The band played at the Scandinavian Roskilde Festival in 2004. At one time they were signed to Burning Heart Records, which houses a number of Swedish punk rock and hardcore punk bands.
In 2010 Hagman received a serious electrical shock during a concert in Sundsvall when he touched a power cable which had been punctured by a riot fence. He collapsed on the stage.
The band's album Veil of Ignorance, released in 2009, placed on the Swedish charts and was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award. Many of the songs on this album were written by Hagman.
In 2013 Raised Fist signed a two-album contract with Epitaph Records. In 2015, after working on the songs for five years, Raised Fist released an album From the North.
Vocalist Alexander appeared in an interview on Swedish television TV4 where he criticizes the EU Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in EU countries.
The People Behind
Raised Fist Lyrics
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Disabled from a bitter conflict with a surgical knife
If there was a possibility I would give away my wings
Give my wings to you so you could fly away from the bombings
Dead bodies on the ground & a whispering sound
Another victim down, it's the daily round
Another explosion, panic & motion
I have no desire to end up in the crossfire
Is there anything that I can do for you?
To remove the barbed wire & to send out more flyers
Doesn't really change what this is developing to
Dead bodies on the ground & a whispering sound
Another victim down, it's the daily round
Another explosion, panic & motion
Smoke from a rooftop this will never stop
Your advice could be to demilitarise
But it's not the weapons that kills, it's the people behind
When no logic applies & no one tries
And no one is willing to compromise
I have no desire to end up in the crossfire
Is there anything I can do for you?
When no logic applies & no one tries
And no one is willing to compromise
Dead bodies on the ground & a whispering sound
Another victim down, it's the daily round
Another explosion, panic & motion
Smoke from a rooftop this will never stop
The lyrics of "The People Behind" by Raised Fist paint a picture of the atrocities of war and the toll it can take on individuals and society. The opening lines speak to the personal impact of war and conflict, with the singer suggesting that their own social life has been torn apart by bitter conflict. This theme of personal suffering continues throughout the song, as the singer laments the death and destruction caused by bombings and the daily cycle of violence.
The refrain of "Dead bodies on the ground & a whispering sound / Another victim down, it's the daily round" drives home the point that this loss of life and destruction is sadly routine in situations of war. The singer also expresses a desire to help and make a difference in the conflict, suggesting that sending out flyers and removing barbed wire may have minimal impact on the larger issue at hand.
The song's final lines tie in the theme of personal impact with the greater societal issues at hand, pointing out that ultimately it is the people behind the weapons who are responsible for the destruction caused by war. With no one willing to compromise or seek peace, the violence continues unabated.
Line by Line Meaning
This ripped apart large sections of my social life
A violent conflict caused significant damage to my personal relationships.
Disabled from a bitter conflict with a surgical knife
My involvement in a traumatic conflict has left me physically or emotionally wounded.
If there was possibility I would give away my wings
If I could, I would sacrifice my own freedom to help someone else in need.
Give my wings to you so you could fly away from the bombings
I would rather someone else escape the danger and destruction caused by bombs.
Dead bodies on the ground & a whispering sound
The aftermath of a violent attack is marked by the loss of human life and the eerie silence that follows.
Another victim down, it's the daily round
Sadly, the loss of life is an all-too-frequent occurrence in a conflict zone.
Another explosion, panic & motion
The terror and chaos that follows a bomb blast is part of the deadly routine.
Smoke from a rooftop this will never stop
The destruction and devastation caused by conflict often feels endless and never-ending.
I have no desire to end up in the crossfire
I want to avoid being caught in the middle of a violent conflict at all costs.
Is there anything that I can do for you?
I want to help those affected by the conflict in any way I can.
To remove the barbed wire & to send out more flyers
I want to take action to promote peace, however symbolic, by removing barriers and spreading information.
Doesn't really change what this is developing to
I know that small actions may not have a large impact on the overall situation.
Your advice could be to demilitarise
I would appreciate your suggestion to reduce the military presence or disarmament in this conflict zone.
But it's not the weapons that kills, it's the people behind
I recognize that weapons are only tools, and that those who wield them are ultimately responsible for their use.
When no logic applies & no one tries
In a senseless conflict, there may be no clear way forward and no one willing to take action to stop the violence.
And no one is willing to compromise
Both sides of the conflict may be too entrenched in their positions to engage in productive dialogue or make concessions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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