The band's origin dates back to the summer of 1989 when Zak Tell and Jocke Skog met while working together at the Rosenlund Hospital somewhere in the vicinity of Stockholm. In 1990 they were joined by the Norwegian guitarists Bård Torstensen and Erlend Ottem who were also working at the same hospital. Soon the four realized their similar interests in music. Bård and Erlend previously played in a band called Theo in their hometown Arendal back in Norway. Their free time was invested in exploring the musical world, composing and writing songs while evolving into a band.
Their original demo comprising three tracks (Waste of Time, Nigger and Profit Preacher) quickly secured them local radio airplay and consequently brought them to the attention of the MVG label. "Nigger" is an anti-racism statement that caused quite a stir and was a massive success; it was also released as a single. By the beginning of the 1990s, Clawfinger self-released their debut Deaf Dumb Blind. This sold in over 600,000 copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed in Swedish press. With the addition of André Skaug and drummer Morten Skaug, Clawfinger went on tour and played at countless European festivals including major support slots with Anthrax and Alice in Chains.
The band received many awards, including two home Grammies at the Swedish Grammy Awards in 1994 for best hard rock band and best music video. After touring, they went straight back in the studio to record their second album, Use Your Brain. After the release of this album they went on yet another touring campaign, most notably participating at Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil and Chile, rocking alongside American metal counterparts like Megadeth, Faith No More, and Alice Cooper. Back in Europe they continued their touring campaign by participating at festivals and countless gigs.
Their self-titled album Clawfinger was released in 1997. The first song on the album is Two Sides, which expanded the band's reach by using female choir vocals and a Middle Eastern sound. The rest of the album continues with the band's typical aggressive voice and socio-political lyrics.
A Whole Lot of Nothing was the fourth album released on 23 July 2001. The music showcases the same aggressive guitars, with more distortion effects and sounds, adding a whole new level of diversification. As for the synthesizers, on this particular album they're more present than on any other of Clawfinger's works.
Zeros & Heroes was released in 2003 and it caused controversy in America because the song Step Aside did not sit well with most American audiences due to the fact it slams George W. Bush and the post 9/11 (and not only) military politics of the US. It offers yet another style change for the ears of the listener. The electronic sound and synthesizers from A Whole Lot of Nothing are gone and replaced by a more complex and melodic guitar riffing.
Hate Yourself With Style was released in 2005. The album continued the path entered on Zeros & Heroes and is characterized by hardrock style melodic speedy guitar riffs. The keyboards which particularly characterized A Whole Lot of Nothing have completely disappeared.
Life Will Kill You was released in 2007. It has spawned three singles: Prisoners, The Price We Pay, and Little Baby.
The band officially disbanded in 23 August 2013.
Current members:
Zak Tell — vocals
Jocke Skog — keyboards
Bard Torstensen — guitar
Henka Johansson — drums
Andre Skaug — bass
Guess I'll Never Know
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did you leave so many things undone
I only scratched the surface of the thoughts you had within
and for me your life had just begun
Why did you think that you were never good enough to give
when you accepted me right from the start
I never saw the side of you that didn't want to live
and I miss you from the bottom of my heart
what kind of thoughts were buried inside
was there really no one there you thought would understand
or was the only barrier your pride
with so much love around you I just wish you'd loved yourself
'cause no one here can ever take your place
you were someone special and my words just can't express
how much I miss the warmth of your embrace
Why did you just give in
why did you just give up and let it go
I guess I'll never know
It's hard to see you disappear without a real good bye
there's so many things I wish I'd said
But all the little things you did that made it all worthwhile
meant more than all the tears you ever shed
You always seemed so happy but I guess no one can tell
what goes on inside a persons mind
you loved your children dearly and you did your very best
and someone new like you is hard to find
Chorus
All the things you went through for your children every day
and all the sacrifices that you made
were worth much more than anything that wealth could ever buy
and now that love can never be repaid
In the end I guess you couldn't take it anymore
so you closed your eyes and swallowed all your pain
I know that you've done the same so many times before
but all the questions in my mind remain
The lyrics of the song "Guess I'll Never Know" by Clawfinger tells the story of a person who lost someone dear to them and cannot fathom why they left. The lyrics are a reflection of the singer's grief and confusion at their friend or loved one's sudden departure. The person who left is remembered for the sacrifices they made for others, but their own inner turmoil was not visible to others. The singer wonders what led the person to take such a drastic step, and why they didn't seek help. The lyrics are a poignant reminder that we must never take anyone's existence for granted, for we never know what someone's internal struggles might be.
The lyrics of Clawfinger's "Guess I'll Never Know" speak to the universality of grief and loss. Losing someone and not knowing why can be an incredibly difficult thing to face, and this song captures that emotion perfectly. The song is written in a way that is both cathartic and reflective, as the singer mourns the loss of someone they loved while also trying to come to terms with the fact that they will never fully understand why that person left. It is a reminder that even when we think we know someone well, there may be aspects of their lives or their feelings that we are not aware of.
Overall, "Guess I'll Never Know" is a moving and emotional song that resonates with anyone who has lost someone dear to them. It is a reminder to love those in our lives as deeply as we can and to never take anyone for granted, for we never know when we might lose them.
Line by Line Meaning
After all these precious years you chose to just give in
Despite all the valuable times we've shared, you surrendered without a fight
Why did you leave so many things undone
What made you depart before finishing so many things
I only scratched the surface of the thoughts you had within
I merely explored the tip of the iceberg of what was in your mind
and for me your life had just begun
Your life was just starting from my point of view
Why did you think that you were never good enough to give
Why did you feel like you weren't capable enough to provide
when you accepted me right from the start
Despite feeling inadequate, you still welcomed me into your life at the beginning
I never saw the side of you that didn't want to live
I was completely unaware of the part of you that didn't want to exist
and I miss you from the bottom of my heart
There's a deep yearning for you in the core of my heart
What was it that you never told a soul about yourself
What were the things about you that you kept hidden from everyone else
what kind of thoughts were buried inside
What were the specific thoughts that were kept hidden within you
was there really no one there you thought would understand
Did you truly believe there wasn't anyone capable of comprehending your situation
or was the only barrier your pride
Perhaps your ego was the sole obstacle in seeking help
with so much love around you I just wish you'd loved yourself
There was an abundance of love surrounding you, yet I wish you had given yourself that same love
'cause no one here can ever take your place
Your unique presence cannot be replaced by anyone else
you were someone special and my words just can't express
You were a remarkable individual whose worth cannot be put into words
how much I miss the warmth of your embrace
I long for the feeling of your warm embrace
Why did you just give in
What led you to surrender so quickly
why did you just give up and let it go
What made you give up and relinquish control
I guess I'll never know
I accept that I may never find the answer
It's hard to see you disappear without a real good bye
It's difficult to cope with your sudden absence without a proper farewell
there's so many things I wish I'd said
I regret not expressing a multitude of things to you
But all the little things you did that made it all worthwhile
The small actions you took that brought so much value to our lives
meant more than all the tears you ever shed
The things you did were more meaningful than the display of your emotions
You always seemed so happy but I guess no one can tell
Despite appearing content, it's impossible to know what someone is truly feeling
what goes on inside a persons mind
The inner workings within an individual's mind
you loved your children dearly and you did your very best
You held an immense love for your kids and tried your hardest to provide for them
and someone new like you is hard to find
There are very few people like you out there
All the things you went through for your children every day
The daily struggles you faced as you put your children first
and all the sacrifices that you made
The things you gave up for the sake of your family
were worth much more than anything that wealth could ever buy
The experiences you had as a family were more valuable than any monetary wealth
and now that love can never be repaid
The love you gave can never be reciprocated in the same way
In the end I guess you couldn't take it anymore
Ultimately, it appears you were unable to bear it any longer
so you closed your eyes and swallowed all your pain
You chose to end your suffering by shutting your eyes and enduring the pain
I know that you've done the same so many times before
I am aware that this is not the first time you have felt this way
but all the questions in my mind remain
Despite having some understanding, there are still many unanswered questions in my mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARD SVERRE TORSTENSEN, ERLEND OTTEM, JOCKE SKOG, ZAK NIKOLAS TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind