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/
Tvangsgutan kompani
Stein Torleif Bjella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
at eg va ein klovn på livets arena.
Han er ein orm med giftig bitt.
Ein sann kødd med reptilblikk.
Han sa eg kom te angre på mitt liv.
For eg skriv sanga og overdriv.
Kunne ha spent på crossjoggeskoen.
Kunne ha jobba i administrasjon.
men eg vil satse på kunstfeltet.
Mot kaos skal eg sloss.
For å få eit lite pust tå kosmos.
Det kan bli tungt
når det tvinga seg fram.
Det kan bli vondt
å bli fri med sang.
Her kjem Bjella med komp.
Tvangsgutan kompani.
Etter førti år på min himmelveg
går eg framleis med barnesteg.
Med indre arbeid i hundre prosent
er lite vunne og lite tent.
Har høyrt koss det buldra over åsen.
Har sett eit varmt hjarta bli frosen.
Eg lengta ut so ville eg heim.
Local is the universe, sa ein.
So eg gjekk burt vegen for å sjå
det store i det små.
Då eg såg inn i framtide mi
vart eg ufør ei vikus tid.
Det kan bli tungt
når det tvinga seg fram.
Det kan bli vondt
å bli fri med sang.
Her kjem Bjella med komp.
Tvangsgutan kompani.
In Stein Torleif Bjella's song Tvangsgutan kompani, he reflects on his life choices and the reactions of others to his decisions. The first verse introduces the singer and his encounter with someone who belittles his artistic pursuits, calling him a clown in the arena of life. This person is described as a poisonous snake with a reptilian gaze. He tells the singer that he will come to regret his life choices and ridicules his writing style. The singer reflects that he could have taken a more conventional path, like getting a corporate job or buying expensive sneakers, but he chose to pursue art instead.
The second verse explores the singer's feelings of being stuck in his development and coming to terms with his mortality after 40 years of living. He views life as a constant struggle, with little gained or lost. He has heard the rumblings of the world and seen kind-hearted people become frozen in time. The song concludes with the chorus repeating the struggles of pushing forward against the tide and the introduction of the Tvangsgutan kompani, suggesting that there may be a community of people who are fighting alongside him.
Overall, the song seems to express the idea that pursuing one's artistic passions is an inherently difficult and sometimes isolating path, but that there may be solace in finding others who share that struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Der sit han som eingong sa
He sits there like he once said
at eg va ein klovn på livets arena.
that I was a clown on the stage of life.
Han er ein orm med giftig bitt.
He is a snake with venomous bite.
Ein sann kødd med reptilblikk.
A true joker with a reptilian look.
Han sa eg kom te angre på mitt liv.
He said I would regret my life.
For eg skriv sanga og overdriv.
Because I write songs and exaggerate.
Kunne ha spent på crossjoggeskoen.
Could have spent on cross-country jogging shoes.
Kunne ha jobba i administrasjon.
Could have worked in administration.
Stramma inn buksebeltet
Tightening my belt
men eg vil satse på kunstfeltet.
but I want to focus on the field of art.
Mot kaos skal eg sloss.
Against chaos, I shall fight.
For å få eit lite pust tå kosmos.
To take a breath from the cosmos.
Det kan bli tungt
It can be heavy
når det tvinga seg fram.
when it forces itself forward.
Det kan bli vondt
It can be painful
å bli fri med sang.
to be free with song.
Her kjem Bjella med komp.
Here comes Bjella with his band.
Tvangsgutan kompani.
Coercion Boys Company.
Etter førti år på min himmelveg
After forty years on my heavenly path
går eg framleis med barnesteg.
I still walk with childish steps.
Med indre arbeid i hundre prosent
With inner work at one hundred percent
er lite vunne og lite tent.
little is gained and little is lit.
Har høyrt koss det buldra over åsen.
Heard how it thundered over the mountain.
Har sett eit varmt hjarta bli frosen.
Saw a warm heart become frozen.
Eg lengta ut so ville eg heim.
I longed to go out so I could go home.
Local is the universe, sa ein.
Local is the universe, someone said.
So eg gjekk burt vegen for å sjå
So I went off the road to see
det store i det små.
the big in the small.
Då eg såg inn i framtide mi
When I looked into my future
vart eg ufør ei vikus tid.
I became disabled for a while.
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.