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
We're Hit
Mando Diao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever is done
Is hit by your guard
And washed by the sun
Doctor you know that I cannot behave like I used to do
Wild as the ox
Brave as my glove
Doctor you know that I cannot behave like I used to do
And you start when I demand
And you fall on my command
'Cause all those girls and boys
With Jag's and Royce'
They all like to rush for a while
'Cause we're hit by all the elder farts
And we're hit by all the throwing darts
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go
La la la
And we're hit by all the handy boys
And we're hit by all the throwing toys
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go
La la la
Muscles to will
Hardcore to crace
Fear when it's real, fear face to face
Doctor you know that I cannot let them have the victory
And you start when I demand
And you fall on my command
'Cause all those girls and boys
With Jag's and Royce'
They all like to rush for a while
'Cause we're hit by all the elder farts
And we're hit by all the throwing darts
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go
La la la
And we're hit by all the handy boys
And we're hit by all the throwing toys
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go
La la la
The song "We're Hit" by Mando Diao is a commentary on the pressures of society and how they affect individuals. In the first verse, the lyrics suggest that things may seem easy and carefree, but ultimately the actions of individuals are judged and scrutinized by others. The line "Doctor you know that I cannot behave like I used to do" highlights a sense of self-awareness and a recognition of one's own limitations. The second verse delves deeper into the idea of societal expectations, describing the desire to be strong and fearless, but also acknowledging the reality of fear in face-to-face situations.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of being "hit" by various forces in society. The "elder farts" represent the older generation and their values, while the "throwing darts" could represent criticisms or negative opinions from others. The "colored girls" and "handy boys" could represent minorities or marginalized groups who are often disregarded or underestimated. The repetitive use of "la la la" seems to suggest a dismissal or ignorance of these different groups and their experiences.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the pressure to conform to societal expectations and the negative impact this can have on individuals. The use of vivid imagery and a catchy melody make for a memorable and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it on ease
Relax and take it easy
Whatever is done
Anything that happens or is accomplished
Is hit by your guard
Is impacted by your defenses
And washed by the sun
And exposed to sunlight
Doctor you know that I cannot behave like I used to do
Doctor, you know that I am unable to act in the way I did before
Wild as the ox
As fierce as an ox
Brave as my glove
As bold as a glove that protects its wearer
Red as the flood, who's floating in us
As red as the emotions that we are experiencing
And you start when I demand
And you begin to act when I give you orders
And you fall on my command
And you obey me when I give instructions
'Cause all those girls and boys
Because all those young men and women
With Jag's and Royce'
With fancy cars like Jaguars and Rolls Royces
They all like to rush for a while
They all enjoy living life fast and furiously
'Cause we're hit by all the elder farts
Because we are affected by the opinions of older people who may be stuck in their ways
And we're hit by all the throwing darts
And we are impacted by criticism from others
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go La la la
And we are influenced by the carefree attitude of women of color who sing and dance
And we're hit by all the handy boys
And we are affected by the actions of skilled young men
And we're hit by all the throwing toys
And we are impacted by the careless behavior of others
And we're hit by all the colored girls who go La la la
And we are influenced by the joyful singing and dancing of women of color
Muscles to will
Strength and determination
Hardcore to crace
Intense strength and resilience
Fear when it's real, fear face to face
Real fear when confronted by something threatening
Doctor you know that I cannot let them have the victory
Doctor, you know that I cannot allow them to win
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.