The band débuted in 2010 with the EP Honningbarna. In January 2011, they were named as the winners in a competition for fresh music, Årets Urørt organized by the radio station NRK P3. The winning song named Borgerskapets utakknemlige sønner ("Ungrateful sons of the bourgeoisie"). At 25th of march, in the same year, they released their debut album La alarmane gå (Sound the alarms). The debut album won in the category of rock during Spellemannprisen 2011. They were also nominated in the category Newcomer. In 2011 they played at a festival Øyafestivalen[1] and live on NRK TV campaign of 2011.
Drummer Anders Eikås died in a car accident on 31 January 2012.[2]
Den Gylne Middelvei
Honningbarna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Du vil brøle, men blir stum
Du nøyer deg med nok et meningsløst kompromiss
Du syntes det er greit å være dum
Det finnes tider der du må kunne nekte
Finnes tider der du må gjøre bordet reint
Ikke godta din sedate stil og smil med
Ingen flere ordre, ikke mer tilsnakk
Nekt å knele selv om alt du får er utakk
Det blir fort vanesak og tenke at du feiler
Offerrollen føles godt
Å syntes synd på deg selv blir en tilværelse
Fylt av hånlige tap – den gylne middelvei
Hva kan en si at vi har utrettet i vår tid
Vi lever midt i en evneveik saueflokk
En går opp – de går opp, en går ned – de går ned
Livredde for et samfunn uten gjetere
Ingen flere ordre, ikke mer tilsnakk
Nekt å knele selv om alt du får er utakk
The lyrics to Honningbarna's song Den gylne middelvei can be interpreted as a call to action against complacency and conformity in society. The "gylne middelvei," or "golden middle way," is presented as something that people are too comfortable with, a way of life that involves making meaningless compromises and being content with being ignorant. The opening line, "Den gylne middelvei har alltid vært din ting" ("The golden middle way has always been your thing"), suggests that this mentality is deeply ingrained in the listener and perhaps in society as a whole.
The lyrics urge the listener to "nekte" ("refuse") and "gjøre bordet reint" ("clean the table"), to take action and resist this way of life. The phrase "Nekt å knele selv om alt du får er utakk" ("Refuse to kneel even if all you get is ingratitude") is a powerful call to stand up for oneself and to not be deterred by negative consequences. The song points out that falling into the trap of victimhood is tempting, but ultimately unfulfilling, as it leads to a life filled with "hånlige tap" ("mocking defeats").
The final lines of the song suggest a wider social critique, with the image of a society of sheep who are afraid of a world without shepherds. The repeated refrain, "Ingen flere ordre, ikke mer tilsnakk" ("No more orders, no more lectures"), reinforces the idea that people need to break free from the constraints of societal norms and expectations and forge their own path.
Overall, Den gylne middelvei is a forceful and urgent call to resist complacency and conformity and to embrace personal agency and individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Den gylne middelvei har alltid vært din ting
You have always preferred the middle ground
Du vil brøle, men blir stum
You want to roar, but are silenced
Du nøyer deg med nok et meningsløst kompromiss
You settle for another meaningless compromise
Du syntes det er greit å være dum
You think it is okay to be foolish
Det finnes tider der du må kunne nekte
There are times when you must be able to refuse
Finnes tider der du må gjøre bordet reint
There are times when you must clean up the mess
Ikke godta din sedate stil og smil med
Do not accept your tranquil style and fake smile
Du kan bedre enn å nikke og adlyde
You can do better than nod and obey
Ingen flere ordre, ikke mer tilsnakk
No more orders, no more scolding
Nekt å knele selv om alt du får er utakk
Refuse to kneel even if all you get is ingratitude
Det blir fort vanesak og tenke at du feiler
It is easy to get used to thinking that you are failing
Offerrollen føles godt
The victim role feels good
Å syntes synd på deg selv blir en tilværelse
Feeling sorry for yourself becomes a way of life
Fylt av hånlige tap – den gylne middelvei
Filled with mocking defeats – the middle ground
Hva kan en si at vi har utrettet i vår tid
What can one say we have achieved in our time
Vi lever midt i en evneveik saueflokk
We live in the midst of a weak-minded herd
En går opp – de går opp, en går ned – de går ned
One goes up – they all go up, one goes down – they all go down
Livredde for et samfunn uten gjetere
Terrified of a society without shepherds
Writer(s): honningbarna
Contributed by Nicholas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.