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/
Undergang
Stein Torleif Bjella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eg skulle sjølsagt vore blid, Norge er so rikt høyre eg dei si.
Lei tå dei som flutte ut, eg går og vasa i nedlagte bruk.
Eg ser ned, eg veit det eg veit, eg lengta etter deg og nærheit.
Eg såg for meg ein togtur, me kunne ha reist dit fleire bur,
eller berre sykla Ål rundt, det kunne ha vore fysisk sunt.
Svinga bortom demningen, det kunne ha hjølpt på stemningen.
Du kom med undergang.
Du kom med undergang.
Kunne ha reist innimellom te det vatnet eg prata om,
som berre eg kjenne te, som ligg stille og hemmeleg.
Som ingen ser frå Høgebrot, der eg har liggande ein båt,
rodd deg over stort djup, fiska langs grunnen lengst ut.
Du kom med undergang.
Du kom med undergang.
Eg skulle forstått, for då du tok mi hand
kjende eg altfor godt du bar på undergang.
For å få luft og lys gjekk eg te vatnet i dag,
og heiv stein på stålis, det sang som paukeslag.
Du kom med undergang.
Du kom med undergang.
The first verse of Stein Torleif Bjella's song "Undergang" speaks of an empty feeling that is approaching as heavily as an unstoppable train. The singer acknowledges that he should have been happy, as Norway is a rich country, and he hears people say this. However, he chooses to wander around abandoned farms, feeling disillusioned by those who migrated away. The singer looks down, what he knows he knows, and admits that he longs for someone's closeness.
The second verse paints a picture of the singer's longing for a change of scenery. He imagines a train trip, a bike ride around Ål, and stopping by the dam, all to improve the mood. The singer wonders if the river flows freely or heavily white. He then sings about a secret lake where he has a boat and goes fishing. In the chorus, the singer admits that the person he loved brought an "undergang" (ruin) with them.
The song beautifully portrays a sense of restlessness, disillusionment, and longing for closeness. It seems to be about the feeling of wanting change and wanting to go somewhere but being held back. The chorus repeats the acknowledgment of the undergang, emphasizing how the relationship's end drastically changed the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
No kjem det tomme i tunge velt, som godstog jøno hogstfelt.
Now comes emptiness in heavy loads, like freight trains in John's clearcut.
Eg skulle sjølsagt vore blid, Norge er so rikt høyre eg dei si.
I should naturally have been happy, Norway is so rich, I hear them say.
Lei tå dei som flutte ut, eg går og vasa i nedlagte bruk.
Tired of those who moved away, I wander around abandoned farms.
Eg ser ned, eg veit det eg veit, eg lengta etter deg og nærheit.
I look down, I know what I know, I long for you and closeness.
Eg såg for meg ein togtur, me kunne ha reist dit fleire bur,
I imagined a train trip, we could have gone where more people live,
eller berre sykla Ål rundt, det kunne ha vore fysisk sunt.
or just cycled around Ål, that could have been physically healthy.
Svinga bortom demningen, det kunne ha hjølpt på stemningen.
Swung by the dam, that could have improved the mood.
Kanskje renn åne i fri flyt, kanskje renn ho stor og kvit.
Maybe the river flows freely, maybe it flows large and white.
Du kom med undergang.
You came with downfall.
Kunne ha reist innimellom te det vatnet eg prata om,
Could have traveled to that lake I talked about,
som berre eg kjenne te, som ligg stille og hemmeleg.
that only I know about, that lies still and secret.
Som ingen ser frå Høgebrot, der eg har liggande ein båt,
That no one sees from Høgebrot, where I have a boat lying,
rodd deg over stort djup, fiska langs grunnen lengst ut.
rowed you over the deep water, fished along the farthest bottom.
Eg skulle forstått, for då du tok mi hand
I should have understood, for when you took my hand
kjende eg altfor godt du bar på undergang.
I felt all too well that you carried downfall.
For å få luft og lys gjekk eg te vatnet i dag,
To get fresh air and light, I went to the lake today,
og heiv stein på stålis, det sang som paukeslag.
and threw a stone on the ice, it sang like a timpani.
Du kom med undergang.
You came with downfall.
Du kom med undergang.
You came with downfall.
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.