Initially, the band played several concerts in Bergen and Western Norway during 2007 and 2008. Their song "Diamanter & Kirsebær" was released on a compilation disc titled Opplett 2008 featuring music from Bergen-based acts including Fjorden Baby!, Kommode, The New Wine, Razika, Di Kjipe and Lars Vaular. In addition, they opened for Norwegian rock band Fjorden Baby! in a major concert on 18 December 2008.
The band was featured on NRK Urørt broadcast on P3 n 2008, and one of the finalists for best act in Urørt's annual show finishing in third place. In February 2009, they performed at the by:Larm music festival in Oslo. Also in February 2009, they were signed to Norwegian record label Voices Music & Entertainment (also known as VM&E).
The band's debut album was released on 14 September 2009 and well-received by critics and selling over 15,000 of the album. During Spellemannprisen equivalent to the Grammys held on 6 March 2010, they won the classic rock award in addition to being nominated for "best newcomer of 2009".
On 7 February 2011, the band released their second album Det nærmeste du kommer followed by an EP Vinterkarusellen with Nils Bech in February 2012.
JON&Gjengen split up as friends in 2013 as announced on Facebook by John Olav himself, and was followed by several concerts with the last one ever being held in Bergen November 16th.
Hull i Himmelen
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For kordan kunne eg la deg gi opp
Og det gikk opp for seint, at eg faktisk hadde
Skjært av meg armen min for å holde din
Vi var frie som fengselsfugler, når vi fløy gatelangs
Og under gatelysene sverget vi at vi skulle forbli
Og du sa alltid eg var for fin til å ha så dårlig med tid
Så kan du komme ned å hente meg
Eg kjenner det på pulsen at det nærmer seg
Å, eg vet noe forsvant I meg når eg mast Maria
Men ikkje la meg bli som eg var før eg fant Maria
Eg vil heller bli funnet der eg gikk for langt
Du gikk ut for godt, og eg står igjen og ser opp
Så kan du komme ned å hente meg
Eg kjenner det på pulsen at det nærmer seg
Eg burde holdt meg hjemme, klarer ikkje holde meg lenger
Eg burde holdt meg hjemme, men har ikkje noe hjem lenger
Så kan du komme ned å hente meg
Eg kjenner det på pulsen at det nærmer seg
The lyrics to "Hull i Himmelen" by John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen speak to the pain of lost love and the desperation to be reunited with that person. The song begins with a vivid image of a young man being shot up to the heavens, perhaps an allusion to a tragic accident or death. The singer then admits that they had cut off their own arm to hold onto their loved one, revealing the intensity of their feelings and the lengths they would go to keep them close.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Så kan du komme ned å hente meg" (So can you come down and get me), emphasizing the singer's desire to be reunited with their lost love. They acknowledge that they have been unable to move on and still feel the loss deeply, despite trying to hold onto the memory of their love with a sense of nostalgia. The final lines of the song express a sense of regret for not being able to hold onto the relationship, and a feeling of emptiness and displacement that comes with losing one's home and sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Har du noen gang sett en ung mann bli skutt til himmels
Have you ever witnessed a young man being shot up to the heavens?
For kordan kunne eg la deg gi opp
For how could I let you give up?
Og det gikk opp for seint, at eg faktisk hadde
And it dawned on me too late, that I had actually
Skjært av meg armen min for å holde din
Cut off my own arm to hold onto yours
Vi var frie som fengselsfugler, når vi fløy gatelangs
We were as free as prison birds, when we flew the streets
Og under gatelysene sverget vi at vi skulle forbli
And under the streetlights we pledged to remain
Og du sa alltid eg var for fin til å ha så dårlig med tid
And you always said I was too good to be so short on time
Men tidevannet tok deg først og eg får aldri slukket min tørst
But the tide took you first and I'll never quench my thirst
Å, eg vet noe forsvant I meg når eg mast Maria
Oh, I know something left me when I begged Maria
Men ikkje la meg bli som eg var før eg fant Maria
But don't let me become the person I was before I found Maria
Eg vil heller bli funnet der eg gikk for langt
I'd rather be found where I went too far
Du gikk ut for godt, og eg står igjen og ser opp
You left for good, and I'm left standing and looking up
Eg burde holdt meg hjemme, klarer ikkje holde meg lenger
I should have stayed at home, I can't hold on any longer
Eg burde holdt meg hjemme, men har ikkje noe hjem lenger
I should have stayed at home, but I have no home left
Eg kjenner det på pulsen at det nærmer seg
I feel it in my pulse that it's approaching
Så kan du komme ned å hente meg
So you can come down and get me
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Mancy4
Heisann sveisann på deisann!!! Heisann sveisan på deeeeeii!!!
@Morten995
kusina mi er Maria!! <3 <3
@xYxBlizzardxYx
Denne sangen blir bedre og bedre for hver gang man hører den.. =)
@NordBK
Helvette! Dette er min nye topp-sang! Faen!
@K1rkHammet
Digg
@Thin1Thin2Thin3
Forstår ikke halvdelen af det der. Men hold kæft, hvor lyder det fedt! Fucking elsker det her musik :D
@lovestokkis
for en sang, fantastisk
@mAjjezu
Så de live i går.. konge :DD
@carl-erikbrynildsen3686
nice sang! :)
@TheSaabHirsch
yess.. A laget!