Kuolleet Intiaanit, Finnish for (the) Dead Indians (as in native Americans)… Read Full Bio ↴Kuolleet Intiaanit, Finnish for (the) Dead Indians (as in native Americans), was a mushroom rock band from Seinäjoki, Finland. Their music has elements of psychedelia and punk, and as for Finnish music, they're often referred to as the 21st century's Sielun Veljet. Guitar rock, in any case, flavoured with surrealist or absurdist lyrics (not exactly meant to be analyzed is the message here) and elements of theater. They were formed in 2000, and as of 2008, are either on a break or defunct. Their label does say they are on a break.

Members of the band are or were Ilmari Tuulenhalkoja (vocals), Emil Topaz (guitar and vocals), Johannes Tyrannos (bass guitar and vocals) and Juhana Amadeus (drums). These are stage names, and the real names of the members have not spread outside Seinäjoki. In live shows, a synthesizer player is added (on the latest tour and album, Mikael Rynigen). They do not give interviews (except for one, which has been read by few and was done, unsurprisingly, by a person from Seinäjoki), play encores or speak to their audiences.

So, why theater, of all words to describe them? Well, their live shows could be treated as such, that is why. In a live show, Kuolleet Intiaanit were usually dressed in black suits and top hats and their faces are painted white, except for the area surrounding the eyes, which is black. Other known costumes are straitjackets and black-white-lined suits.

Nocturno naulaa kohtalon
Kuolleet Intiaanit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mul on laukussa kourallinen nauloja,
kun kävelen pitkin pimeitä kujia.
Yön syli on lämmin kuin äidinmaito,
äidin käsi on lämmin kuin talviyö.

Saan yksin vaeltaa,
saan seistä paikalla,
hyväillä jaloillani maata joka nukkuu.

Voin järjen kadottaa,
naulat luuhuni upottaa
ja kuulla kuuroa.

Mul on laukussa pala jotain orgaanista:
en enää jaksanut kuunnella valituksia.
Tähtien sirpaleita kimaltelee ylläni.
Kirjoitan kirjeen, joka kertoo:

"Saan yksin vaeltaa,
saan seistä paikalla,
hyväillä jaloillani maata joka nukkuu.
Voin järjen kadottaa,
naulat luuhuni upottaa
ja kuulla kuuroa."

Mul on laukussa palaneita papereita,
kun kävelen pitkin pimeitä kujia.

Hyväilen jaloillani maata joka nukkuu.
Voin järjen kadottaa,

naulat luuhuni upottaa
ja kuulla kuuroa...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kuolleet Intiaanit's song Nocturno naulaa kohtalon describe the singer wandering alone through dark alleyways, carrying a handful of nails and a piece of something organic in their bag. They describe the warmth of the night and the feeling of being able to lose oneself completely, both physically and mentally, in the silent embrace of the sleeping earth. The singer seems to be seeking escape from the pressures and complaints of the world around them, as they mention burning papers and an inability to listen any longer to others' grievances.

The repeated refrain of "Saan yksin vaeltaa, saan seistä paikalla, hyväillä jaloillani maata joka nukkuu. Voin järjen kadottaa, naulat luuhuni upottaa ja kuulla kuuroa" roughly translates to "I can wander alone, stand still, caress the sleeping earth with my feet. I can lose my mind, sink nails into my bones, and hear nothing." This sense of solitude and autonomy is contrasted with the warmth and safety of a mother's love, further emphasizing the desire for escape and independence.

Overall, the lyrics of Nocturno naulaa kohtalon are poetic and introspective, with a sense of longing for freedom and a rejection of outside pressures and expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

Mul on laukussa kourallinen nauloja,
I carry a handful of nails in my bag,

kun kävelen pitkin pimeitä kujia.
as I walk along dark alleys.

Yön syli on lämmin kuin äidinmaito,
The embrace of the night is warm like mother's milk,

äidin käsi on lämmin kuin talviyö.
mother's hand is warm like a winter's night.

Saan yksin vaeltaa,
I am allowed to wander alone,

saan seistä paikalla,
I am allowed to stand still,

hyväillä jaloillani maata joka nukkuu.
caressing the ground that sleeps with my feet.

Voin järjen kadottaa,
I can lose my mind,

naulat luuhuni upottaa
drive nails into my bones

ja kuulla kuuroa.
and hear deafening silence.

Mul on laukussa pala jotain orgaanista:
I have a piece of something organic in my bag: