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.

Tyst för fan
Ebba Grön Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Moralen är en dygd o allt en förbjudet
slå dig ner, framför teven
du sitter väl bra du har det väl skönt
bara bara bara ta emot.
Lär dig leva som det passar
lär av dem som redan sitter

Du klarar inte av nån frihet

för att andra vill lära dig

Du behöver inte ha nån frihet
för dom som alltid vet bäst

Sitt still på din stol, tyst för fan
ta emot stick inte upp
du får, allt på ett fat
du behöver inget se
tv:n lär dig allt du behöver
tar dej med på en resa

I den falska verkligheten där ingenting stämmer alls

i den falska verkligheten
som inte finns någonstans

Overall Meaning

The song "Tyst för fan" by Ebba Grön presents a scathing critique of society's tendency to discourage critical thinking and conformity to societal norms. The lyrics suggest that moral principles and values are often deemed as virtues, while anything that deviates from the "norm" is considered forbidden. The song encourages the listener to simply sit still in front of the television and accept everything that is presented to them without question. It suggests that even freedom is not desirable, as others will always dictate what is best for you. The lyrics also accuse television of being a tool of indoctrination, leading the viewer on a false journey to an imaginary reality where nothing is as it seems.

The message of the song resonates strongly today, as society continues to witness the spread of misinformation and propaganda. The mass media is often accused of promoting falsehoods and manipulating public opinion. The song can be seen as a warning to remain vigilant and not to be fooled by the packaging of the truth. It also urges the listener to be fearless and to dare to stand up to the system.

Overall, "Tyst för fan" is a powerful protest song that speaks to the need for individual freedom and critical thinking in society.

Line by Line Meaning

Moralen är en dygd o allt en förbjudet
Being moral is considered a virtuous character, but everything else is seen as taboo.

slå dig ner, framför teven
Take a seat and watch TV.

du sitter väl bra du har det väl skönt
You are comfortable where you are.

bara bara bara ta emot.
Just accept everything as it is.

Lär dig leva som det passar
Learn to live as it suits you.

lär av dem som redan sitter
Take advice from those who are already seated.

Du klarar inte av nån frihet
You cannot handle any freedom.

för att andra vill lära dig
Because others want to teach you.

Du behöver inte ha nån frihet
You do not need any freedom.

för dom som alltid vet bäst
Because someone else knows what is best for you.