His debut, Heidersmenn, was released in 2009 and produced by Kjartan Kristiansen, known from DumDum Boys. Geir Sundstøl and Lars Haavard Haugen were some of the artists who contributed on the album.
For the debut, Bjella picked up two nominations for Spellemannsprisen 2009 (the norwegian Grammy) in the categories Best Folk and Best Lyricist.
In 2011, Bjella's second album, Vonde visu was released to great reviews.
http://www.steintorleifbjella.no/
Jordsjuk
Stein Torleif Bjella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No vil eg ha meire grunn te eige bruk
Eg står ved gjerde å passa på
Og høgg te når nokon fell i frå
Åre renn i årin
Våren kjem og bloman spring
Lukke er ikkje eit liv i fred
Når eg fer krangle kjem eg i form
Augun blir svarte som på ein orm
Buskun i skogen er mi syster og min bror
Eg høgg dei ned før dei blir for stor
Alle bekkjin som eg eig skal eg legge i røyr
Fjellfossen tek eg med meg når eg døyr
I fjøset har eg ingenting
Turbinen er gullkalven min
Skulle ha kara te meg meire før
Då eg hadde sjansen sto eg og søv
Det ska kje skje ein gong te
Som haren står eg vakjen og følgjer med
Kjenne eg har vorte jordsjuk
No vil eg ha meire grunn til eige bruk
Eg står ved gjerde å passa på
Og høgg te når nokon fell i frå
In Stein Torleif Bjella's song Jordsjuk, the singer describes his growing fixation with his land and the struggle to maintain it. The opening lines, "Kjenne eg har vorte jordsjuk / No vil eg ha meire grunn te eige bruk," reveal a deep emotional attachment to the earth and a desire for more land to call his own. He stands by his fence, watching over his land and waiting for those who might challenge his ownership, ready to defend it.
The chorus, "Åre renn i årin / Våren kjem og bloman spring / Lukke er ikkje eit liv i fred / Men kampen for å vera den du er," speaks to the cyclical nature of life and the continual struggle to be true to oneself. Happiness is not a life without conflict, but rather fighting to be who you truly are.
The verses further elaborate on the singer's relationship with the land and his determination to succeed. He describes how he comes alive when in conflict, becoming like a serpent with his black eyes. The bush and trees in the forest are his siblings, but he must cut them down before they grow too large. He plans to use all the water and resources he owns, and even the turbine in his shed is his life's work.
Overall, the song speaks to the deeper emotional connection many people have with their land, and the struggle to maintain it in a world where ownership is often challenged. It also touches on the human desire to grow and become stronger, to fight for what one believes is rightfully theirs.
Line by Line Meaning
Kjenne eg har vorte jordsjuk
I feel like I have become obsessed with owning land and property
No vil eg ha meire grunn te eige bruk
Now I want more land to use for my own purposes
Eg står ved gjerde å passa på
I stand by the fence and keep watch
Og høgg te når nokon fell i frå
And I cut trees down when someone else fails to keep them under control
Åre renn i årin
Years pass by
Våren kjem og bloman spring
Spring arrives and flowers bloom
Lukke er ikkje eit liv i fred
Happiness does not come from a peaceful life
Men kampen for å vera den du er
It comes from the struggle to be yourself
Når eg fer krangle kjem eg i form
When I argue, I become energized
Augun blir svarte som på ein orm
My eyes turn as dark as a snake's
Buskun i skogen er mi syster og min bror
The bushes in the forest are like family to me
Eg høgg dei ned før dei blir for stor
But I cut them down before they become too large
Alle bekkjin som eg eig skal eg legge i røyr
I will put all my streams into pipes
Fjellfossen tek eg med meg når eg døyr
And I will take the mountain waterfall with me when I die
I fjøset har eg ingenting
I have nothing in the barn
Turbinen er gullkalven min
But my turbine is my golden calf
Skulle ha kara te meg meire før
I should have taken more initiative earlier
Då eg hadde sjansen sto eg og søv
When I had the chance, I was sleeping
Det ska kje skje ein gong te
I won't let that happen again
Som haren står eg vakjen og følgjer med
Like the hare, I stand awake and keep watch
Kjenne eg har vorte jordsjuk
I feel like I have become obsessed with owning land and property
No vil eg ha meire grunn til eige bruk
Now I want more land to use for my own purposes
Eg står ved gjerde å passa på
I stand by the fence and keep watch
Og høgg te når nokon fell i frå
And I cut trees down when someone else fails to keep them under control
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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