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/
Ubrukt liv
Stein Torleif Bjella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eg ofra diktarambisjon for papparolla mi
Alltid vore kresen ville guten skulle sjå
Kunstens indre vesen, eg la vekt på Olav H
Eg braut slekters gang, istaden for kald og hard
Skulle han bi mjuk og varm og reise dit som vinden bar
Istaden for innestengt skulle han bi lett og fri
No sit eg unaturleg blid og smile alt eg kan
Ingenting eg prøvde å si nådde inn og fram
Alt er so klart for meg; det er kje spor hjå sonen min
Ell hjå ho han leve med ette sjelepoesien
Ubrukt liv
Eg gav upp eigne dikt og satsa alt på veslegut
Skulle ha brukt tid på mitt og fått mi eigen bok ut
Hunden strekkji seg mot nymånen i kveld
No veit eg at det er berre gamlemånen lell
The song "Ubrukt liv" by Stein Torleif Bjella reflects on the sacrifices and choices made by an individual in the pursuit of raising a child. The singer reveals that when he became a father, he prioritized his son above all else, even sacrificing his own ambition as a poet for the sake of being a present father. He was determined to give his son the best, focusing on the inner essence of art and emphasizing the works of Olav H.
The singer chose to break away from the previous generations' ways, aiming to raise his son with a soft heart, to be able to adapt and be free, to become whomever he wishes to be rather than following a predetermined path. However, as time passed, he realizes that he might have overcompensated, that his son has strayed from the soulful core of art that he had hoped to instill in him, perhaps due to his partner's influence.
The singer also confesses to the internal struggle he faces, the realization that he had put all his efforts into nurturing his son, leaving behind his own personal ambitions of publishing a book of poetry, which is still an unpublished desire, an unused life.
Overall, "Ubrukt liv" explores the sacrifices and dedication of parenting, the struggle to find a balance between a child's upbringing and one's own personal growth and aspirations, and the fear of an unfulfilled life, all woven together with Bjella's distinct poetic style.
Line by Line Meaning
Då eg vart far og stor gav eg sonen min all tid
When I became a father, I gave my son all of my time.
Eg ofra diktarambisjon for papparolla mi
I sacrificed my ambitions as a writer for my role as a father.
Alltid vore kresen ville guten skulle sjå
I have always been selective, and I wanted my son to see the inner essence of art, emphasizing Olav H.
Kunstens indre vesen, eg la vekt på Olav H
The inner essence of art was important to me, and I stressed Olav H.
Eg braut slekters gang, istaden for kald og hard
Instead of being cold and harsh, I broke from tradition.
Skulle han bi mjuk og varm og reise dit som vinden bar
I wanted him to be soft and warm, and to go wherever the wind took him.
Istaden for innestengt skulle han bi lett og fri
Rather than being confined, I wanted him to be light and free.
Leiken og uanstrengt og bi den han ville bi
I wanted him to be playful and relaxed and become whoever he wanted to be.
No sit eg unaturleg blid og smile alt eg kan
Now, I sit unnaturally cheerful, smiling as much as I can.
Ingenting eg prøvde å si nådde inn og fram
Nothing I tried to say reached my son or the woman he lives with, who is soulful.
Alt er so klart for meg; det er kje spor hjå sonen min
Everything is so clear to me, but there are no traces of it in my son.
Ell hjå ho han leve med ette sjelepoesien
Nor in the woman he lives with, who is soulful.
Ubrukt liv
Unused life.
Eg gav upp eigne dikt og satsa alt på veslegut
I gave up my own poetry and invested everything in my son.
Skulle ha brukt tid på mitt og fått mi eigen bok ut
I should have spent time on my own writing and finished my own book.
Hunden strekkji seg mot nymånen i kveld
The dog stretches towards the new moon tonight.
No veit eg at det er berre gamlemånen lell
Now I know it's only the old moon, after all.
Writer(s): Stein Torleif Bjella
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.