Her second album, White Smoke And Pines, was produced by Israel Nash and recorded at his home in Hill Country, outside Austin, TX. White Smoke And Pines was released in March 2015.
In December 2015, the new album Cigarette Secrets, was recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios in Woodstock, NY. The album was produced by Ellen herself and was released on August 26, 2016.
Official site: http://www.ellensundberg.se/
Swedish Inland
Ellen Sundberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If truth was a brake the train wouldn't have gone
Wouldn't have started, would never move on
Truth isn't a brake so when the clock struck half past five
We rolled along the iron line lost in mind
Lost in the land I know I know
The sky was so dark and the sun did shine so bright
The forests were so green like we already were in July
In my mind I saw myself with my head stuck in the sand
While the train took me deeper into the Swedish inland
Passengers thinned out the further up we got
The forest thickened the further up we got
A woman jumped off somewhere in the Swedish inland
She walked down the platform and she was met by her man
He threw his arms around her and grabbed her hand
They walked down the platform somewhere in the Swedish inland
What is there to do I don't think I will fit
To be unalterable when the seasons shift
Solitary farms and roads full of holes
Do not fear loneliness myself I have told
Solitary eyes of a person misunderstood
An extinct dove bird in a land of love
What is there to do I don't think I will fit
To be unalterable when the seasons shift
How can I roll
How can I roll
The song "Swedish Inland" by Ellen Sundberg touches on the theme of truth and the journey towards self-discovery. The opening lines address the idea of truth being a brake, meaning that if people were honest about their feelings and thoughts, perhaps they would not have taken certain actions. However, the singer acknowledges that truth is not a brake and life continues to move forward. As the train rolls down the iron line, the singer feels lost in thought, reflecting on personal beliefs, as the landscape passes by.
The journey seems to take place during the summer months as the sun shines bright and the forests are a vibrant green. However, the singer senses a feeling of being stuck, with the lyrics "what is there to do, I don't think I will fit, to be unalterable when the seasons shift." This line speaks to the fear of not growing or evolving, fearing being stuck in one's current state when the circumstances around them inevitably change.
As the train journey continues deeper into the Swedish inland, passengers begin to thin out, and the forests become denser. The singer observes an interaction in the station between a man and a woman as she departs the train, and the man comes to greet her. This scene provides a small moment of hope and connection for the singer, perhaps noting the importance of human connection amidst the isolating feelings of loneliness that can come with journeys of self-discovery.
Overall, "Swedish Inland" is a contemplative and introspective song, exploring the concept of truth and the individual's journey towards self-discovery, even when they do not necessarily fit into the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
If truth was a brake the train wouldn't have gone
If truth could stop us from moving forward, we would never have started our journey.
Wouldn't have started, would never move on
We wouldn't be able to begin anything if truth had the power to hold us back.
Truth isn't a brake so when the clock struck half past five
Truth cannot stop us from progressing, and that is why we were still moving even when the clock hit half-past-five.
We rolled along the iron line lost in mind
We continued to ride a train lost in thought, going deeper inland on the iron tracks.
Lost in the land I know I know
I was lost in thoughts while riding deeper into the Swedish inland, an area I was familiar with.
Iron lines and up we go
We kept traveling further inland, higher up into the mountains along the iron railways.
The sky was so dark and the sun did shine so bright
There was a stark contrast between the dark sky and the bright sun shining, creating an eerie mood.
The forests were so green like we already were in July
The forests we passed through had vibrant green colors, making it feel like it was already midsummer (July).
In my mind I saw myself with my head stuck in the sand
I imagined myself burying my head in the sand, trying to ignore the journey, but I couldn't because the train kept moving.
While the train took me deeper into the Swedish inland
Despite feeling overwhelmed in my mind, the train continued to take me further inland into Sweden.
Passengers thinned out the further up we got
As we traveled further inland, fewer passengers remained on the train.
The forest thickened the further up we got
As we went higher, the forests became denser, making it feel more secluded and isolated from civilization.
A woman jumped off somewhere in the Swedish inland
At some point during our journey, a woman exited the train, staying behind in the Swedish inland.
She walked down the platform and she was met by her man
The woman was welcomed at the station by her partner after getting off the train.
He threw his arms around her and grabbed her hand
Her man hugged her tightly and held her hand as they reunited.
They walked down the platform somewhere in the Swedish inland
As they walked away from the station, they were somewhere in the Swedish inland, surrounded by nature.
What is there to do I don't think I will fit
I am not sure what to do in this new environment; it feels like I am not well-suited for it.
To be unalterable when the seasons shift
I feel like I cannot change or adapt to the changing seasons and environment around me.
Solitary farms and roads full of holes
The farms and roads around us were isolated and run down, accentuating the feeling of loneliness.
Do not fear loneliness myself I have told
I tell myself that I am not afraid of feeling lonely, even though it may be difficult.
Solitary eyes of a person misunderstood
The eyes of someone who is misunderstood can also contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
An extinct dove bird in a land of love
Even in a place that is associated with love, there is an extinct bird, showing that things are not always as they seem.
How can I roll
How can I keep moving forward when I feel uncertain and out of place?
Writer(s): Ellen Sundberg
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.