In 2001, Rikard Sjöblom and David Zackrisson founded Beardfish together with Petter Diamant on drums and Gabriel Olsson on bass. Drummer Petter Diamant subsequently left the band, and was replaced by Magnus Östgren in 2002; flautist and keyboardist Stefan Aronsson also joined.
Robert Hansen replaced Gabriel on bass, and Beardfish recorded their debut album Från en plats du ej kan se in Stefan's studio in 2003. Stefan left the band shortly thereafter. Despite "Från en plats..." being released and passing by quite unnoticed, Beardfish continued to tour as a four-piece band, with Rikard replacing Stefan's role as keyboardist. The end of 2003 was a very productive period for the band, and saw several demos being recorded.
The year of 2004 was largely uneventful for Beardfish, although they did start recording a second album. After that, however, it took the band nearly a year to begin recording once again.
Come 2005, the band was to be found secluded in a cottage outside the town of Gävle, Sweden preparing to record the rest of the material for their upcoming album.
Björn Arnell, a friend of the band, lent them recording equipment, an arsenal of keyboards and effect pedals, and helped them set things up in an old and stately dining room near town.
The band has described this period as a truly beautiful process, and many songs were recorded, most of them live. So many, in fact, that Beardfish had to release a double album. The Sane Day, their 2 CD album, was released in December 2005.
Almost immediately the band started to rehearse new material, and throughout June and July of 2006 they recorded what became Sleeping in Traffic: Part One. The album was practically finished by the end of the summer, and Beardfish was also asked to play the ProgDay festival in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After this trip, during which they met Gary Green of Gentle Giant, they recorded one more song, called Roulette, and declared the album finished.
A few labels contacted the band, among them InsideOut Music, who wanted to release the new album. Beardfish signed to InsideOut at the end of the year.
New material continued to be written and recorded, and "Sleeping in Traffic: Part One" was released to many positive reviews. Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two was released in 2008.
In 2009, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater invited Beardfish to tour with them on the Progressive Nation tour, which they readily accepted. Rikard Sjöblom said of this, "When we read on a website that Mike Portnoy had our album "Sleeping in Traffic: Part One" among his favorite releases of 2007, we just couldn't believe it and we were really happy about it! And now we once again gasp for air since we've been asked to join Progressive Nation 2009 together with Dream Theater (one of the biggest bands in this genre today!), Pain of Salvation (hey, fellow Swedes!!!) and Zappa Plays Zappa (being a HUGE Zappa fan myself, I think this is really cool!). Since we've only played the US once before we simply can't wait to come over and rock out!"
Unfortunately, due to the bankruptcy of SPV and Beardfish's label InsideOut, both Beardfish and Pain of Salvation had to drop out of the Progressive Nation tour for 2009.
Beardfish's fifth release Destined Solitaire is available July 28, 2009 through InsideOut Records.
Their Myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/beardfishband
South of the border
Beardfish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was the kind of man you see in every bar
And old school bling-bling guy, shades on in the dark
"I'm here for the ladies", he'd say: "light up my smoke"
Workin' the dancefloor, he'd shake it about
Chains and jewellery shimmering, bling-a-ling, glimmering
Workin' the females, not a butt he didn't slap
"Hey baby, have you ever been south of the border?
Hey sugar, what would you like for breakfast in the morning?"
Garth's fellow workers at the office were fed-up
"I swear if he tries som'n with me I'll smack his ass all the way back to Gooberville!"
Especially the ladies who felt they had enough
"Damn straight, uh-huh!"
They had arranged for him a neat little surprise
The yearly party at the office was the night
They hired some really beautiful drag queens
To jump out of a cake and tease around the crowd (ta-dah!)
Everyone was in on it but Garth who was quite drunk
He did his usual act, obnoxious and loud
He was workin' the dancefloor, he'd shake it about
Chains and jewellery shimmering, bling-a-ling, glimmering
Workin' the queens, not a crotch he didn't tap
Dropping one-liners, some chauvinistic crap
"Hey baby, have you ever been south of the border?
Hey sugar, feel my pecker, he's the sheriff and that's an order
Hey baby, have you ever been south of the border?
Yo sugar, what would you like for breakfast in the morning?"
In the morning Garth woke up next to a beefy lady with no hair and bad breath
He was angry, but at the same time well, you know, he could not make himself leave just yet
All these feelings, what are these? Have I been Gad-about-Garth just to hide something that I am?
He remembered everything and felt a rush go through him as he realized he'd made love to a man!
In a sense he felt fulfilled as he looked back on getting high with Amanda last night (A man – duh!)
How could something he had always thought was filthy growing up, suddenly seem so right?
'CAUSE HE WAS GAY!
(guitar solo: Rikard Sjöblom)
This was the story of the Gay-Man-Garth
He is the kind of man you don't see in a bar
A truly pleasant guy who listens, understands
All women want him but he saves it for the gents
The song "South of the Border" by Beardfish is the story of a man named Garth, also known as Gad-about-Garth. Garth was an old school bling-bling guy who frequented bars and was known for his chauvinistic behavior towards women. He would work the dance floor, shaking it about, shimmering in chains and jewelry, and dropping one-liners that were offensive and sexist.
Garth's colleagues at work were fed up with his behavior, especially the women who felt harassed by him. They decided to arrange a little surprise for him at the office party by hiring drag queens to tease him. Garth, who was quite drunk, did not realize what was going on, and continued to work the dance floor, making inappropriate comments towards the queens.
The next morning, Garth woke up next to a man, and had a revelation that he was gay. He felt fulfilled and realized that what he had always thought was filthy growing up, had suddenly seemed so right. The song ends by describing Garth as a truly pleasant guy who listens and understands, and saves his affections for men.
Overall, the song is a commentary on toxic masculinity and the societal pressure to conform to expected gender norms.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the story of Gad-about-Garth
Introducing the main character of the story, a man known for his behavior at bars.
He was the kind of man you see in every bar
Garth's character is typical of bar culture and behavior.
And old school bling-bling guy, shades on in the dark
Garth dresses in a flashy, outdated style and wears sunglasses even in poorly lit areas.
"I'm here for the ladies", he'd say: "light up my smoke"
Garth is upfront about his intentions with women and requests someone to light his cigarette.
Workin' the dancefloor, he'd shake it about
Garth actively engages with the dancefloor and tries to attract attention.
Chains and jewellery shimmering, bling-a-ling, glimmering
Garth wears gaudy accessories that sparkle and shine.
Workin' the females, not a butt he didn't slap
Garth inappropriately touches women he interacts with on the dancefloor.
Dropping one-liners, some chauvinistic crap
Garth makes rude and sexist comments to women he interacts with.
"Hey baby, have you ever been south of the border?
Garth uses a pickup line to initiate conversation with a woman about traveling to a different location.
Hey sugar, what would you like for breakfast in the morning?"
Garth asks a woman about her breakfast preference, potentially implying future intimate plans.
Garth's fellow workers at the office were fed-up
Garth's coworkers are annoyed with his behavior, likely due to how he treats female colleagues.
"I swear if he tries som'n with me I'll smack his ass all the way back to Gooberville!"
A coworker states their intention to physically harm Garth if he tries to make advances on them.
Especially the ladies who felt they had enough
Female colleagues are particularly frustrated with Garth's behavior and want to take action.
"Damn straight, uh-huh!"
An expression of agreement with the previous statement about Garth's behavior.
They had arranged for him a neat little surprise
Garth's coworkers have planned a prank to teach him a lesson.
The yearly party at the office was the night
The prank will occur at the annual office party.
They hired some really beautiful drag queens
Garth's coworkers have hired performers to be part of their prank.
To jump out of a cake and tease around the crowd (ta-dah!)
The performers come out of a cake and put on a show for everyone at the party.
Everyone was in on it but Garth who was quite drunk
Garth is unaware of the prank as he is drunk and not paying attention.
He did his usual act, obnoxious and loud
Garth continues to behave inappropriately at the party, oblivious to what's happening.
He was workin' the queens, not a crotch he didn't tap
Garth engages with the drag performers in the same way he interacts with women.
Dropping one-liners, some chauvinistic crap
Garth continues to make inappropriate comments, as he had done earlier in the night.
"Yo sugar, what would you like for breakfast in the morning?"
Garth uses the same line he used earlier in the night on one of the drag performers.
In the morning Garth woke up next to a beefy lady with no hair and bad breath
Garth wakes up after a night of drinking and finds himself in bed with someone he didn't expect.
He was angry, but at the same time well, you know, he could not make himself leave just yet
Garth struggles with feelings he can't explain after waking up next to someone he didn't expect.
All these feelings, what are these? Have I been Gad-about-Garth just to hide something that I am?
Garth begins to question his own identity in light of his experiences the previous night.
He remembered everything and felt a rush go through him as he realized he'd made love to a man!
Garth remembers what happened the previous night and recalls he had a sexual encounter with a man.
In a sense he felt fulfilled as he looked back on getting high with Amanda last night (A man – duh!)
Garth reflects on other experiences from the previous night and realizes that he may be attracted to men.
How could something he had always thought was filthy growing up, suddenly seem so right?
Garth is confused and amazed at how his previously-held beliefs about homosexuality could be changed so quickly.
'CAUSE HE WAS GAY!
Garth comes to the realization that he is gay.
(guitar solo: Rikard Sjöblom)
A guitar solo is played by musician Rikard Sjöblom to end the song.
This was the story of the Gay-Man-Garth
The story ends with Garth's revelation about his sexuality and his new identity as a gay man.
He is the kind of man you don't see in a bar
Garth has changed and is no longer the kind of man you would typically find in a bar.
A truly pleasant guy who listens, understands
Garth has become a more compassionate and empathetic person.
All women want him but he saves it for the gents
Garth now experiences attraction to other men, rather than pursuing relationships with women.
Contributed by Elena M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.