David & The Citiz… Read Full Bio ↴David & The Citizens is a band from Malmö, Sweden.
David & The Citizens were:
David Fridlund - Vocals, electric guitar
Conny Fridh - Bass, backing vocals
Magnus Bjerkert - Trumpet, organ, piano, guitar
John Bjerkert - Drums, backing vocals
They released their third full-length "Stop The Tape! Stop The Tape!" in August 2006. In February, 2007, on the cusp of a major tour and their first US appearances, all the members of the band (except Fridlund) quit.
There have been rumours that D&TC are finished. However, in his blog, David claims that these are false.
On the 17 December 2007 David & the Citizens released an EP called "I Saw My Reflection And I Didn't Recognize Myself" with four new songs. The EP is free for downloading at the web page and some pictures and the lyrics are included. The listeners have the option to pay for the EP if they are willing to and instructions are included in the EP. David also assures that the band still exists and "will be around till the day I decide to quit. And that day is yet to come."
Betina
David & The Citizens Lyrics
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It seems somehow the sunlight doesn't move the way it ought to, my love, what are you thinking?
You draw a line that doesn't fit you write a word that doesn't quite seem to describe the things it should
And what can I say when I look around I see nothing sometimes
And maybe I've been building me a fence cause nothing's gonna get to me again
Betina if I'd only known the things there were to see but I couldn't see the forest for the trees
And you're just a girl but when you smile it seems to me you've seen it all
Like nothing anyone could say or do would even slightly surprise you
I think maybe they're building us a place which nobody will get out from again
Betina if I'd only known the things there were to see but I couldn't see the forest for the trees
We should have smashed your father's house and hung him out in the papers
We should have gone there with a bat to teach that bastard a lesson or two
But some things you do in song are sad and thrown away betina betina
Betina do I need to tell you how often I've been thinking of you
Every time I see a face like yours it brings your memory back to life
Of things to fear and things to love I'll never know what you were thinking of
But some witnesses have said it's the most pretty place they've been
And that is some kind of comfort I guess
And maybe I've been building me a fence cause nothing's gonna get to me again
Betina if I'd only known the things there were to see but I couldn't see the forest for the trees
We should have smashed your father's house and hung him out in the papers
We should have gone there with a bat to teach that bastard a lesson or two
But some things you do in song are sad and thrown away betina how I wish you could have stayed
The lyrics to David & The Citizens's song "Betina" are a mixture of emotions that revolve around past memories and their impact on the present. The opening lines establish the singer's sense of disorientation and confusion in the world, with "some kind of changes in the structure" making everything seem off-kilter. They express concern about their partner's thoughts and feelings, while also noticing an inability to communicate effectively with words that don't quite seem to describe their intended meaning.
The chorus brings up the name "Betina," who may have been a former lover or friend. The singer regrets not being able to fully comprehend or appreciate all the things Betina had to offer, hence the mention of "couldn't see the forest for the trees." The song then shifts into darker territory with the suggestion of violent retaliation against someone referred to as "your father," and a lament that such impulses have to be confined to song rather than taken seriously. The final verse offers a glimmer of solace in the idea that some people have found beauty in the same place that may have been significant to Betina.
Overall, the song seems to be about the difficulty of reconciling the past with the present, and the ways in which emotional scars can linger long after the people or events responsible have faded away. It's a complex and poignant meditation on memory, regret, and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately there has been some kind of changes in the structure
There have been significant changes in the world around us.
It seems somehow the sunlight doesn't move the way it ought to, my love, what are you thinking?
The world seems off-kilter and things aren't working the way that they're supposed to.
You draw a line that doesn't fit you write a word that doesn't quite seem to describe the things it should
The world is not following the rules that we expect it to, and nothing seems to make sense anymore.
And what can I say when I look around I see nothing sometimes
There are times when we can be surrounded by people and things, but feel completely alone and disconnected.
And maybe I've been building me a fence cause nothing's gonna get to me again
To protect ourselves from the strangeness of the world, we sometimes build barriers to keep things out.
Betina if I'd only known the things there were to see but I couldn't see the forest for the trees
It's easy to miss the big picture when we're too focused on the details.
And you're just a girl but when you smile it seems to me you've seen it all
Despite her young age, Betina seems to have an unshakeable wisdom and understanding of the world.
Like nothing anyone could say or do would even slightly surprise you
Betina has seen enough to be unshockable by anything anyone could say or do.
And where did that come from?
The artist is surprised and curious about Betina's depth of understanding.
I think maybe they're building us a place which nobody will get out from again
There are forces in the world that are building structures to control and trap us.
We should have smashed your father's house and hung him out in the papers
The singer is expressing anger at Betina's father and the injustice that he represents.
But some things you do in song are sad and thrown away betina betina
Although it's tempting to take violent action, sometimes the only thing we can do is express our feelings through art.
Betina do I need to tell you how often I've been thinking of you
The singer is clearly preoccupied with thoughts of Betina.
Of things to fear and things to love I'll never know what you were thinking of
Despite Betina's wise demeanor, the singer recognizes that there are things about her he'll never understand.
But some witnesses have said it's the most pretty place they've been
Although the world can be cruel and nonsensical, there are still beautiful things to be found in it.
And that is some kind of comfort I guess
The beauty in the world provides some comfort in the face of all the darkness and confusion.
Betina if I'd only known the things there were to see but I couldn't see the forest for the trees
The artist is still grappling with the idea that there is more to the world than he's been able to see so far.
We should have gone there with a bat to teach that bastard a lesson or two
The frustration and anger at the injustice of the world is still simmering under the surface.
Betina how I wish you could have stayed
The singer wishes that Betina could have stuck around to provide some wisdom and comfort during this difficult time.
Contributed by Dominic R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.