Billie the Vision & the Dancers got together in Malmö during the recordings of the first album in the spring of 2004. The Singer, Songwriter Lars Lindquists had previous material from a solo project. One person wasn't enough he thought, and had persuaded five more members to join the project. Most of them old friends from his home town Bräkne-Hoby in Blekinge, and on top of that a new friend from Borlänge.
The debut I Was So Unpopular in School and Now They're Giving Me This Beautiful Bicycle released on their own label Love Will Pay the Bills got great reviews in the press and also got nominated at Manifest, the Swedish prize award for records released on indie labels.
2005 saw the release of The World According To Pablo and in 2007 "Where The Ocean Meets My Hand" was released.
"I Used to Wander These Streets" was released on June 4th 2008.
All albums are available for download at the band's website for any amount of donation - or none.
Current group members are:
Silvio Arismendi - percussion
Frida Brattgård - trumpet, accordion
Maria Carlsson - bass guitar
John Dunsö - acoustic guitar, vocals
Sofia Janninge - percussion, violin, vocals
Gustav Kronkvist - electric guitar
Jon Lindquist - drums
Lars Lindquist - lead vocals
For more information on the band, visit the
official website at www.billiethevision.com or
www.myspace.com/billiethevisionandthedancers
Wake Up My Love
Billie the Vision & the Dancers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm trying hard to figure out what's going on
I watch the news and I shake my head
Lily says: "It's insane, have you heard about the hurricane"
Been going down some rocky roads before
But I never thought we'd experience a world war
Watch your back Lily, they're close behind
So wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
Wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
So wake up my love
It's just a bad dream
The doctor said to me "You've got the HIV
Your sons and your daughters got the virus too"
The pope is after us, wants to stab his cane trough me
"You've got it coming this is justice the way it should be"
Jesus Christ Lily, I'm still shivering
I dreamed about the hard rain he's talked about
It's just a dream to me but I think eventually
If we don't do something now it will come true
So wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
Wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
So wake up my love
It's just a bad dream
So wake up my love, it's just a bad dream
Wake up my love, it's just a bad dream
No, wake up my love, it ain't a bad dream
Wake up my love
Wake up my love
Wake up my love
So wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
Wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
So wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
Wake up my love
Wake, wake up my love
So wake up my love
It ain't a bad dream
The song Wake Up My Love by Billie the Vision & the Dancers is a message of awakening, an urge to shake off the disillusionment and wake up from the apathy that surrounds the singer. The lyrics start with a depiction of the singer struggling to find hope in the midst of the chaos and confusion from the news. The line “Been going down some rocky roads before But I never thought we'd experience a world war” conveys the idea that even though humanity has faced difficult times in the past, the current state of the world seems unprecedented, with armed troops and a looming threat of war. This sets up the urgency of the message, as the singer encourages his lover Lily (or perhaps humanity as a whole) to wake up from the ignorance and escape the catastrophe that seems to be imminent.
The second verse then shifts to a more personal crisis as the singer reveals he has contracted HIV along with his children, and he feels persecuted by both the church (symbolized by the pope with his cane) and rejected by society. The dream of “hard rain” refers to the storm of despair and destruction that is brewing within him, his body, and the world. However, in the chorus, the singer repeats several times “It’s just a bad dream” implying that this nightmare can be faced and overcome, but only if we have the consciousness and the will to change.
The song ends with a repetition of the urgent message to “Wake up my love, it ain’t a bad dream”, confirming that the chaos is real, and it is time to take action before it is too late. The music video of the song, directed by Marc Ekbergh, reinforces the theme of waking up through a sequence of surreal dreamlike scenes where objects and people break apart, transform and reassemble, suggesting that the world may be mutable and strange, but it can also be reshaped by our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm breathing in, try to exhale
Struggling to cope with the intensity of the situation and trying to maintain a sense of calmness.
I'm trying hard to figure out what's going on
Struggling to understand what is happening in the world.
I watch the news and I shake my head
Finding it difficult to comprehend the tragedy that is unfolding on television.
Lily says: "It's insane, have you heard about the hurricane"
A friend trying to make sense of the apocalyptic events unfolding in the world.
Been going down some rocky roads before
Having faced some difficult situations in the past, but none like this.
But I never thought we'd experience a world war
Feeling the weight of the world upon their shoulders, and struggling with the reality of a global conflict.
Watch your back Lily, they're close behind
Feeling the imminent danger of violence and oppression closing in on them.
Armed troops with machine guns and hand grenades
A vivid description of the brutality and violence that is all around them.
So wake up my love
A plea to everyone to open their eyes to the reality of the situation.
Wake, wake up my love
Repeating the plea to emphasize the urgency of the situation.
It's just a bad dream
Hoping that the current events are just a nightmare, but knowing deep down that this is not the case.
The doctor said to me "You've got the HIV
A shocking revelation of a personal medical diagnosis that adds to the overwhelming despair and hopelessness of the situation.
Your sons and your daughters got the virus too"
Adding to the gravity of the situation, and emphasizing the tragedy of entire families being affected by the virus.
The pope is after us, wants to stab his cane trough me
Feeling hunted and persecuted by those in power, and experiencing a deep sense of injustice and betrayal.
"You've got it coming this is justice the way it should be"
Being told that this is all deserved punishment, and being left feeling undeserving and unworthy of help or kindness.
Jesus Christ Lily, I'm still shivering
Feeling physically and emotionally scared and unsafe.
I dreamed about the hard rain he's talked about
Having vivid nightmares about the prophesized apocalypse.
If we don't do something now it will come true
Feeling a sense of urgency to take action and prevent the end of the world from becoming a reality.
No, wake up my love, it ain't a bad dream
Acknowledging that this is not a dream, and that the situation is very much real and very much dire.
Wake up my love
A final appeal to everyone to act now, and face the harsh realities of the world.
Wake, wake up my love
Repeating the appeal, and emphasizing the need for immediate action.
So wake up my love
A final plea to open one's eyes and face the difficult truths of the world they live in.
Wake up my love
A final call to action, urging everyone to take immediate steps to address the social, economic, and political challenges of the world.
Wake, wake up my love
Repeating the call to action, imploring everyone to stand up and fight back against the world's myriad challenges.
It ain't a bad dream
Acknowledge that what is happening is not a dream, and that everyone must face it head-on in order to effect change.
Contributed by Emma S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.