Based in Trøndelag, Norway, Gafseth, Johansen and Mylius were the principal songwriters of the freakbeat group Difference, which reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960's. In the early 1990's, the group wrote and performed in a stage show called Strawberry Fields Forever, a "rock fable" concerning The Beatles, Difference and John Lennon at Trøndelag Teater, which became a huge local success. In 1993, they began performing an abridged version of the show on tour, and from then on, the group became known as Travellin' Strawberries.
The band's success and talent was brought to the attention of entertainment industry executives, and they were hired to star in a Norwegian localization of the Danish Christmas series known as The Julekalender, which had become something of a national success in Denmark. The series was practically a carbon copy of the Danish original, down to the sets, costumes, and script. The songs for the original Danish version were written by De Nattergale; Travellin' Strawberries re-used the original instrument tracks recorded by the Danish band, and recorded their own vocals. In the show, the protagonists of the story, three nisser (a Norwegian equivalent to Santa's elves) spoke a language that was a blend of English and Norwegian, an element that was also written into the songs.
First shown in 1994, the television show itself became a huge success, as did the accompanying soundtrack: the song "The Støvel Dance" ("The Boot Dance") became an oft-requested radio single, and the soundtrack album Songs from THE JULEKALENDER eventually gained the #1 spot in the Norwegian album charts and eventually became a triple Platinum record, by Norwegian standards. The group would later tour Norway with a stage show based loosely on the series.
In 1997, the group's second television series, Prinsesse Gullhår og de tre omreisende trubadurer, an entirely original production, was released; however, it did not become the success that The Julekalender had been. Its accompanying soundtrack album spent one week on the official album charts before disappearing. Subsequent repeat airings of The Julekalender has resulted in the soundtrack album occasionally resurfacing on the album charts.
Knokkel Pukkel Man
Travellin' Strawberries Lyrics
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I'm dven dtte m like trtt
It hurts in my shoulder
It hurts in my bones
I shall do the hele, hele helt alone
It's sitting on tvers in my univers
I think it's grensing to something pervers
I got infiltrations in my neck
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
Doing this and do it sttt
I'm dven dtte m like trtt
It's sitting on tvers in my univers
I think it's grensing to something pervers
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
In the virkelighood I'm a feelsom fyr
But sometimes my feelings are not til to styr
And now I'm alts gal
In the virkelighood I'm a feelsom fyr
But sometimes my feelings are not til to styr
And now I'm alts gal
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
The lyrics of Travellin' Strawberries's song Knokkel Pukkel Man are a representation of physical pain and discomfort caused by a knotted and twisted body. The opening lines "Doing this and do it sttt, I'm dven dtte m like trtt" describe the struggle of carrying out daily activities with a twisted and contorted body. The pain is not limited to just the shoulder or bones but has crept into the entire being, making the simplest of tasks daunting.
The line "It's sitting on tvers in my univers, I think it's grensing to something pervers" can be interpreted as the physical pain having an internal impact on the person's emotional and psychological state. The word 'grensing' can be interpreted as aggravating or irritating, indicating that the pain is causing a negative impact on the person's overall well-being. The lyrics suggest that the person may consider seeking medical assistance as they mention 'got infiltrations in my neck, I think I need a kiropraktorcheck'.
The repetition of the line "I'm the knokkel pukkel man" throughout the song could be a representation of the person's identity being defined by their physical state. It may also suggest the person's frustration at not being able to carry out everyday activities with ease due to the pain and discomfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Doing this and do it sttt
I am trying to accomplish something quietly and efficiently
I'm dven dtte m like trtt
Even though it's difficult, I'm determined to do it
It hurts in my shoulder
I feel pain in my shoulder
It hurts in my bones
I am experiencing pain throughout my body
I shall do the hele, hele helt alone
I will do this all by myself
It's sitting on tvers in my univers
Something is bothering me deeply
I think it's grensing to something pervers
I believe this is leading to something unpleasant or even perverse
I got infiltrations in my neck
I have injections in my neck, possibly to relieve pain or inflammation
I think I need a kiropraktorcheck
I believe I need to see a chiropractor for an evaluation
I'm the knokkel pukkel man
I am the knuckle hunchback man
In the virkelighood I'm a feelsom fyr
In reality, I am a sensitive guy
But sometimes my feelings are not til to styr
But sometimes my emotions are difficult to control
And now I'm alts gal
And now I am completely crazy
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.