Pelle Carlberg (born October 21, 1969 in Uppsala, Sweden) is a singer-songw… Read Full Bio ↴Pelle Carlberg (born October 21, 1969 in Uppsala, Sweden) is a singer-songwriter who originally was the leader of indie-pop five-piece Edson. He began his solo career in 2005 and pursued a more personal and sincere sound, releasing all his music on the popular indie label Labrador.

His debut release was the 5-track EP, Go to Hell, Miss Rydell followed later in the year by the full-length Everything. Now!. Two years later, the upbeat In a Nutshell followed. It wasn't long before the third effort The Lilac Time was released in Summer 2008.

Pelle now make music with his own children in a project called Tvillingarna, Truls & Jag.

Pamplona
Pelle Carlberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uno de enero
Dos de febrero
Tres de marzo
Cuatro de abril
Cinco de mayo
Seis de junio
Siete de julio
A-Pamplona San Fermin, tra-la-la-la...

City of light, this is the city of light
Got my headphones on, tonight I feel so strong
Radio on, I've got the radio on
They played a new song, it turned me o-o-on

They had a choir, it took me higher
'Cause they sing nana...

And I'm gonna go to the city
Where life is surreal and it's pretty
In Pamplona, in Pamplona
I will phone you up and tell you that I'm
In Pamplona, in Pamplona
I will phone you up and tell you that I dared

Matador's hat, I need a matador's hat
I need a mustache and I need it fast
I'm so inspired, give me the choir
And we'll sing nana...

So call me naive or insane
Tonight I will be on that plain
In Pamplona, in Pamplona
I will phone you up and tell you that I'm
In Pamplona, in Pamplona
I will phone you up and tell you that I'm
Not a coward, not a sissy
In Pamplona I am waiting

(I'm gonna tell you what it all smells like
I'm gonna tell you that [???])

In Pamplona, in Pamplona
I will phone up and tell you that I dared

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Pamplona" by Pelle Carlberg simply lists the dates of the first seven days of the year from January to July. These dates lead up to the annual festival of San Fermin which takes place in the Spanish town of Pamplona. The festival includes the running of the bulls and is depicted in Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises". The tra-la-la-la that follows each date captures the festive spirit of the event, and sets the upbeat tone for the rest of the song.

The singer is inspired by a new song he hears on the radio which gets him in the mood for the festival. He describes the festival as the "city of light," and talks about how he plans to go to Pamplona and wear a matador's hat and mustache. The choir he hears singing nana takes him higher and inspires him even more. He feels brave and daring to participate in the running of the bulls and tells the listener that he will phone them up to let them know that he dared to do it.

Line by Line Meaning

Uno de enero
First of January

Dos de febrero
Second of February

Tres de marzo
Third of March

Cuatro de abril
Fourth of April

Cinco de mayo
Fifth of May

Seis de junio
Sixth of June

Siete de julio
Seventh of July

A-Pamplona San Fermin, tra-la-la-la...
To Pamplona for San Fermin festival, tra-la-la-la...

City of light, this is the city of light
Pamplona is the city of light

Got my headphones on, tonight I feel so strong
I feel strong with my headphones on tonight

Radio on, I've got the radio on
I am listening to the radio