Now it’s one thing for an artist from Copenhagen to enjoy success at home and in a few adjacent countries. But the release of Too Many Roads saw the seven-piece combo fronted by singer and guitarist Risager gaining widespread notoriety in the U.S. and being invited to play in locales as far away as Mumbai, India. The album took home the Danish Music Award as the Top Blues Album of 2014 and also earned Germany’s illustrious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik,” but perhaps even more impressively, it was selected as one the year’s best by Britain’s influential The Blues magazine, right alongside international stars like Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa. Clearly, Risager and his mates had taken their exhilarating mix of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll to the next level.
Early in 2015, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado celebrated that triumph by returning to one of their favorite nightspots – the Harmonie in Bonn, Germany. They would treat local fans to a one-of-a-kind spectacle, hitting the stage as a ten-piece mini-orchestra. After Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records introduces this deluxe edition of the band – including a three-man horn section and backing vocalists Ida Bang und Lisa Lystam – the colossal sound of Risager’s semi-hollow body spearheads the all-out attack of opening number “If You Wanna Leave.” He and his Black Tornado are off to the races…
The succeeding 100-minute concert, captured on CD and DVD for the newest addition to Ruf’s Songs from the Roadseries, shows off every facet of this unique conglomeration of musicians. There’s the sinuous funk of “Paradise” and the furious boogie of “The Straight and Narrow Line” (featuring big-time playing by piano man Emil Balsgaard and saxophonist Hans Nybo). There’s the twin-guitar blues of “Too Many Roads” and the rough-and-tumble attitude of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride.” There’s the chilling “China Gate” and the dark drama of “Long Forgotten Track.” Finally, the band whips the crowd into frenzy with their ultra-groovy take on the classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” and the timeless party anthem “Let The Good Times Roll,” the latter track showcasing the talents of lead guitarist Peter Skjerning. The funk workout “Opener” and the charming “I Won’t Let You Down” (performed as a duet with Lisa Lystam) offer some welcome after play.
More than anything, Songs from the Road shows that the success of Too Many Roads was no fluke. Thorbjørn Risager and his highly skilled accomplices have perfected a spicy blend of musical ingredients. The hundreds of shows they’ve played during the past few years have them running like a well-oiled machine. More great things can be expected of them in the future – but until then, we have this brilliant document of a band that is quietly revolutionizing the way we look at the blues.
The Black Tornado band
Thorbjørn Risager – leadvoc, gtr
Emil Balsgaard – keys
Peter Skjerning – gtr,voc
Kasper Wagner – alto-/barythonsax
Hans Nybo – tenorsax, voc
Peter Kehl – trumpet, perc, voc,
Søren Bøjgaard – bass
Martin Seidelin – drums, perc, voc,
The Tornadettes (guest appearance on “Songs from the road” and on special occasions!)
Ida Bang – voc
Lisa Lystam – voc
BAND FACTS
● Nominated for a British Blues Award 2014 & 2015
● Winner of the Danish Music Award 2013 & 2014
● The band was founded in 2003 and 5 of the band members have been there
since the start.
● In 2005 their cooperation with Annika Westman started who has booked
more than 700 concerts for them in 21 countries.
● Songs From The Road is their 10th album in 10 years!
Stand Beside Me
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I KNOW IT'S LATE IN THE EVENING
AND I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND
SO PLEASE DON'T HANG UP ON ME
I JUST NEED A LITTLE WHILE
SO MANY THINGS I THOUGHT I KNEW
SO MANY WAYS THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT YOU
I FINALLY MADE UP MY MIND
STAND BESIDE ME
GIVE THESE LOVING ARMS A TRY
STAND BESIDE ME
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE TO CRY
WHEN I LAY ME DOWN
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP
YOU'RE THE LAST THING ON MY MIND
AND I KNOW THAT I WILL KEEP
KEEP ON BELIEVING
THAT OUR TIME WILL FINALLY COME
AND WE'RE GONNA GET ON BACK TO IT
GET ON BACK TO LOVE
STAND BESIDE ME
GIVE THESE LOVING ARMS A TRY
STAND BESIDE ME
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE TO CRY
ONCE I THOUGHT THAT LOVE WAS FREE
I WAS BLIND BUT YOU LET ME SEE
THAT I CAN'T KEEP ON FOREVER WAITING
NOW'S THE TIME FOR LOVING AND LIVING
The lyrics to "Stand Beside Me" by Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado speak to a person who is reaching out to their love interest, hoping for a second chance in their relationship. The singer acknowledges it is late in the evening and apologizes for calling at such a time, but they emphasize the importance of this conversation. They admit to having been mistaken about many things and misjudging the person they are speaking to. Despite any past misunderstandings or misgivings, the singer has finally made up their mind and wants to reconcile.
The chorus serves as a plea to the person they are calling, asking them to stand beside them and give their love another chance. The singer longs for the comfort of their loving arms and doesn't want to be left alone to cry. It is evident that the singer deeply desires a resolution and is willing to work on the relationship.
In the next verse, the singer reveals that when they lay down to sleep at night, thoughts of the person they are calling are the last thing on their mind. They express their belief that their time will come, indicating their optimism about the future of their relationship. The singer wants to believe that they can go back to the love they once shared, and they are committed to keeping that belief alive.
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the singer's plea for their love interest to stand beside them and not leave them to face their emotions alone. The following lines reveal the singer's realization that they were once blind to the true nature of love, but their love interest opened their eyes and showed them the reality. The singer acknowledges that they cannot keep waiting forever, suggesting that now is the time for both love and living, indicating their readiness to fully invest in the relationship.
Overall, these lyrics portray a person who recognizes their past mistakes, longs for reconciliation, and is determined to make things right. They are ready to put in the effort and fight for love with the hope that their love interest will stand beside them and share a future filled with love and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
I KNOW IT'S LATE IN THE EVENING
I am aware that it's late in the evening
AND I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND
I hope you don't have any objections
SO PLEASE DON'T HANG UP ON ME
Please don't end the call abruptly
I JUST NEED A LITTLE WHILE
I just need a short amount of time
SO MANY THINGS I THOUGHT I KNEW
I had so many beliefs that I now realize were mistaken
SO MANY WAYS THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT YOU
I had numerous misconceptions about you
THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING YOU TONIGHT
That's the reason for my call this evening
I FINALLY MADE UP MY MIND
I have finally reached a decision
STAND BESIDE ME
Be there for me in support
GIVE THESE LOVING ARMS A TRY
Give my affectionate embrace a chance
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE TO CRY
Please don't abandon me to weep alone
WHEN I LAY ME DOWN
Before I lie down to sleep
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP
Prior to falling asleep
YOU'RE THE LAST THING ON MY MIND
You are the final thought in my mind
AND I KNOW THAT I WILL KEEP
And I know that I will retain
KEEP ON BELIEVING
Continue to have faith
THAT OUR TIME WILL FINALLY COME
That the moment we have been waiting for will eventually arrive
AND WE'RE GONNA GET ON BACK TO IT
And we will return to that state or activity
GET ON BACK TO LOVE
Resume our journey towards love
ONCE I THOUGHT THAT LOVE WAS FREE
In the past, I believed love had no cost
I WAS BLIND BUT YOU LET ME SEE
I was ignorant, but you enlightened me
THAT I CAN'T KEEP ON FOREVER WAITING
I cannot continue waiting indefinitely
NOW'S THE TIME FOR LOVING AND LIVING
The present is the moment to embrace love and live life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EMIL OLIVER BALSGAARD, SOREN BOJGAARD, PETER WEIENDORP KEHL, THORBJORN RISAGER, MARTIN SEIDELIN, PETER J SKJERNING, KASPER MICHAEL WAGNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheDellaniOakes
Beautiful!