The roots of Mando Diao date back to 1995 when Björn Dixgård was a member of a band called Butler. Band members came and went; four years later, the remaining line-up chose to proceed more seriously in their musical efforts. Björn Dixgård and Gustaf Norén locked themselves up in a summer house and spent six months writing songs. The now-renamed band, along with Samuel Giers and Carl-Johan Fogelklou, made their first public performances in the clubs of their hometown Borlänge in 1999. A local writer described them in an article as the best unsigned band he had ever seen. This was soon followed by a record deal with EMI Sweden. In 2002 their first album Bring 'em In was released in Sweden. It contains early demo versions of their songs, partly recorded in the basement of keyboarder Daniel Haglund who left the band later in 2003. In 2003 the album was released internationally, along with their debut single Sheepdog. In 2004, Mats Bjorke officially joined the band to replace Haglund's departure. In the same year, the band is hailed enthusiastically by the music press as one of the most sanguine newcomer bands of the year. The album Hurricane Bar was released in 2005. Their third album, released in Europe and Japan in September, 2006 is called Ode To Ochrasy, which the band say has a "darker" feel, and features the single Long Before Rock 'n' Roll. To promote the release of the album, the band toured Germany, supported by Razorlight and Johnossi. They also supported Dirty pretty things on their tour in England. The album was a big success and they won many prizes in their home country Sweden. Ode To Ochrasy was released in spring 2007 in US and Mando Diao toured the US to promote it.
The band released a new album titled "Never Seen The Light Of Day" on October 24th 2007.
The band supported The Bravery on their 2005 tour, along with Los Angeles band The Colour.
Their songs Down in the Past and The Wildfire (If It Was True) feature on the EA Sports games NHL 2006 and NHL 08 respectively, whilst God Knows features on FIFA 06.
www.mandodiao.com
Misty Mountains
Mando Diao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a house
On an island
There's a tale that must be told
Of our mysterious Misty Mountains
Behind all the songs I wrote
Lives an old man in his shadow
For whatever whatever its worth for
They are whistling for you and I
On a ranch in the wildness
There's a song that must be sung
About a blindfolded angel
Who never learned the right from wrong
And though I don't know enough English
To describe it's troubled mind
But for one thing I am certain
Is that it sings for you and I
And I tried so hard to figuring out
But I guess I'm only human
I've been watching him drawing him
Analyzing him in every way
I could possible think of
But does not really help me
You got to sit back and enjoy
You know Ochrasy raised and betrayed him
Now he sits there all alone
With his soul and his legend and his epic melodies
They are with us when we crying
And they are with us when we bleed
Yes they are with us when we crying
And they are with us when we bleed
The lyrics to Mando Diao's song Misty Mountains describe two separate locations that are connected by the common factor of music. The first location is a house on an island that holds a mystery about the Misty Mountains, which the singer has written songs about. The old man living in the shadow of the Misty Mountains whistles day and night for the listener and the singer. The second location is a ranch in the wildness where there is a song that must be sung about a blindfolded angel who never learned right from wrong. The singer doesn't know enough English to describe the troubled mind of the angel, but he is sure that the song is for the listener and him.
The singer admits in the third stanza that he has been trying hard to figure out the blindfolded angel and his music but is unable to do so as he is only human. He has watched him, analyzed him in every way he could think of, but it doesn't help him understand the angel's music. Instead, he realizes that he needs to sit back and enjoy the music. The angel's soul, legend, and epic melodies are with us when we cry and bleed, giving us solace and strength.
Overall, the song describes how music connects people and locations, even if they are separated by miles of distance. Whether it's an old man whistling behind a mountain or a blindfolded angel singing on a ranch, music can bring people together and help them find solace in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
In a house
In a secluded place of comfort
On an island
On a place not easily accessible
There's a tale that must be told
There is a story waiting to be shared
Of our mysterious Misty Mountains
About the intriguing and enigmatic Misty Mountains
Behind all the songs I wrote
Hiding behind every piece of music created by me
Lives an old man in his shadow
There is an elderly man that influenced my music deeply
And they're whistling day and night
The old man and Misty Mountains are always present in my mind and music
For whatever whatever its worth for
For whatever reason that matters
They are whistling for you and I
Their influence reaches everyone, including us
On a ranch in the wildness
In a remote place of natural beauty
There's a song that must be sung
There is a melody that needs to be heard
About a blindfolded angel
About a pure being that lacks guidance
Who never learned the right from wrong
Who never had the chance to distinguish good from bad
And though I don't know enough English
Despite my limitations with the language
To describe it's troubled mind
To fully explain its inner turmoils
But for one thing I am certain
One thing is for sure
Is that it sings for you and I
It's music is directed towards all of us
And I tried so hard to figuring out
I have done my best to understand
But I guess I'm only human
But I am limited by my humanity
I've been watching him drawing him
I have been observing and depicting it
Analyzing him in every way
Critically examining it in all aspects
I could possible think of
Using every idea that came to mind
But does not really help me
But it did not give me a full understanding
You got to sit back and enjoy
Sometimes you just need to relax and appreciate
You know Ochrasy raised and betrayed him
You know Ochrasy elevated and then disappointed it
Now he sits there all alone
Now it is alone and without accompaniment
With his soul and his legend and his epic melodies
With its essence, renown, and grandiose songs
They are with us when we crying
They can be a comfort when we are in distress
And they are with us when we bleed
They can be a source of strength when we are vulnerable
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: BJORN DIXGARD, GUSTAF NOREN, BJORN OLSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind