Gärdestad composed his first song, Sollentunavalsen, at the age of six. Gärdestad broke through as an artist as a fifteen year old and he was on the height of his career in the 1970s. He himself wrote the music for his songs, and his brother Kenneth Gärdestad wrote the lyrics. He often made upbeat and catchy pop, which wasn't considered serious in the 1970s and he was regarded as a commercial rather than the serious artist. Some of Ted Gärdestad best-known songs are Jag vill ha en egen måne, Sol, vind och vatten and För kärlekens skull. He won Melodifestivalen 1979 with the song Satellit.
He worked together with Michael B. Tretow in the studio project Caramba which released a record 1980. That same year he came into contact with the religious leader Osho, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, which eventually led that he joined the Bhagwan sect and distanced himself from his previous life. He called himself Swami Sangita Upasani and made many trips to the movement's headquarters in Oregon where he was a disc jockey. 1986 he moved back to Sollentuna.
Ted resumed his music career in 1994 and released the album Äntligen på väg, which was his first since 1981 and which became his last.
The last decade of Gärdestad's life was marked by mental illness. He was in a period on suspicion of the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme. His brother Kenneth later said that Ted heard voices and probably suffered from schizophrenia. He died by committing suicide at age 41, June 22, 1997.
För kärlekens skull
Ted Gärdestad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marken blir gr�n igen.
Allt som var d�tt, v�cks till liv,
det kan ocks� vi.
S� l�nge vi andas.
Ute till havs styr en fiskeb�t.
L�ngs en fri horisont.
Den gungar s� tryggt in mot hamn
S� l�nge vi �lskar.
Det �r f�r oss solen g�r opp.
Lyser som guld, f�r k�rlekens skull
Solen g�r upp, s� oskuldsfull
Lyser p� oss f�r k�rlekens skull.
H�gt p� ett berg st�r en katedral,
och pekar upp mot skyn.
Men det �r f�r himlen i dig,
och jorden i mig
Vi �lskar varandra.
Det �r f�r oss solen g�r opp.
Lyser som guld, f�r k�rlekens skull
Solen g�r upp, s� oskuldsfull
Lyser p� oss f�r k�rlekens skull.
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Lyser som guld, f�r k�rlekens skull
Lyser p� oss, f�r k�rlekens skull
The song "För kärlekens skull" by Ted Gärdestad is a beautiful and poetic tribute to love. The first verse speaks of springtime and how everything is coming back to life, just like the love between two people can be rekindled at any time. The lyrics encourage the listener to embrace life and love for as long as they can, for as long as they are breathing. The second verse paints a picture of a fishing boat returning to shore, symbolizing the safety and comfort that comes with being in the arms of someone you love.
The chorus is the centerpiece of the song, with its repeated phrase "Det är för oss solen går upp" (It is for us the sun rises). The sun is a metaphor for the light and warmth that love brings into our lives. The chorus also emphasizes the purity and innocence of love, shining on the couple "för kärlekens skull" (for the sake of love). The final verse takes us to a mountaintop cathedral, a symbol of spirituality and the connection between earth and sky. But the true heaven and earth are found within the two people in love, as they share a bond that transcends any earthly structure.
Line by Line Meaning
Utanför fönstret slår våren ut.
The window displays the blooming of spring outside.
Marken blir grön igen.
The earth becomes green again.
Allt som var dött, väcks till liv, det kan också vi.
Everything that was dead comes back to life, and we can too.
Så länge vi andas.
As long as we breathe.
Ute till havs styr en fiskebåt.
A fishing boat is sailing far out at sea.
Längs en fri horisont.
Along an unobstructed horizon.
Den gungar så tryggt in mot hamn som jag i din famn.
That vessel returns swaying safely back to shore, just like how we feel in each other's embrace.
Så länge vi älskar.
For as long as we love.
Det är för oss solen går upp.
The sun rises for us.
Lyser som guld, för kärlekens skull.
It shines like gold, for the sake of love.
Solen går upp, så oskuldsfull.
The sun rises so innocently.
Lyser på oss för kärlekens skull.
It illuminates us purely for the sake of love.
Högt på ett berg står en katedral, och pekar upp mot skyn.
At the top of a mountain stands a cathedral, pointing towards the heavens.
Men det är för himlen i dig, och jorden i mig vi älskar varandra.
But it's because the heavens are within you, and the earth is within me, that we love each other.
Det är för oss solen går upp.
The sun rises for us.
Lyser som guld, för kärlekens skull.
It shines like gold, for the sake of love.
Solen går upp, så oskuldsfull.
The sun rises so innocently.
Lyser på oss för kärlekens skull.
It illuminates us purely for the sake of love.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thomasolsson8239
Spelades på min Mors begravning, kunde inte bli vackrare, helt underbar stämning ☀️
@birgittaalexandersson2767
Vilken röst vilken underbar text . Nu är bröderna Ted o Kennet tillsammans. Ni kommer aldrig glömmas. Njut av livet ta en dag i taget o varva ner.
@lawayka2479
Det är jättefint musik. Tack Ted. Min pojkvän gillar att lyssna din musik hela tiden. Kram
@arnehansson5521
Jag är född 1953 o har alltid lyssnat på Ted,s o hans bror Kenneth,s låtar. Livet är tufft o det är inte alla som klarar av alla ?? Hur som helst , jag o många andra lyssnar på musiken o det kommer vi att göra i många år. Tack bröderna Gärdestad för bra musik.
@JaneDoe-ci3gj
Tack Ted Gärdestad🌹 för all musik och för dina underbart vackra röst och tack Kenneth Gärdestad🌹 (Teds bror) som skrev alla texter, (förutom til
l låten Viking) till Teds musik. Jag hoppas ni spelar tillsammans i himlen nu💞.
@Pia-lm7qi
Det finaste sverige har i musikväg <3 Älskade Ted och hans vackra musik, kan Aldrig lyssna utan flödande tårar <3
@hutchicutt
Tusen tack Ted- allt fint du förmedlade - glädje, kärlek, hopp, liv. Önsker att du fortfarande var här så jag kunde säja det till dig direkt. Tack tack. tack. Men du är här ju! Bara på ett annat nivå. Stor kram.
@susannelarsson9987
Blir glad. Nostalgisk uppvuxen på 70tslet och tragiskt att Ted inte fick den hjälp och vård han förtjänade.
@robertawesterberg5360
I am an American rediscovering her Swedish roots. Tack så mycket, Ted, för din musik!
@tinarussell2966
+Roberta Westerberg Roberta...he was such a part of my youth...I know every word of every song. Ted was less than 2 years older than me and my generation knew him well. Still do.