His father was an engineer and his mother was a housewife. His only sibling is his brother Bengt (b. 1952) who is a music teacher. He came into contact with music from a very young age, because his mother and her side of the family were largely into music. In 1970, Afzelius formed the progg group Hoola Bandoola Band together with Mikael Wiehe. Wiehe and Afzelius became very close friends and worked together long after Hoola Bandoola had dissolved in 1975.
Afzelius released his first solo album in 1974, his last one in 1999. Some of his most popular songs are "Ikaros", "Tusen bitar" (Thousand pieces - which was originally recorded by Danish Anne Linnet as "Tusind Stykker"), "Sång till friheten" (Song for Freedom - which was originally recorded by Cuban Silvio Rodríguez as "El Día Feliz Que Está Ilegando"), "Kungens man" (The king's man), "Tankar i Havanna" (Thoughts in Havanna) and "Till min kära" (For my dear). He died from lung cancer in 1999, 52 years old, but he remains one of the most beloved artists in Scandinavia.
He wrote about 150 songs and sold over two and a half million albums.
Exil
Björn Afzelius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jag vet inte vad jag gjort!
Dom andra tycker att jag är modig,
Men han säger jag är ett hot.
Mamma, läraren har blitt galen;
Han säjer jag är ett spån!
Jag är klokast i hela salen,
Du måste hjälpa mej härifrån!
Jag går i exil!
Mamma, tro inte på polisen;
Det var inte jag som stal!
Mamma, hör inte på den grisen,
Han sparkar ditt eget barn!
Mamma, säg inte nåt till pappa;
Du vet att han ger mej stryk!
Om du säjer nåt skall jag schappa,
Om du säjer nåt skall jag fly!
Jag går i exil! Jag går i exil!
Mamma, säg att jag är din älskling.
Mamma, säg att jag är ditt barn.
Mamma, säg att jag gör dej lycklig.
Mamma, säg att jag gör dej glad.
Varför känner jag ingen kärlek?
Varför känner jag bara hat?
Varför ger du mej ingen närhet?
Varför ger du mej bara mat?
Jag går i exil!
Mamma, bli inte så besviken;
Jag lovar att vara snäll!
Mamma, jag hatar dej när du skriker;
Jag stannar hos dej i kväll!
Mamma, gå inte in i döden,
Du kan väl stanna här lite till!
Det är inte samvetskval jag behöver,
Mamma, svik inte en gång till!
Jag går i exil! Jag går i exil!
In Björn Afzelius's song Exil, the lyrics depict a young child who is experiencing abuse from both a teacher and their father. The child pleads with their mother to help them escape the situation they are in, as they feel helpless and alone. The child has been accused of being a "threat" by their teacher, despite believing that they are the smartest in the classroom. The lyrics suggest that the child has been wrongly accused and wants their mother to believe them, but also to protect them from their violent father.
The emotional turmoil of the child is evident throughout the song, with the repeated phrase "Jag går i exil!" (I'm going into exile!) indicating the child's desperation to escape their current situation. The child's feelings of isolation are highlighted with the line, "Varför känner jag ingen kärlek?" (Why do I feel no love?), which suggests that the child feels unloved and unsupported by their family.
Line by Line Meaning
Mamma, läraren slår mej blodig;
I am being physically abused by my teacher and I am unaware of the reason behind it.
Jag vet inte vad jag gjort!
I am clueless about why I am being beaten up and punished by the teacher.
Dom andra tycker att jag är modig,
Others around me view me as brave and courageous, despite my current situation.
Men han säger jag är ett hot.
However, my teacher sees me as a threat to his authority and control in the classroom.
Mamma, läraren har blitt galen;
My teacher has gone insane and is treating me unfairly and unjustly.
Han säjer jag är ett spån!
He calls me a crackpot or a crazy person.
Jag är klokast i hela salen,
Despite his accusations against me, I am actually the smartest person in the whole class.
Du måste hjälpa mej härifrån!
I need your help to get out of this situation and to safety.
Jag går i exil!
I am running away into exile to escape the abuse and mistreatment from my teacher and the environment.
Mamma, tro inte på polisen;
Please do not believe the police if they accuse me of stealing something because I am innocent.
Det var inte jag som stal!
I did not commit any theft but I am afraid of the authorities falsely accusing me.
Mamma, hör inte på den grisen,
Do not listen to that pig (possibly referring to an abusive authority figure) who is hurting your own child.
Han sparkar ditt eget barn!
He is physically abusing and hurting your own flesh and blood, your own child.
Mamma, säg inte nåt till pappa;
Please do not tell dad about the situation because he will hurt me more.
Du vet att han ger mej stryk!
You know very well that he beats and physically abuses me.
Om du säjer nåt skall jag schappa,
I will run away and escape if you tell anyone else about my ordeal.
Om du säjer nåt skall jag fly!
I will flee from this environment and run away from home if I feel threatened or unsafe.
Mamma, säg att jag är din älskling.
Please tell me that I am your darling child and that you love me unconditionally.
Mamma, säg att jag är ditt barn.
Confirm for me that I am truly your biological child.
Mamma, säg att jag gör dej lycklig.
Tell me that I bring happiness to your life and that you are proud of me despite my current situation.
Mamma, säg att jag gör dej glad.
Assure me that I never fail to put a smile on your face and that you treasure me as your child.
Varför känner jag ingen kärlek?
Why do I not feel any love or affection from anyone around me?
Varför känner jag bara hat?
Why do I only feel hatred and animosity in my surroundings?
Varför ger du mej ingen närhet?
Why do you not give me any closeness or emotional intimacy that I require as a child?
Varför ger du mej bara mat?
Why only provide me with food and not any emotional support or love I need to grow up healthy and happy?
Mamma, bli inte så besviken;
Please do not get disappointed with me despite my difficulties and hardships.
Jag lovar att vara snäll!
I promise to be good and obedient if you support me in my time of need.
Mamma, jag hatar dej när du skriker;
I hate it when you scream and shout because it affects me emotionally and hurts our relationship.
Jag stannar hos dej i kväll!
I will stay with you tonight despite our issues and conflicts.
Mamma, gå inte in i döden,
Please do not give up on life or yourself and take any drastic actions like suicide.
Du kan väl stanna här lite till!
Stay with me and show me the care and love that I desperately need to recover from my emotional wounds.
Det är inte samvetskval jag behöver,
I do not need any more guilt or blame from anyone that fuels my pain and suffering.
Mamma, svik inte en gång till!
Please do not betray my trust again and give me the support and love that I deserve as your child.
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.