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
Hold Your Head Up
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dig your own grave what's done is done
What's in your head what's on your mind
Time will tell don't look behind
What I keep inside my head is stuck right on my mind
And time will tell if I should look behind
Hold your head up, hold your head up high
Hold your head up, hold your head up high
Hold your head up, put up or shut up
Two steps forward and one step back
The time will come when you lose track
Speak your mind or sell your soul
Stand tall or fall down in a hole
I've got to speak my mind before I sell my soul
I've got to stand for what I am before I fall
[Chorus]
It's to late I guess what's done is done
I'd rather dig myself a grave than bite my tongue
So I take two steps forward and then one step back
I'm not afraid of losing faith I'm scared of losing track
[Chorus]
The lyrics of the song Hold Your Head Up by Clawfinger are centered around the themes of self-affirmation and standing up for oneself. The opening lines, "Burn your bridges, bite your tongue, dig your own grave what's done is done" seem to urge the listener to sever ties with past experiences that have been negative and to take responsibility for their past mistakes. The next lines "what's in your head, what's on your mind, time will tell don't look behind" suggest that one should focus on the present and let go of past regrets.
The verses of the song emphasize the importance of speaking one's mind and not compromising on one's beliefs. The lines, "speak your mind or sell your soul, stand tall or fall down in a hole" suggest the dilemma of either speaking one's truth or compromising on one's values. The chorus is a repeated call to action to hold one's head up high which is a metaphor for maintaining self-confidence, even in the face of adversity.
The song closes with the lines, "It's too late I guess what's done is done, I'd rather dig myself a grave than bite my tongue, so I take two steps forward and then one step back, I'm not afraid of losing faith I'm scared of losing track". These lines capture the urgency of living life on one's own terms, even if it means making mistakes along the way.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to not let fear or past mistakes hold them back from pursuing their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn your bridges, bite your tongue
Sever all your ties to your past and keep your opinions to yourself
Dig your own grave what's done is done
Accept the consequences of your actions and don't dwell on the past
What's in your head what's on your mind
What you're thinking and feeling inside
Time will tell don't look behind
The future holds the answers, don't dwell on the past
What I keep inside my head is stuck right on my mind
My inner thoughts and feelings are consuming me
And time will tell if I should look behind
Only time will reveal if reflecting on the past is necessary
Hold your head up, hold your head up high
Stay strong, be proud of who you are
Hold your head up, put up or shut up
Be confident in yourself and stand up for what you believe in
Two steps forward and one step back
Making progress in life is often slow and steady
The time will come when you lose track
It's easy to become lost or uncertain in life
Speak your mind or sell your soul
Express your true thoughts and feelings or compromise yourself for others
Stand tall or fall down in a hole
Be confident in yourself or risk failure
It's too late I guess what's done is done
The past cannot be changed, so accept it and move forward
I'd rather dig myself a grave than bite my tongue
I would rather face the consequences of speaking my mind than keep quiet
So I take two steps forward and then one step back
Slow and steady progress often involves setbacks
I'm not afraid of losing faith I'm scared of losing track
I'm not worried about my beliefs changing, I'm afraid of losing my direction in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARD SVERRE TORSTENSEN, ERLEND OTTEM, JOCKE SKOG, ZAK NIKOLAS TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind