"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.
We're Only in It for the Drugs
Ebba Grön Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Det finns ingenting här för oss.
Nä ursäkta jag överdrev litegrann,
Vi kan ju knarka, supa och slåss.
Så har det alltid varit här ute,
Ingen jävel har brytt sej om oss.
Man ska va som en zombie, va nöjd med sin lott
Vi var trötta på tunnelbanan, hade spel på monotonin.
Dom här döda sovstäderna där folk inte rör en min.
Vi ville bara ha ett plejs för såna som oss.
Vi ville bara ha nånting för oss.
Vi var trötta på zombielivet och att aldrig vänta på nåt,
Att bara hänga runt och glo sen plötsligt har dagen gått.
Vi ville bara ha ett plejs för såna som oss.
Vi ville bara ha nånting för oss.
För det finns inget att göra...
Vi började med konserter, det va band och det kom folk.
Vi tyckte det gick jävligt bra, vi började få flyt.
Det tyckte inte den svenska byråkratin,
Det tyckte inte vår stolta maskin.
Dom sa: "Stopp, det här verkar vara rena jävla anarkin.
Dessutom uppför ni er som nåra jävla svin."
Det tyckte alltså den svenska byråkratin,
Det tyckte alltså vår stolta maskin.
Men det finns ju diskotek förstås
Och det finns massor av annan skit.
Där kan vi häcka bäst fan vi vill
Men I huvet står det still.
Där kan vi gå som zombies
Medan muzaken spyr floder av skit.
Där kan vi sluta tänka
Så får dom som dom vill.
Därute kan vi viska medan tunnelbanan går förbi.
Do han ser så blå ut I ansiktet.
För så har det alltid varit här ute....
The song "We're Only in it for the Drugs" by Ebba Grön talks about the monotony and boredom of living in a suburban area. The singer observes that there is nothing to do in this dull place and nothing to offer them. However, they exaggerate a bit and say that there is one thing they can do: take drugs, drink, and fight. The song emphasizes the idea that people are expected to live like zombies, be content with their lot, and never ask for anything.
The band members were tired of the monotonous life in the suburbs and wanted a place for themselves. The lyrics describe their search for a place where they could fit in and be themselves. They began playing shows, and things were going well until the Swedish bureaucracy and authorities caught on to their music and behavior. They were labeled as anarchists and pigs, and their concerts were shut down. The song suggests that their behavior, though disruptive, was just their way of rebelling against societal norms.
The song is a critique of society's need for control and conformity. The lyrics suggest that people need an escape from the monotony of life, and for some, that means drugs and rebellion. It's a call to action, urging people to break free from their mundane existence and embrace their unique self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Det finns inget att göra I den här trista förorten,
There is nothing to do in this boring suburb,
Det finns ingenting här för oss.
There is nothing here for us.
Nä ursäkta jag överdrev litegrann,
Well, excuse me for exaggerating a bit,
Vi kan ju knarka, supa och slåss.
We can always do drugs, drink, and fight.
Så har det alltid varit här ute,
It has always been like this out here,
Ingen jävel har brytt sej om oss.
No one has ever cared about us.
Man ska va som en zombie, va nöjd med sin lott,
You're supposed to be like a zombie, content with your fate,
Å aldrig fråga om nåt.
And never ask any questions.
Vi var trötta på tunnelbanan, hade spel på monotonin.
We were tired of the subway, bored with the monotony.
Dom här döda sovstäderna där folk inte rör en min.
These dead bedroom communities where people don't move a muscle.
Vi ville bara ha ett plejs för såna som oss.
We only wanted a place for people like us.
Vi ville bara ha nånting för oss.
We only wanted something for ourselves.
Vi var trötta på zombielivet och att aldrig vänta på nåt,
We were tired of the zombie life, waiting for nothing,
Att bara hänga runt och glo sen plötsligt har dagen gått.
Just hanging around and staring until the day is gone.
Vi ville bara ha ett plejs för såna som oss.
We only wanted a place for people like us.
Vi ville bara ha nånting för oss.
We only wanted something for ourselves.
För det finns inget att göra...
Because there is nothing to do...
Vi började med konserter, det va band och det kom folk.
We started with concerts, there were bands, and people showed up.
Vi tyckte det gick jävligt bra, vi började få flyt.
We thought it was going really well, we were getting into it.
Det tyckte inte den svenska byråkratin,
But the Swedish bureaucracy didn't think so,
Det tyckte inte vår stolta maskin.
And neither did our proud machine.
Dom sa: "Stopp, det här verkar vara rena jävla anarkin.
They said: "Stop, this seems like pure fucking anarchy.
Dessutom uppför ni er som nåra jävla svin."
Plus, you're behaving like some fucking pigs."
Det tyckte alltså den svenska byråkratin,
So thought the Swedish bureaucracy,
Det tyckte alltså vår stolta maskin.
And also our proud machine.
Men det finns ju diskotek förstås,
But of course there are discos,
Och det finns massor av annan skit.
And there's loads of other crap.
Där kan vi häcka bäst fan vi vill
We can hang out there however the fuck we want
Men I huvet står det still.
But our minds are empty.
Där kan vi gå som zombies
We can go there like zombies
Medan muzaken spyr floder av skit.
While the music vomits rivers of shit.
Där kan vi sluta tänka
We can stop thinking there
Så får dom som dom vill.
So they get what they want.
Därute kan vi viska medan tunnelbanan går förbi.
Out there we can whisper while the subway goes by.
Do han ser så blå ut I ansiktet.
He looks so blue in the face.
För så har det alltid varit här ute...
Because that's how it's always been out here...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Flashingdemon666
Swedish rock music rules. Unfortunately, as someone that doesn't speak Swedish I just have to stumble upon these great songs.
@MarquisLeary34
Get a Swedish friend. it's how I found it :)
@bjornvannbergvannberg8109
Men
@ericwedin4154
Om man fick önska fritt... en konsert med Ebba igen😎👍
@PerJohanHalsli
Grew up in Sweden and remember bands like Gyllene Tider - Noice and Ebba but the latter are the only ones I still listen too like 45 years later - their music is just as important today as it was back then
@StarSeeker94
Det kvittar hur gammal det än kommer bli, det kommer rocka tills världens ände!
@Satanist1
Musik som aldrig kommer att dö
@TheNackis
Ebba kommer alltid briljera!!!! <3
@whatsupgaming4496
Det här är riktig svensk punk på hög nivå😁
@NickRoenn
+What'sUpGaming Nope, Anti Cimex började med svensk punk på hög nivå.