The band members actually started out as punks drawing some inspiration from Swedish folk music, but gradually the Oi! genre started having a greater influence on their development and around 1997/1998 Perkele became skinheads.
Despite their Swedish origin, perkele—the noun used for the band's name—is, in fact, a Finnish profanity. In a 2003 interview, lead vocalist and founding member Ron Halinoja cited his "roots in Finland" and the word's expressively vulgar nature as the main reasons behind choosing this for the band's name. Perkele claim to be strongly against all kinds of racism, nationalism, fascism, sexism, and homophobia as well as being opposed to hate, war, and environmental pollution. Despite this, in the past their appearance at traditionally left-wing events has caused controversy due to some of their songs featuring lyrical themes of Swedish and Finnish nationalist sentiments. Due to the background of their bassist Chris as an adoptee originally from Sri Lanka, the band have at one point experienced racist abuse from the audience at a concert in Belgium.
1621
Perkele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Working late, high over the ground in the harbour of Gothenburg
The ground was frozen, the wind was cold and the snow was falling down
A shout in the dark, the ground turned red - Another worker was dead
Chorus:
Honour to the workers who built our town
And risked their lives since 1621
And risked their lives since 1621
For all that you have done ... since 1621
Chorus
... Honour to the workers who built our town
... And risked their lives since 1621
1621 - The year our town was born
With a harbour of pride and mighty ships that made our town a name
A history worth reminding of and tell your kids about
When the people worked and risked their lives and gave us a place to love
Chorus
The lyrics of Perkele's song "1621" shed light on the significant contribution made by workers in the harbor of Gothenburg, Sweden since the year 1621 until the present day. The song is a tribute to the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of workers who have contributed to the development of the town for the past four centuries. In the first verse, the conditions under which these workers toiled are described. The harsh winter environment characterized by cold weather, strong winds, and snowfall made working difficult but did not deter the workers from their responsibilities.
The chorus of the song pays homage to the workers who have contributed to the development of the town since 1621. The repetition of the phrase "Honour to the workers who built our town and risked their lives since 1621" reinforces the significance of their contribution towards the growth of the town. The lyrics also highlight the role of the workers in building the pride and heritage of the town, which has become a notable name due to the mighty ships that dock in its harbor. The final verse urges the listener to remember and continue telling the story of the workers who risked their lives for the betterment of the town.
Line by Line Meaning
It was cold that day in January 1931
The first line sets the tone of the song by depicting the harsh, bleak winter of an unspecified location, which makes the hard work conditions more brutal.
Working late, high over the ground in the harbour of Gothenburg
The lyric talks about the backbreaking work of the people who work at the harbor of Gothenburg, who risk their lives by working at extreme heights.
The ground was frozen, the wind was cold and the snow was falling down
This line paints a vivid picture of the working conditions that the people at the harbor have to endure, highlighting that they adapt and work through them to earn a living.
A shout in the dark, the ground turned red - Another worker was dead
The line signifies the hazardous nature of the job by narrating how things can go wrong at the harbor, and the danger never recedes.
Honour to the workers who built our town
The lyrics pay tribute to the sacrifice and hard work of the laborers who dedicated their lives to build and develop the town.
And risked their lives since 1621
The line highlights that the people have been risking their lives to ensure the town developed and progressed since its foundation in 1621.
The year our town was born
The song refers to 1621 as the year the town was born, signifying the historical significance of the region
With a harbor of pride and mighty ships that made our town a name
This line depicts the role that the harbor played in the economic development and reputation of the town.
A history worth reminding of and tell your kids about
The lyric speaks about the pride and appreciation that the people of the town have towards its history of hard-working, dedicated people who built the town with their hands.
When the people worked and risked their lives and gave us a place to love
This final line of the song sums up the compelling narrative that the people of the town worked hard, persevered, and risked their lives to develop the towns they love and cherish today.
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.