One of the most worn out sayings in the history of music is the concept of … Read Full Bio ↴One of the most worn out sayings in the history of music is the concept of «the difficult second album». Especially when you have made a grand debut, like Daniel Kvammen made with «Fremad i alle retninga» in 2015. The album was nominated to three Norwegian Grammys, the single «Du fortenar ein som meg» was one of the most played songs on the radio channel NRK P3, and Kvammen’s journey from the ski lift at Geilo to glossy magazine pages and big TV appearances quickly became a genuine, modern music fairytale.

But when you start playing «Vektlaus» it’s soon evident that Kvammen is an artist who enjoys having a knife to his throat. With the help of famous musicians and his producer Even Ormestad, the man from Geilo has carved out an astoundingly vital album that bubbles with melodies, big emotions and a reckless delight in conveying music.

The sound is a lot more synth-driven and modern than on the debut album, but thematically, Kvammen’s lyrics on «Vektlaus» are centered around the eternal topic. Love, and specifically the loss of it, permeates the nine songs that constitute the record. With a commendable openness, the different stages of a breakup is portrayed, and our thoughts go to classic breakup albums like Springsteen’s «Tunnel Of Love» and Dylan’s «Blood On The Tracks».

But there’s light even in the deepest darkness, and in the album’s epic final song, «Det beste ventar fortsatt», Daniel rises from the ashes and the chaos, and establishes that:

Universet det er stort
Og me er så små me to
Men har du tenkt på kor befriande det er at det er uendeleg
Og av alt ditt auge ser
Så er lyset det sterkaste som er

Ingen Vega Utanom
Daniel Kvammen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eg og du me har blitt vaksne ilag
Kava lenge på i ein gudsforlatt dal
Og eg var der då du sto på kanten i Vietnam
Og eg var der då du mista han far

for når det raknar for deg
Så let eg det rakne eg med

Hugsar du den gongen eg raserte stugu di?
Drita full og høg på sjalusi
Eg hugsa korleis du ikkje sa eit ord
Eg hugsa berre kor jævlig hardt du slo

Og om det raknar for meg
Så let du det rakne du med

Og her ein dagen såg eg at du hadde blitt ein mann
Ein som ikkje berre vil, men ein som også kan
Og då tenkte eg på meg og deg
Og alt me skulle brenne ned

For når det raknar for meg
Så let du det rakne du med

Overall Meaning

The song "Ingen Vega Utenom" by Daniel Kvammen is a powerful ballad about the bond between two friends. The opening lines, "Eg og du me har blitt vaksne ilag / Kava lenge på i ein gudsforlatt dal," reveal that these two friends have grown up together, spending a long time in a desolate valley. The next verses reveal that they have been through some difficult times, such as when one of them stood on the edge of a cliff in Vietnam and when the other lost their father. The chorus has a strong message of loyalty and support through tough times, with the lines "for når det raknar for deg / Så let eg det rakne eg med" meaning "when things fall apart for you, I'll fall apart with you."

The second half of the song reflects on a particular incident in their friendship, when one of them got drunk and destroyed the other's house out of jealousy. The verse "Eg hugsa korleis du ikkje sa eit ord / Eg hugsa berre kor jævlig hardt du slo" paints a picture of a heated confrontation that resulted in physical violence. However, the chorus is repeated with the important addition of "og om det raknar for meg / Så let du det rakne du med" which means "when things fall apart for me, I'll fall apart with you." This shows the equal nature of their friendship, that they are willing to support each other through thick and thin.

Line by Line Meaning

Eg og du me har blitt vaksne ilag
You and I have grown up together

Kava lenge på i ein gudsforlatt dal
We spent a long time in a godforsaken valley

Og eg var der då du sto på kanten i Vietnam
I was there when you stood on the edge in Vietnam

Og eg var der då du mista han far
I was there when you lost your father

for når det raknar for deg
When things fall apart for you

Så let eg det rakne eg med
I'll let it fall apart with you

Hugsar du den gongen eg raserte stugu di?
Do you remember when I destroyed your house?

Drita full og høg på sjalusi
Drunk and high on jealousy

Eg hugsa korleis du ikkje sa eit ord
I remember how you didn't say a word

Eg hugsa berre kor jævlig hardt du slo
I only remember how hard you hit me

Og om det raknar for meg
And if things fall apart for me