Soon, however, the four youths decided to change their style, after having been introduced to the new "Mersey" sound. A drummer, Freddie Skantze, was added, and within a short time a reshuffle of the instruments followed. Lagerberg took up the bass, while Danne and Anders were to play rhythm and lead guitar respectively. This left Tommy as lead singer and tambourine player.
Their first gig was held on 23 December 1963. Their name was becoming locally known and in August 1964, a Swedish newspaper held a contest called "The Beatles of the West Coast". Many different groups applied, but finally Tages were the victors, earning the right to make a record for the new company Platina. This first recording session took place on 20 September 1964. While the studio was pretty basic, Tages did bring two good songs to the sessions, Sleep little girl and Tell me you’re mine, which were released as a single about a month later. One day, not knowing that the single was going to be tested for the Swedish Top Ten, the boys heard themselves on the radio, and just one week later, the single had reached no. 1, replacing none other than the Beatles.
A couple of months later, the next single followed: I should be glad b/w I cry. This was not only a commercial success, but the critics liked it too, and now Tages were accepted by the large crowd. On 31 March 1965, Tages got to open for the Rolling Stones on their performance in Gothenburg. New singles followed, and the first eponymous LP was released in November. At about the same time, Göran and Freddie were allowed to play together with Chuck Berry in Stockholm.
From http://hem.passagen.se/orange/tages/tages.htm
It's My Life
Tages Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
And I can smell, I can hear, I can see
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
What a dreadful day, yesterday, now it seems so far away
No mystery, not a doubt, they are things I do without
Life is mine and life is yours, but they are not the same
We look different, we think different, we've got different names
It's my life, yeah, it's my life, yeah, it's my life, yeah
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
And I can smell, I can hear, I can see
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
And I can smell, I can hear, I can see
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
And I can smell, I canh ear, I can see
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
And I can smell, I can hear, I can see
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
The lyrics to Tages's "It's My Life" are all about individuality and seizing the moment. The singer marvels at all the things they can do now that they've broken free from someone else's expectations or influence. They list off the senses they can experience, the actions they can take, all with a strong sense of empowerment. Then, in the second verse, the singer acknowledges that not everyone will be happy or accepting of their new outlook on life. They talk about the differences between people, how we're not all the same, and expresses the idea that life is different for everyone, even if they're living side by side. Finally, the chorus repeats that the singer is in charge of their own life, able to experience and accomplish anything they want.
The main takeaway from this song is a strong message of self-determination and individuality. The singer has broken free from some kind of restrictive situation and is now relishing all the things they can do with their newfound freedom. The repetition of the line "It's my life" reinforces this message, emphasizing the idea that each of us is the only one in control of our own path. Additionally, the verses point out that even when people seem dissimilar, everyone has the ability to take ownership of their own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I can laugh, I can dance, I can sing
I can enjoy life, express myself freely and be happy
I can do anything that I've always wanted to
I have the power to pursue my dreams and aspirations
And I can smell, I can hear, I can see
I am grateful for my senses that allow me to experience the world
I can touch all the things that I've never touched before
I am excited to explore and discover new things
Mess it is, you say, as it is today
Even though things may seem chaotic or difficult, I still choose to enjoy my life
What a dreadful day, yesterday, now it seems so far away
I choose to live in the present moment and not dwell on negative experiences from the past
No mystery, not a doubt, they are things I do without
I am confident in who I am and don't need validation or approval from others
Life is mine and life is yours, but they are not the same
Everyone has their own unique journey and experiences, and it's important to respect and appreciate those differences
We look different, we think different, we've got different names
Diversity is what makes life interesting and beautiful
It's my life, yeah, it's my life, yeah, it's my life, yeah
I am the one in control of my life and will live it the way I choose
Writer(s): Anders Henriksson, Goran Lagerberg
Contributed by Eli Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.