Mattias Alkberg, born 8 januari 1969, is a swedish musician, songwriter and… Read Full Bio ↴Mattias Alkberg, born 8 januari 1969, is a swedish musician, songwriter and poet. He is guitarist and vocalistin the indie rock band The Bear Quartet, that released their first album in 1992, the same year as his first poetry collection, Separerade ägg ("Separated eggs"), was published. His swedish language band Mattias Alkberg BD saw success in 2004 when their first album was released. In 2009 he recorded the solo album Nerverna ("The Nerves").

Alkberg has published four poetry collections on Wahlström & Widstrand. He recieved an award from Svenska Akademien in 2004. Alkberg has also contributed as a chronicler and record reviewer in the newspaper Norrbottens-Kuriren.

Alkberg grew up in Tuna in Luleå but currently lives in Svartöstaden.

Vilken pärla
Mattias Alkberg Lyrics

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Kliver upp när tuppen gal
En dag till trots jämmerdal. Vilken sommar vi har haft
Kört som dårar varje natt
Onda ryggens melodi, suttit krokad i en bil. Svurit i miljoner mil
Bara för att komma hit

Här väntas månen, oändlig och vit
Äntligen tog jag mig äntligen hela vägen hit

För en natt här är värn en miljard
Norra kust, vi är och bär dina barn
Här väsnas månen, oändlig och vit
Äntligen tog jag mig äntligen hela vägen hit

Havet ringlar in i mig i natt
Fyller på med kallt och svart. Pumpar runt salt och träck
Giftigt som uråldrigt bläck. Kan mycket väl vara det sista jag gör
Innan jag lägger mig ner platt och dör. Ändåvärt varenda spänn
Hela långa vägen

Här väntas månen, oändlig och vit
Äntligen tog jag mig äntligen hela vägen hit
För en natt här är värn en miljard
Norra kust, vi är och bär dina barn

Här väsnas månen, oändlig och vit
Äntligen tog jag mig äntligen hela vägen hit

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mattias Alkberg's song "Vilken pärla" describe the experience of arriving at a remote location on the northern coast after a difficult journey. The singer describes waking up early despite feeling miserable, and reflects on the challenging summer that has led him to this point. He depicts a long road trip, sitting crooked in a car with a painful back, swearing at times. But all of this is worth it as he arrives at this destination and beholds the endless, white moon that is waiting for him. He revels in the experience of finally making it here, surrounded by the ocean that fills him with cold and darkness that is "toxic as ancient ink". Even if this is the last thing he does before lying down and dying, it was worth every penny and the entire journey along this coast.

The song seems to be about the power of nature and the persistence it takes to truly experience it. The singer is filled with awe at the beauty of the moon and the ocean, despite the pain he has endured to reach this place. This may be interpreted as a metaphor for life itself, that sometimes life is hard and painful, but it is worth it to experience those moments of beauty and awe that make it all worthwhile. Overall, the lyrics suggest that the journey is just as important as the destination and that even the most difficult experiences can be redeemed by moments of sublime beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

Kliver upp när tuppen gal
I wake up when the rooster crows

En dag till trots jämmerdal.
Despite the difficulties of each day, life goes on

Vilken sommar vi har haft
What a great summer we've had

Kört som dårar varje natt
Driven like crazy every night

Onda ryggens melodi, suttit krokad i en bil.
The melody of pain in my back, sitting hunched over in a car

Svurit i miljoner mil
Sworn a million times

Bara för att komma hit
Just to get here

Här väntas månen, oändlig och vit
The endless white moon is awaited here

Äntligen tog jag mig äntligen hela vägen hit
Finally, I made it all the way here

För en natt här är värn en miljard
For one night here is worth a billion

Norra kust, vi är och bär dina barn
Northern coast, we are here and carry your children