While some songs are original, many come from traditional Norwegian folk songs. Some songs are based on the poems of the Norwegian poet Astrid Krogh Halse. These include "Følgje" ("Companion") and "Stengd Dør ("Closed Door"). The music consists of guitaring, violins, synthesized keyboarding, drumming, and the distinctive voice of Gunnhild Sundli.
On September 6th, 2005, the band announced that they would "take a break" to pursue other stuff, mostly because of Gunnhild's desire to do something else. This came as a surprise to many, as the band has been a success both in Norway and abroad, especially in Germany. However, they released a new album in 2006, Liva, a live recording from Rockefeller, Oslo.
Gåte returned for a one-time performance during the culture festival UKA in Trondheim, on October 24, 2009. After the success with this concert, they announced they would tour festivals in Norway in the summer of 2010. The band reunited another time in 2017 and in 2024 they participated in Melodi Grand Prix, winning the competition with the song Ulveham and thus being given the right to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Wikipedia page
Bannlyst
Gåte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sjelløs som jordens avskum
I endeløs forråtnelse
Holdt for narr, voldtatt av hvitekrist
Tusen åar natta vil ingen ende ta
Hvorfor skal vi måtte lide under en mann av svekket aett?
En arv som skulle baeres frem
Kvalt av fremmed tro
Sår vil aldri gro
Jeg stod fast der ander sviktet
Møtte pakket med øks I hånd
I rå styrke jeg knuse deres kors
I mitt hjem skal ingen krype for Krist
Horder vill komme, horder vil falle
Til jeg knuser de svakes bedrag om fredfylt paradis
Jeg hyller mine guder og mitt sved
Aldri skal-dere få vende kinnet til
Dere skal faen meg aldri knekke meg
En årrekke av forråtnede lik
Hoper seg opp ved perleporten
En syndeflod av kristent blod
Vasker veker vekk at millenniumav vranglaere
Pesten hevner urett som ble gjort
Aldri spytter jeg på mine forfedre
Jeg vil aldri underkaste meg en horunfes ord
En arv som skulle baeres frem
Kvalt av fremmed tro
Slått ned av Guds profeter
Sår vil aldri gro
The lyrics of Gåte's song Bannlyst speaks about the rejection and alienation of the singer and their community from the world, and the pain that comes with it. The singer feels that they are banished from the world and are treated as worthless as the scum of the earth. This feeling of rejection is further compounded by the constant decay and degradation that surrounds them. The singer is made to feel like a fool and a victim who is being raped by the white Christ.
The lyrics delve into the deep-rooted anger and frustration that the singer feels towards the established religion and its followers. The singer questions why they have to suffer under a man of weak descent, whose legacy is choked by foreign beliefs. They express a strong resentment for the religious authorities who have oppressed and subdued their people, not allowing them to thrive.
The chorus speaks of the singer's unwavering commitment to their beliefs and the strength that they draw from it. They express that they will stand firm and unyielding even in the face of adversity and persecution. The lyrics convey a sense of resilience and a refusal to be broken by the actions of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Bannlyst fra verdén
Excluded from this world
Sjelløs som jordens avskum
Soulless like the scum of the earth
I endeløs forråtnelse
In endless decay
Holdt for narr, voldtatt av hvitekrist
Held for a fool, violated by white Christ
Tusen åar natta vil ingen ende ta
A thousand years, the night will never end
Hvorfor skal vi måtte lide under en mann av svekket aett?
Why should we suffer under a man of weakened lineage?
En arv som skulle baeres frem
A heritage that should have been carried forward
Kvalt av fremmed tro
Strangled by a foreign faith
Slått ned av Guds profeter
Struck down by God's prophets
Sår vil aldri gro
Wounds will never heal
Jeg stod fast der ander sviktet
I stood firm where others faltered
Møtte pakket med øks I hånd
Met them with an axe in hand
I rå styrke jeg knuse deres kors
In raw strength, I crushed their crosses
I mitt hjem skal ingen krype for Krist
In my home, no one shall bow to Christ
Horder vill komme, horder vil falle
Hordes will come, hordes will fall
Til jeg knuser de svakes bedrag om fredfylt paradis
Until I crush the weaks' deception of a peaceful paradise
Jeg hyller mine guder og mitt sved
I hail my gods and my pain
Aldri skal-dere få vende kinnet til
You shall never turn the other cheek
Dere skal faen meg aldri knekke meg
You will never break me, damn it
En årrekke av forråtnede lik
Decades of decaying corpses
Hoper seg opp ved perleporten
Piled up at the gate of paradise
En syndeflod av kristent blod
A flood of Christian blood
Vasker veker vekk at millenniumav vranglaere
Cleansing centuries of false prophets
Pesten hevner urett som ble gjort
The plague avenges the wrongs that were done
Aldri spytter jeg på mine forfedre
I will never spit on my ancestors
Jeg vil aldri underkaste meg en horunfes ord
I will never submit to the words of a whore
En arv som skulle baeres frem
A heritage that should have been carried forward
Kvalt av fremmed tro
Strangled by a foreign faith
Slått ned av Guds profeter
Struck down by God's prophets
Sår vil aldri gro
Wounds will never heal
Writer(s): Magnus B?rmark, Mats Paulsen, Sveinung Sundli, Gunnhild De Freitas Sundli, Jon Even Scharer, Knut Buen
Contributed by Henry F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.