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
Prisoners
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the faith you need so you can proceed and build a sane solution
is it the truth, is there any proof to back up the things you believe in,
or is it a dream to make it seem like a goal that you're achieving
Chorus:
We are the prisoners,
of the system we create
stuck inside the space we made
to escape
What can you do to make it through the mindtricks you're producing
learn to live with the faith you lack, the hope that you're reducing,
you can be cruel and ridicule the current situation,
but what will it take for you to break the self humiliation?
Chorus:
We are the prisoners,
of the system we create
We are the prisoners,
stuck inside the space we made
to escape
We're stuck in a rut,
we keep on mixing things up and we can't tell what's fiction from fact,
the more we all try to live up to the illusion
the more we all fall through the cracks.
Chorus:
We are the prisoners,
of the system we create
We are the prisoners,
stuck inside the space we made
to escape
The lyrics of Clawfinger's "Prisoners" suggest that our perceptions of reality are shaped by our thoughts and beliefs, and we are trapped in a system of our own making. The opening lines assert that the thoughts we have build our world illusion and the faith we need to proceed and build a sane solution is something we create. The lyrics question the truth and ask for proof that backs up our beliefs, or are these beliefs just a dream that makes it seem like we're achieving a goal? The chorus declares that we are prisoners of the system we create and we are stuck inside the space we made to escape.
The second verse suggests that we are responsible for the mind tricks we produce and that we have to learn to live with the faith we lack and the hope we're reducing. We can be cruel and ridicule the current situation, but it asks what it will take for us to break the self-humiliation. We are stuck in a rut by mixing things up, and we can't tell what's fiction from fact - the more we try to live up to the illusion, the more likely we'll fall through the cracks.
Overall, the song seems to suggest that we are trapped by our thoughts and beliefs, which create the illusion of the world we perceive. The system, in this case, is a creation of our own making, and the prison is the space we create to escape. The song urges listeners to question their beliefs and perceptions and learn to live with the faith and hope they lack, rather than falling into the trap of self-humiliation.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all in your head the thoughts you have that build your world illusion,
The way you view the world is shaped by your thoughts, which can be deceptive and make things appear different from reality.
the faith you need so you can proceed and build a sane solution
To make progress towards a viable solution, it is necessary to have faith in your abilities and trust in the process.
is it the truth, is there any proof to back up the things you believe in,
Question the validity of your beliefs and search for supporting evidence to avoid being misled by unfounded claims.
or is it a dream to make it seem like a goal that you're achieving
You may be chasing a lofty dream that appears to be a goal, but is actually unattainable and impractical.
We are the prisoners,
We find ourselves trapped within the confines of our own creation.
of the system we create
Our own subjectivity and flawed thinking patterns form a metaphorical prison in which we are confined.
stuck inside the space we made
We are confined to a limited reality that we have generated for ourselves.
to escape
The only way to break free is to recognize and overcome the limiting beliefs that have held us back.
What can you do to make it through the mindtricks you're producing
Find ways to counteract the mental tricks that you play on yourself to stay focused and positive.
learn to live with the faith you lack, the hope that you're reducing,
Cultivate the mindset of optimism, even when there seems to be little to hope for, to build resilience and perseverance.
you can be cruel and ridicule the current situation,
It's easy to fall into the trap of cynicism and despair in the face of difficulty, but such an attitude only deepens the sense of entrapment.
but what will it take for you to break the self humiliation?
In order to overcome feelings of shame and self-doubt, we need to confront and challenge the negative self-talk that perpetuates them.
We're stuck in a rut,
We're mired in a state of stagnation and complacency, unable to make meaningful progress.
we keep on mixing things up and we can't tell what's fiction from fact,
Confusion and uncertainty leave us unable to distinguish what is real from what is imaginary, perpetuating the sense of being stuck.
the more we all try to live up to the illusion
We expend energy and effort trying to meet unrealistic expectations, which only increases the sense of frustration and confinement we feel.
the more we all fall through the cracks.
The harder we try to escape, the further we feel we fall, creating a vicious cycle of perceived failure and entrapment.
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andrewlogan3265
these guys never changed much but that unique sound never gets old
@protey117
Keep it up, CLAWFINGER! 🤩🥰😎🤟
@joepalladino9257
I just now discovered this band and I am now a huge fan
@przebieglabrukiew
Zak Tell's facial expression always makes me laugh :)
@Tekkykek
agreed, i love how unique they are, its the main reason i enjoy their music.
@Zeratchi
Great music + video + low-budget + zoom = clawfinger ^^ But I feel that their low-brand style of music-video, is their own. And amazing lyrics.
@SkrebMasters
I love this song to death. I also love the little touches in the video when they stutter the band members during the riffs. Awesome band. Awesome song.
@yoyuepz
There's a lot of truth in this song...
@abakumow
great song, great band \m/
@borguteklatpif7537
Love those guys !
Awesome lyrics.