Ebba Grön was a Swedish punk/rock band. The band was formed in 1977 by Joak… Read Full Bio ↴Ebba Grön was a Swedish punk/rock band. The band was formed in 1977 by Joakim Thåström (Pimme), Gunnar Ljungstedt (Gurra) and Lennart Eriksson (Fjodor), all from Rågsved, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. Their debut album, We're Only in it for the Drugs, was released in 1978. After their second album Kärlek & Uppror ("Love & Revolt") in 1981, Anders Sjöholm (Stry Terrarie - Kriminella Gitarrer, Garbochock, Besökarna, Stry & Stripparna) joined them. Their third album, released in 1982 and simply named Ebba Grön, also became their last; the band never recovered after Fjodor went to jail for four months for refusing to do military service, and the group disbanded in 1983. The three remaining members went on to form the group Rymdimperiet, which soon became the influential rock band Imperiet.

"Ebba Grön" was a code name the Swedish police used in an operation against a terrorist group (a part of the German Red Army Faction), planning to kidnap the Minister for Immigration, Anna-Greta Leijon, in 1976.

Their probably most famous and most played song is Staten och Kapitalet ("The State and the Capital", roughly translated) and is a song purely and very directly critical towards the Swedish politics and politicians of the time, or maybe unjust politicians in general. The song is actually a cover of Blå Tåget's Den ena handen vet vad den andra gör ("The one hand knows what the other hand is doing").

Many of their songs take up political issues or themes, but their main message doesn't seem to be overtly political. As they state in Tyna Bort ("Perish", or "Fade Away") they think music should be for your mental health and nothing else. They also seem to have been very much for living 'punk', as in caring about your freedom most, that money doesn't give happiness, young, careless and rebellious is right, and so on.

Beväpna er
Ebba Grön Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ja ja, ja hatar hela borgligheten
Ja ja, ja hatar hela kungahuset

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss

Ja ja, ja svär utifrån mitt hjärta
Att vi från förorterna ska beväpna oss

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss

Ja ja, ja hatar Prins Bertil & Carl Gustav
Ja ja, ja hatar Sara Leander

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss

Ja, dom tål lite bly i nackarna
Ja, dom tål lite bly i nackarna

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Beväpna Er" by Ebba Grön express a deep hatred and anger towards the upper class, bourgeoisie society, and the royal family. The singer vents out his frustration towards his socioeconomic condition and his feelings of being oppressed by those in power. The lyrics find resonance among the working-class youth who are disillusioned with the system and can relate to the desire to arm themselves.

The repeated use of "ja ja" and "ja vi", which means "yes, yes" and "yes, we", respectively, adds an element of unity and solidarity among the oppressed. By emphasizing the collective action of arming themselves, they show a desire to stand together and resist the forces that keep them down.

The reference to "Prins Bertil & Carl Gustav" and "Sara Leander" reflects the singer's frustration towards notable figures in society. The use of violent imagery in the lyrics, such as "they can tolerate a little lead in their necks", highlights the anger and frustration that are behind the call for arming themselves.

Overall, the song communicates a message of rebellion, resistance, and the desire to take control of one's life and future.

Line by Line Meaning

Ja ja, ja hatar hela borgligheten
I strongly dislike and hate the entire bourgeoisie class

Ja ja, ja hatar hela kungahuset
I strongly dislike and hate the entire royal family

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss
We will arm ourselves

Ja ja, ja svär utifrån mitt hjärta
I swear from the bottom of my heart

Att vi från förorterna ska beväpna oss
That we from the suburbs will arm ourselves

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss
We will arm ourselves

Ja ja, ja hatar Prins Bertil & Carl Gustav
I strongly dislike and hate Prince Bertil & Carl Gustav

Ja ja, ja hatar Sara Leander
I strongly dislike and hate Sara Leander

Ja vi, vi ska beväpna oss
We will arm ourselves

Ja, dom tål lite bly i nackarna
Yes, they can take a little lead in their necks