situation (designated "170"). The soldier begs to be allowed to stay with his family but ultimately feels compelled to follow his orders, leaving the song on a cliffhanger ending.
This song showcases Kaizers Orchestra's unique blend of dark lyrics and catchy melodies. Its haunting accordion-based instrumentation and the singer's gravelly vocals powerfully capture the intense emotions of the soldier's war experience while also serving as a critique of the military institutions that send young soldiers to fight in uncertain, often pointless conflicts. The song's focus on the soldier's internal struggle with his duties and his love for his family offers a poignant reflection on themes of duty, sacrifice, and the human cost of war.
Line by Line Meaning
Slapp av me komme snart igjen
Relax, we'll be back soon
do vett me får tilstrekkelig med stipend
We know we'll get enough scholarship
Nå går eg inn som frivillig soldat
Now I'm going in as a volunteer soldier
Når eg går ut har eg blitt far
When I come out, I'll be a father
Det var kveld og det blei dag og kveld igjen
It was evening, and then it became day, and then evening again
Eg skreiv brev på brev men eg fekk aldri brev igjen
I wrote letter after letter but never received one back
Et halvt år med skudd og åpne sår
Half a year of gunfire and open wounds
Et halvt år. Herre Gud, tiå går så seint
Half a year. Lord, time goes so slow
Takk Gud for sanitetens personal
Thank God for the medical staff
For de syr sammen rekrutt og general
For they sew together recruits and generals
Dagen kom, eg venta på signal
The day came, I waited for the signal
Eg fekk min siste ordre i frå høgaste befal og han skreik
I received my final order from the highest command, and he shouted
170 gå å sjå om det er klart
170, go and check if it's clear
Nei general, la meg få sleppa general
No, General, let me go, General
Det er lett for deg å senda inn en frivillig soldat
It's easy for you to send in a volunteer soldier
men kven skal ta seg av min hustru og mitt barn?
But who will take care of my wife and my child?
170 er det klart, er det klart?
Is it clear, 170, is it clear?
170 me vente på et svar!
170, we await an answer!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joasia442
http://kaizers.konzertjunkie.com/lyrics.php?lang=en&which=170
Lirycs in English:
You know we'll get sufficient funding
Now I enlist as a voluntary soldier
When I go out I've become a father
It was night and it became day and night again
I wrote letter after letter but never got one back
Half a year with shots and open wounds
Half a year. God, time goes by so slowly
Thank God for the medical corps
'Cause they sew together recruits and generals
The day came and I waited for a signal
And I got my last order from the highest in command, and he yelled
170 go out and see if it is clear
No, general, spare me.
It's easy for you to send in a voluntary soldier
but who'll take care of my wife and my child?
170 is it clear, is it clear?
170 we're waiting for a response!
@MD1O32
This song is so raw, so real. I don’t speak Norwegian but I don’t need to. The emotion is carried through the tune and instrumentation. 💯
@Nunyagodambiznis
This was the first song I ever learned to play on the banjo, one of the first songs I ever learned to play period even. That banjo part gives me chills every time, and the way it leads up into the guitar parts is just fantastic. One of my all time favorite songs easily, such an incredibly emotional tale.
@Bangbaby84
for those who don't understan: basicall it's about a voluntary soldier dubbed "170" he has a wife and family and promised he'd return the general sent him out to see if the "coast is clear" he begged not to go but was still sent the general kept asking "170 is the coast clear" but never got an answer I don't think i need to say why "170" never answered it's really depressing
@lenekastruphansen9381
Rigtig god Musik
@aussieroadkill725
Haven't listened to this song in years and coming back I still remember the translation and get chills at the end
@bashfulwolfo6499
Same here! It’s been one of my favorite songs for so damn long, but I just now realized I never saved it to any of my playlists. I still remember the lyrics so well
@meower808
Now I'm sad
Sad
@UweOvD00m
I'm still sad
@Steffen-gg4gp
Am F@@@ing SaD😢
@vladimirzagorodnikov932
Офигенно =)