The band consisted of Gösta Sundqvist, Risto Paananen, Juha Karastie and Niklas Nylund. Sundqvist was the leader of the band, he composed and wrote all the band's songs as well as being the vocalist. Sundqvist was also an interesting character, he rarely gave interviews or appeared on television, although he hosted a radio program for YLE.
The band's music relied heavily on Sundqvist's tragicomedic lyrics and catchy choruses. The best example of the band's style is the song "Teuvo, maanteiden kuningas" ("Teuvo, the king of the highways"). The song tells the story of a reckless driver dreaming about being a rally driver. Other famous songs include "Rin Tin Tin", a bitter-sweet reminiscence of a long lost romance, "Unelmia ja toimistohommia" ("Dreams and office work"), "Pohjois-Karjala" ("North Karelia") and "Itkisitkö onnesta" ("Would you cry of happiness"). Many people rate Sundqvist's lyrics the best rock lyrics in Finland, and a television play based on the characters in his songs was produced and broadcast by Finnish TV.
The band was extremely popular, and many of their songs are sung by Finns in karaoke bars. Leevi was also famous for never performing live. On August 15, 2003, Sundqvist died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 46, and the band decided to call it a day.
Rin Tin Tin
Leevi & The Leavings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Liian usein huomaat ei se totta ollutkaan
Ja joku tuskin tietää mitä etsii vailla määrän päätä harhailee
Monen vuoden jälkeen ystävälleen kirjoittaa
Ne sanat jotka sanomatta jäivät sanat joita ei kai ollutkaan
Sanat jotka pettävät kun niitä tarvitaan
Ja minä olen miettinyt jo kauan jotain josta sulle kertoisin
Vaikka tuskin muistan enää osoitettakaan
Sun villakoirasi nimi oli Rin-Tin-Tin
Typerä piski joka murisi mulle
Hölmöksi tunsin minä itsenikin
Vaikka kaikesta halusin puhua sulle
Mä vain häntääni heilutin
Olen hävittänyt kaiken joka sinusta mua muistuttaa
Olen myynyt levyt joita silloin kuuntelin
Ne levyt usein radiossa soivat tai ne voivat olla muitakin
Lähes kaiken sinusta jo melkein unohdin
Sun villakoirasi nimi oli Rin-Tin-Tin
Sinä hymyiletkö vielä sinä suuteletko vielä niin
Että suudellessa olin mennä tainnoksiin
Ja minä olen olemassa vielä minä vieläkin sua muistelen
Vaikka monta vuotta sitten jouduin naimisiin
Sun villakoirasi nimi oli Rin-Tin-Tin
The lyrics of Leevi & The Leavings's song "Rin Tin Tin" focus on the idea of lost time and lost relationships. The opening lines suggest that sometimes we search for things that we've lost, but when we find them, they turn out to not be what we thought they were. The lyrics also suggest that sometimes we search endlessly without knowing what we're looking for. The singer of the song has finally found something to say to an old friend whom they haven't spoken to in many years. They write about the things they couldn't say before and the words that weren't spoken. However, these words end up being incomplete and unreliable when they are needed the most.
The song takes a turn towards the end, where the singer reveals that they have tried to erase all memories of their lost relationship. They have sold the records they used to listen to together and have forgotten almost everything about their past. The only thing that remains is the memory of the friend's dog, Rin-Tin-Tin. The dog serves as a symbol of their past relationship, and the singer reminisces about the times they spent together. The singer, despite having moved on, is still haunted by the memories of the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Rin Tin Tin" explore the theme of lost time and relationships. The song highlights the importance of treasuring relationships and memories, as they may become elusive with time.
Line by Line Meaning
Jos etsit kadonnutta aikaa jotain josta jouduit luopumaan
If you are searching for lost time or something you had to let go
Liian usein huomaat ei se totta ollutkaan
Too often you realize that it wasn't really true
Ja joku tuskin tietää mitä etsii vailla määrän päätä harhailee
Someone is probably wandering aimlessly, not knowing what they're looking for
Monen vuoden jälkeen ystävälleen kirjoittaa
After many years, writing to a friend
Ne sanat jotka sanomatta jäivät sanat joita ei kai ollutkaan
The words that were left unsaid, the ones that probably didn't exist
Sanat jotka pettävät kun niitä tarvitaan
Words that fail when they are needed
Ja minä olen miettinyt jo kauan jotain josta sulle kertoisin
And I've been thinking for a long time about something I would tell you
Vaikka tuskin muistan enää osoitettakaan
Even though I probably don't remember your address anymore
Sun villakoirasi nimi oli Rin-Tin-Tin
Your wool dog's name was Rin-Tin-Tin
Typerä piski joka murisi mulle
A silly dog that growled at me
Hölmöksi tunsin minä itsenikin
I felt foolish myself
Vaikka kaikesta halusin puhua sulle
Even though I wanted to talk to you about everything
Mä vain häntääni heilutin
I just wagged my tail
Olen hävittänyt kaiken joka sinusta mua muistuttaa
I've gotten rid of everything that reminds me of you
Olen myynyt levyt joita silloin kuuntelin
I've sold the records I used to listen to
Ne levyt usein radiossa soivat tai ne voivat olla muitakin
Those records often play on the radio, or they may be other ones
Lähes kaiken sinusta jo melkein unohdin
I've almost forgotten nearly everything about you
Sinä hymyiletkö vielä sinä suuteletko vielä niin
Do you still smile, do you still kiss like before?
Että suudellessa olin mennä tainnoksiin
That I almost fainted while kissing you
Ja minä olen olemassa vielä minä vieläkin sua muistelen
And I still exist, still remembering you
Vaikka monta vuotta sitten jouduin naimisiin
Even though I got married many years ago
Sun villakoirasi nimi oli Rin-Tin-Tin
Your wool dog's name was Rin-Tin-Tin
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind