Tragedy
Malena Ernman Lyrics

When times are hard you ask for sweeter tunes
During difficult times, people seek comfort in uplifting music.

When days are tough the nights bring full saloons
In times of trouble, people tend to seek solace in social settings, often involving alcohol.

But when I swing and change to minor chords
The switch to minor chords in music often implies a sad or melancholic tone.

That's when the audience goes wild
Interestingly enough, the crowd seems to respond more positively to sad music.

Here comes the tragedy
The theme of the song is that people often prefer tragedy and sorrow to joy and happiness.

The sound of agony
The sad music that people enjoy tends to elicit feelings of pain and suffering.

The tears you love to cry
The audience is drawn to the music because it brings them to tears.

The pain that wants no remedy
The pain that is caused by the sad music is something that people seemingly enjoy and seek out, with no desire to alleviate it.

People tell me they like me to smile
The singer is expected to present a happy demeanor despite the fact that the audience enjoys the sad music she performs.

Bring joy and relief for a while
The purpose of music is often to provide an escape and temporary distraction from the difficulties of life.

But when all the music starts
Despite the fact that happy music is initially requested, the audience enjoys sad music more.

They love the sound of tragedy
It is the sad, melancholic music that draws the audience in and elicits the strongest emotional response.

One I'll direct your success
The first step to musical success is to give the audience what they want, which is often tragedy and sadness.

Two every rule we transgress
To achieve success as a musician, one often has to be willing to break the rules and follow their own path.

Three it's the drama they bless
Dramatic music that elicits strong emotions is often the most well-received by audiences.

Four find the spleen at the core
The essence of good, emotional music is to appeal to the heart and soul of the listener.

Five it's the tears they adore
The audience loves music that brings them to tears.

Six and when they weep give them more
Once the audience is emotionally engaged, the musician should continue to play music that elicits a strong response from them.

Deep inside your heart you want the tragedy
Despite outward appearances, people often crave and seek out things that evoke intense, painful emotions.

(Here comes the tragedy
Reiteration of the key message of the song.

The death of harmony
The introduction of melancholic chords signifies a 'death' of the happy tone that came before.

The tears you love to cry
The audience enjoys the emotional response that the music elicits.

The pain that fights serenity
The emotional pain that is caused by the sad music often conflicts with the peaceful, serene state the listener was previously in.

People tell me they like me to smile
The audience may make superficial comments about wanting the performer to look happy, but their true preference is for sad music.

Bring joy and relief for a while
The purpose of music is to provide a temporary escape from the stresses of life, but the emotional release found in tragedy is what truly brings relief.

Deep inside your heart you want the tragedy)
Repeat of the central theme of the song.