The band is fronted by singer/composer Gustav Ejstes, who writes all music and plays the majority of instruments on the band's records. Despite this, Dungen plays live as a four-piece. Gustav, who in his teens started his songwriting with hip hop, is backed live by Swedish progressive rock veteran Reine Fiske (Landberk, Morte Macabre, Paatos, The Guild) on guitar, bassist Mattias Gustavsson (Life On Earth!), and drummer Fredrik Björling (The Guild)-- all of whom have played parts on Dungen's studio albums.
Following two vinyl album releases on Swedish record label Subliminal Sounds, Dungen briefly signed to Dolores Recordings (a subset of Virgin Records) in 2002, on which they released the CD Stadsvandringar and three singles, including one for Djungelboken 2 (the Swedish version of The Jungle Book 2). Gustav soon returned to his friend's independent record label Subliminal Sounds, stating that a major label did not feel right because Dungen is not a pop act.
Although Dungen's songs are sung entirely in Swedish, 2004's Ta Det Lugnt received great acclaim within indie rock circles and established the band's international reputation. This resulted in the band headlining two US tours and landing distribution deals in the US and UK. Dungen also performed their song "Panda" on the popular NBC television talk show Late Night With Conan O'Brien. In 2006, Dungen played at the famous Bonnaroo music festival and has also toured with Wolfmother and the Tucker B's around Australia.
Dungen released their third studio album, Tio Bitar on April 25, 2007 but did not tour in support of it.
The group's next long-player, entitled 4 was released on the 30th of september 2008.
In 2010 Dungen released their fifth studio album, Skit i allt.
Gjort bort sig
Dungen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
och ringde upp en kompis som var äldre och som visste hur det var
Han sa: Det finns så mycket man kan göra här i livet om man vill,
men det är lika lätt att missa festen om man bara sitter still
Man kan inte göra bort sig
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Kan du inte se dig själv
Om sommarens två månader då fåglar kräks är alla fåren blå
Om gamla favoriter läggs i blöt då smakar skörden bara tvål
Ge mig hellre mera liv
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Kan du inte se dig själv
spelar vi nog ingen roll
Om färgen på din mössa pekar finger åt nånting så är det svårt
Och läser man en tidning får man för sig att dom vet vad som står på
Men när drivorna av döda flugor ligger i ett fönster på din vind
då verkar det som om allt finns men inte riktigt vågar va ändå
[Och så] [...] har du gjort bort dig
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Kan du inte se dig själv
spelar jag nog ingen roll
Ge mig hellre mera liv
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Kan du inte se dig själv
spelar jag nog ingen roll
The song "Gjort bort sig" by Dungen is a reflection on the monotony and ennui of everyday life, and the fear of missing out on the excitement and possibilities that surround us. The lyrics begin with the singer stopping on his way to work and calling up an older friend who understands the struggle of feeling stuck in a rut. The friend reminds him that there is so much to do in life, and that it's easy to miss out if you don't take chances and try new things.
The chorus of the song is a repeating refrain: "Man kan inte göra bort sig / Få kan ha roligt som vi / Kan du inte se dig själv / spelar jag nog ingen roll" (You can't embarrass yourself / Few can have fun like us / If you can't see yourself / I don't really matter). This sentiment is both encouraging and a little nihilistic; it suggests that the only way to truly enjoy life is to let go of your fears and inhibitions, but also implies that the opinions of others don't matter as long as you're having a good time.
The later verses of the song continue the theme of the unpredictability and strangeness of the world around us. The singer muses on the oddities of summer (when even the sheep turn blue), the futility of trying to recapture past glories, and the way that news and information can be both enlightening and deceiving. The final lines of the song are a repetition of the chorus, with the addition of the line "Och så har du gjort bort dig" (And then you've embarrassed yourself), perhaps a reminder that taking risks and being bold can also have consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Jag stannade på vägen till mitt arbete jag gick till varje dag
I stopped on the way to my everyday job and routine
och ringde upp en kompis som var äldre och som visste hur det var
I called an older friend who knew what it was like
Han sa: Det finns så mycket man kan göra här i livet om man vill,
He said: There's so much you can do in life if you want to,
men det är lika lätt att missa festen om man bara sitter still
but it's just as easy to miss the party if you just sit still
Man kan inte göra bort sig
You can't embarrass yourself
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Few can have as much fun as us
Kan du inte se dig själv
Can't you see yourself
spelar jag nog ingen roll
it doesn't matter to me
Om sommarens två månader då fåglar kräks är alla fåren blå
If during the two summer months when birds vomit, all sheep turn blue
Om gamla favoriter läggs i blöt då smakar skörden bara tvål
If old favorites are soaked, then the harvest only tastes like soap
Ge mig hellre mera liv
Give me more life instead
Om färgen på din mössa pekar finger åt nånting så är det svårt
If the color on your hat points fingers at something it's difficult
Och läser man en tidning får man för sig att dom vet vad som står på
And if you read a newspaper, you get the impression that they know what's going on
Men när drivorna av döda flugor ligger i ett fönster på din vind
But when piles of dead flies lay in a window on your attic
då verkar det som om allt finns men inte riktigt vågar va ändå
Then it seems like everything exists but doesn't quite dare to be themselves
[Och så] [...] har du gjort bort dig
And then you embarrass yourself
Kan du inte se dig själv
Can't you see yourself
spelar jag nog ingen roll
it doesn't matter to me
Ge mig hellre mera liv
Give me more life instead
Få kan ha roligt som vi
Few can have as much fun as us
Kan du inte se dig själv
Can't you see yourself
spelar jag nog ingen roll
it doesn't matter to me
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@karl-emilvik5591
The thing with this album that I absolutely love is the jazzy/folky breakdowns toward the end or in the middle of most of the songs. Without them, it would have been a great psychrock album, easily able to revive the psychrock scene on its own, but with these excursions they take, with unorthodox instruments and melodic changes, sets the album as a whole just above its competitors.
@GoatDust
Agreed. Nice contrast.
@Bobby21Bobby21Bobby
Well said man
@kakabukkake0
wow I was listening to this album like crazy in autumn 2004. Jesus christ
@bobbygnosis
It's not that I'm freaking out. It's just that my mind is expanding in ways I'm not able to explain.
@thobrik
perfect psychrock
@problemchild01
This sent me into sonic bliss
@GoatDust
I love this song... blast it in my car delivering pizza pies
@rossturcotte419
🌱
@GlitcHead
@bobbygnosis you are the bee's knees, my friend