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
Where Can We Go from Here?
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New times call for new measures
New dreams come with new let downs
Lost games come with new rebounds
New love comes with new losses
New faith comes with new crosses
New cash comes with new winnings
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
New signs come with new warnings
New walls come with new morning
New laws come with new leaders
New lies come with new decievers
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where do we go from here (4x)
It's a part of the game part of the gamble
We go we left this handles
Screw you're hand with you're lucky strokes
And the loosing street coming up with stakes
Can you reach the P
Speak you're mouth co's we are sure what everybodys gonna do
What a dirty work for you
The winning to winning or you choose to loose
When you wanna be just a days news
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Where can we go from here?
Where the fuck can we go from here?
Clawfinger's song Where Can We Go from Here? is a contemplative and introspective take on life's uncertainties, the inevitability of change and the need for adapting to new circumstances. The lyrics suggest that new experiences are characterized by both positive and negative outcomes. For example, new dreams may come with new letdowns, and new love may come with new losses. The refrain of "where can we go from here?" emphasizes the confusion that often comes with change and the need for direction.
The song highlights the unpredictable nature of life, where new signs come with new warnings, new walls come with new mornings, new laws come with new leaders, and new lies come with new deceivers. The lyrics suggest that life is a gamble, where sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, and adapting to these changes is necessary for moving forward.
Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that we must find our own way in the face of new challenges and circumstances. Where Can We Go from Here? asks the question that is on everyone's mind when faced with the unknown: where do we go from here?
Line by Line Meaning
New crimes come with new treasures
In a world where everything changes, new negative actions will bring about new benefits that are undeserved
New times call for new measures
When the era changes, people must find new solutions to the problems they face
New dreams come with new let downs
As people pursue new aspirations, they will inevitably face new disappointments
Lost games come with new rebounds
When people lose something they cherish, they may unexpectedly receive something else valuable in return
New love comes with new losses
When people seek new relationships, they must accept that they may also experience new heartache
New faith comes with new crosses
When people have new beliefs, they will also encounter new trials and tribulations
New cash comes with new winnings
In a world where money is king, new victories can bring new wealth, but also new problems
New life comes with new beginnings
Whenever a fresh start is taken, there will be new opportunities, but also new obstacles
New signs come with new warnings
As new developments arise, people must heed new signals to avoid danger
New walls come with new morning
As new structures are built, they will alter the landscape and create new boundaries
New laws come with new leaders
As new authorities take power, they will create new regulations to enforce their vision
New lies come with new decievers
As new people deceive, they will create new falsehoods that must be confronted
It's a part of the game part of the gamble
Life is a complex and unpredictable game, and every action involves risk
We go we left this handles
We must let go of the things we cannot control and move forward
Screw you're hand with you're lucky strokes
Seize the opportunities that come your way, but remember that not everything is in your hands
And the loosing street coming up with stakes
When things seem to be going badly, one must take courageous risks to turn things around
Can you reach the P
Do you have what it takes to achieve your goals?
Speak you're mouth co's we are sure what everybodys gonna do
Speak your mind, because no one can predict how others will act
What a dirty work for you
Life can be tough and unfair, but we must work hard to overcome obstacles
The winning to winning or you choose to loose
In life, we must choose whether we want to win or lose
When you wanna be just a days news
If we don't take action, we will fade away and be forgotten like yesterday's news
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.