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
Telephone Song
Mando Diao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw my baby away and leave me to the unknown place
Even if I'm falling down I won't be restless all at once
You see I ain't got time to sit and wonder meanwhile
My lyrics don't mean a thing
It's just a telephone song for you
That's all that I can do
Hold myself again
I should have taken you home
I can't believe its over
It was too good
I'm gonna proof myself for sure
Building my own door
Instead of have this pretty floor
It's just a telephone song for you
It's all that I can do
You telling me that I'm a fool, baby
Hold myself again
I should have taken you home
Wont you hold myself again
I should have taken you home
And won't you hold myself again
I should have taken you home
The song "Telephone Song" by Mando Diao is a ballad featuring introspective and regretful lyrics sung over a soft melody. The opening lines suggest that the singer is seeking solace in the company of a homeless man, possibly as a way to escape his own painful reality of being in jail. The second line is haunting, as he seems to suggest that he discarded a significant other, who is now lost in an unknown place.
The singer confesses to being fallible, but he also claims to be self-aware enough to avoid impulsive and rash behavior. He acknowledges that he doesn't have the luxury of being idle, as he has things to do and people to see, which could be a nod to his rock star lifestyle. However, he also concedes that his art, represented by his lyrics, may not have any significance and that he may just be singing a "telephone song" for the listener.
The lyrics are melancholic and evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning, as the singer looks back on his past and seems to regret some of his actions. The song's emotional depth and introspective lyrics have resonated with fans, and it has become one of Mando Diao's most popular songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting with the homeless man gonna tell him I'm in jail
I'm going to talk to a homeless man and tell him that I'm trapped and couldn't get out.
Throw my baby away and leave me to the unknown place
I abandoned my loved one and now I'm lost in a foreign land.
Even if I'm falling down I won't be restless all at once
Although I may feel like I'm losing everything, I won't lose hope and will keep going on.
You see I ain't got time to sit and wonder meanwhile
I'm busy with my life and can't afford to dwell on things I can't change.
My lyrics don't mean a thing
The words I write may not have significance or meaning to anyone else but me.
It's just a telephone song for you
This song I'm singing is just a message I'm sending through a phone line to you.
That's all that I can do
I can't do anything else but sing this song to communicate my feelings.
You telling me that I'm a fool, baby
You think I'm foolish for doing what I'm doing, my love.
Hold myself again
I'm trying to comfort myself and hold myself together through tough times.
I should have taken you home
I regret leaving you behind and wish I had taken you with me.
I can't believe its over
I can't accept that our relationship has come to an end.
It was too good
Our love was special and I can't believe we couldn't make it work.
I'm gonna proof myself for sure
I will make sure to prove myself and become a better person because of this experience.
Building my own door
I will create my own opportunities and find a new path in life.
Instead of have this pretty floor
I will strive for something greater rather than settle for what I have now.
Wont you hold myself again
I need you to comfort and hold me now.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.