These guys play humorous, mainly cover versions of famous pop and rock hits… Read Full Bio ↴These guys play humorous, mainly cover versions of famous pop and rock hits using the fast and hilarious beat of humppa (trad. Finnish polka-like dance) and are very, very often drunk. In fact, all of their live shows are performed while intoxicated, and every one of their albums (save for one, which is widely recognized as their worst record) has also been recorded in a similar state.

Current members of the band are Onni Waris (keyboard, vocals), Petteri Halonen (keyboard, guitar, vocals), Lassi Kinnunen (accordion, vocals), Martti Waris (bass, vocals) and Kristian Voutilainen (drums, vocals). Ilmari Koivuluhta (sound technique, logistics) and Pekka Jokinen (graphics, merchandise) are completing the humppa family. These are not in fact their real names; their (fake) first names are their second names, and their (fake) surnames are their mothers' maiden names. Onni Waris and Martti Waris are in no way related, both of their mothers' maiden names just happen to be the same.

According to the band's statements, they play between 80 and 100 concerts in a year, of which only 20 in Finland and 40 to 50 in Germany. While touring in Germany they hid bottles of vodka in various places next to the Autobahn and asked their fans to find them using treasure maps provided by the band.

Albums by Eläkeläiset in Finnish charts (2 albums):
1. Humppaelämää
reach: 14/2003 - 15/2003; peak pos: 23; weeks: 2
2. Humppasirkus
reach: 08/2006 - 10/2006; peak pos: 10; weeks: 3

Songs by Eläkeläiset in Finnish charts (4 songs):
1. Das Humppawerk
reach: 23/2006 - 26/2006; peak pos: 6; weeks: 4
2. Jukolan Humppa
reach: 03/2006 - 07/2006; peak pos: 5; weeks: 5
3. Katkolla Humppa
reach: 11/2003 - 12/2003; peak pos: 6; weeks: 2
4. Keväthumppa
reach: 20/2003 - 20/2003; peak pos: 17; weeks: 1

Elän humpalla
Eläkeläiset Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ja revin hanurini, sen palkeet vuotaa
uuaa, se huokaa
on humppamiehen leipä kuivaa
sen päällä ei oo rasvaa vaan hometta
sen jaan kanssa rotan vaan
pidähän kiinni hatustasi
sillä kohta palkeet puhkuvat
hanuri ja palli eli jakkara, kohta

raikaa humppa
Oo nukun hanurini alla
oo-o elän humpalla
jalka polkee tahtia
oo-o elän humpalla
On olo kovin tukala
onkos mulla nälkä vai prostaatta
uuaa, ku se kolottaa
Ma päivät leikkaan kuponkeja
niillä paikkaan hanuria tai käyn bingossa
kahveella
pidähän kiinni hatustasi
sillä kohta palkeet puhkuvat

hanuri ja palli eli jakkara, kohta
raikaa humppa

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eläkeläiset's song "Elän humpalla" depict the life of a humppa musician. The first lines describe how the musician is "tearing my accordion, its bellows are leaking / groaning and sighing." It is clear that the musician is playing a lot and putting a lot of effort into his music. The next lines mention how the humppa musician's bread is dry and there is no fat, only mold. He shares his space with a rat, emphasizing how his living conditions are not ideal. The next few lines describe how the musician is holding onto his hat because the bellows are about to burst and soon the accordion and stool will be making humppa music. The chorus follows, as the musician expresses how he lives under his accordion and how his life is all about humppa. He asks if he is hungry or if it is his prostate causing discomfort. The final lines describe how the musician spends his days clipping coupons, fixing his accordion or playing bingo, all the while in discomfort and holding onto his hat as he continues to play humppa music.

Overall, the song paints a picture of a musician who is dedicated to his craft despite difficult living conditions and discomfort. The song also sheds light on the humor associated with humppa music, as the chorus celebrates the joy of living under an accordion and playing humppa.

Line by Line Meaning

ja revin hanurini, sen palkeet vuotaa
I tear my accordion apart, its bellows are leaking

uuaa, se huokaa
It sighs and moans

on humppamiehen leipä kuivaa
The humppa man's bread is dry

sen päällä ei oo rasvaa vaan hometta
There's no oil on it, just mold

sen jaan kanssa rotan vaan
The only company he has is a rat

pidähän kiinni hatustasi
Hold onto your hat

sillä kohta palkeet puhkuvat
Because soon the bellows will burst

hanuri ja palli eli jakkara, kohta raikaa humppa
Accordion and stool, soon humming the humppa

Oo nukun hanurini alla
I sleep under my accordion

oo-o elän humpalla
Oo I live on the humppa

jalka polkee tahtia
My foot keeps the rhythm

On olo kovin tukala
I feel very uneasy

onkos mulla nälkä vai prostaatta
Do I have hunger or prostate problems?

uuaa, ku se kolottaa
Uuaa, it hurts

Ma päivät leikkaan kuponkeja
I spend my days cutting coupons

niillä paikkaan hanuria tai käyn bingossa kahveella
With them, I fix my accordion or go play bingo with coffee

pidähän kiinni hatustasi
Hold onto your hat

sillä kohta palkeet puhkuvat
Because soon the bellows will burst

hanuri ja palli eli jakkara, kohta raikaa humppa
Accordion and stool, soon humming the humppa

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, Richard S. Sambora

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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