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
One Blood
Mando Diao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roll it out tonight! cause there's only one option for us right now
One of us got to get down
If you don't hear my call for help, you're in another world boy!
I've lost my faith in the pure, blue skied summertime
I've been lying awake at night thinking,
That son of a fuck dragged me down and now I'm lost
The traffic lights are even dimmer then my past
Give me a sign, some kind of religion, Allah, Buddha
I don't care, I don't dare to choose one sign, one heart one feeling one god
Cause it's one blood floating in the stream
It's one blood floating in the stream
Every day that goes I need more and more people around me,
People I can rely to
Not those fucking sellouts I read about in the papers
Who's only hope are equally dumb consumers
I'm up on that stage, I'm up here, you're down there
Does that make me more important? more intelligent?
More likely to live that happy standard life your parents sets you out to?
I don't know
Your in a position most kids dream of
I don't know
You can be as weak as the man sleeping on newspapers
I don't know
You're still set out to tell the dirty mans story
I don't know
Other people are talking and thinking about you as we speak
But I've seen them out there as well
Yeah, but you don't know them do you!?
No but they don't know me either
Well, they think they do!,
They think they do!!!
So what do I need to get through the day?
One blood!
What do I need to break on through the night?
One heart!
What do I do to get along with these, these fools?
One soul!
Why don't I just go back to the steal factory? or the warehouse?
Or the railroad? get the fuck out of here, get the fuck out of music,
Back to the days when we had one heart, one brain one soul, one god
'Cause it's one blood floating in the stream
It's one blood floating in the stream
'Cause it's one blood floating in the stream
It's one blood floating in the stream
'Cause it's one blood floating in the stream
It's one blood floating in the stream
The song "One Blood" by Mando Diao is all about feeling lost and searching for meaning in a world that can be cruel and disorienting. The first verse speaks to the urgency of the singer's plight, urging the listener to "Take the road on your wheelchair / Roll it out tonight" because there is only one option left. The imagery of the wheelchair suggests that the singer has been disabled, either metaphorically or literally, and needs help to get through life. The sense of isolation is further emphasized when the singer says, "If you don't hear my call for help, you're in another world," indicating that they feel completely cut off from others.
The second verse turns more introspective, with the singer reflecting on their past and how they've been dragged down by someone else. They're asking for help to find their way back to a time when things were better, but they're not sure who or what to turn to. The line "Give me a sign, some kind of religion, Allah, Buddha / I don't care, I don't dare to choose one sign, one heart one feeling one god" suggests a desperation for meaning, but a lack of faith in any particular religious tradition. The chorus repeats "It's one blood floating in the stream" several times, emphasizing the idea that we're all connected and should work together to help each other out.
The third verse is more political, with the singer railing against "fucking sellouts" and "dumb consumers." They're frustrated by the shallow lives of those around them, and feel like they're up on a pedestal that separates them from the rest of the world. The line "Does that make me more important? more intelligent?" suggests that the singer feels like they're being held to an unfairly high standard. The chorus repeats once more, and the final lines suggest that the singer is considering abandoning music altogether and going back to a simpler life. Overall, the song is a powerful message about the need for compassion and solidarity in an increasingly fragmented world.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the road on your wheelchair
Proceed, regardless of any challenges on your path
Roll it out tonight! cause there's only one option for us right now
We must take action immediately; we have no other choice
One of us got to get down
One of us must make a sacrifice to achieve our goals
If you don't hear my call for help, you're in another world boy!
If you can't hear my plea for help, you are not present and engaged
I've lost my faith in the pure, blue skied summertime
I have lost my optimism and hope for the future
I've been lying awake at night thinking,
I spend sleepless nights pondering
That son of a fuck dragged me down and now I'm lost
Someone brought me down and now I am directionless
Can you help me find my long way back home?
Can you assist me in discovering my purpose and direction?
The traffic lights are even dimmer then my past
My memories of the past are more vibrant than my current reality
Give me a sign, some kind of religion, Allah, Buddha
I am seeking guidance from any higher power or force
I don't care, I don't dare to choose one sign, one heart one feeling one god
I am open to many beliefs and do not want to limit myself to one
'Cause it's one blood floating in the stream
We are all connected and share the same blood and humanity
Every day that goes I need more and more people around me,
I crave more human connection and relationships as time goes by
People I can rely on
I need people who I can trust and depend on
Not those fucking sellouts I read about in the papers
I do not want to associate with people who lack integrity
Who's only hope are equally dumb consumers
Those people only care about making money and exploiting others
I'm up on that stage, I'm up here, you're down there
I am performing and in the spotlight, while the audience is below me
Does that make me more important? more intelligent?
Does my position make me superior in any way?
More likely to live that happy standard life your parents sets you out to?
Is my success more likely to lead to a traditional, content life?
So what do I need to get through the day?
What do I require to navigate my daily struggles?
One blood!
We are all connected as human beings
What do I need to break on through the night?
What is necessary to overcome my personal darkness and struggles?
One heart!
We should all approach life with empathy and compassion
What do I do to get along with these, these fools?
How can I peacefully coexist with those I disagree with?
One soul!
We should all view each other as equals with value and purpose
Why don't I just go back to the steal factory? or the warehouse?
Why don't I abandon music for a more conventional path?
Or the railroad? get the fuck out of here, get the fuck out of music,
Why don't I pursue a career outside of the entertainment industry?
Back to the days when we had one heart, one brain one soul, one god
Return to a time where humanity was more connected and less divided
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind