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.
Thousands of Vendings
Travellin' Strawberries Lyrics
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I'm sitting here thinking on what the gammel man said (Ooooh)
If you wanna do it, you must try - just legg i way (Waah-ooh)
Maybe you can do i morra what you can't do today
Thousands of vendings kværn around in my head (Ooooh)
I'm sitting here thinking on what the gammel man said (Ooooh)
My gammel man said one each is his own luck's smith (Waah-ooh)
The one who first comes to the mill
Is him who first gets painted
He also said if you sleep in telt
Make sure that it is raintett
Thousands of vendings kværn around in my head (Ooooh)
I'm sitting here thinking on what the gammel man said (Ooooh)
There's nothing that is so shit that it's not good for nå (Waah-ooh)
Kommer times kommer road, we are all sammen in the same båt
The one who first comes to the mill
Is him who first gets painted
He also said if you sleep in telt
Make sure that it is raintett
*Whistle*
In Travellin' Strawberries's song "Thousands of Vendings," the lyrics describe the thoughts and advice given by an older man to the singer. The phrase "thousands of vendings kværn around in my head" suggests that the singer is contemplating many different ideas and possibilities. The gammel man, or old man, encourages the singer to take action towards their goals, even if it seems daunting. The phrase "leg i way" implies taking the first step and just getting started.
The gammel man also imparts some wisdom about luck and preparation. He suggests that everyone is responsible for their own luck and success, and that it is important to be prepared for challenges. This is conveyed through the phrases "one each is his own luck's smith" and "make sure that it is raintett" (meaning to ensure your tent is waterproof).
The chorus repeats the idea that everyone experiences challenges and setbacks, but that they are necessary for growth and progress. The phrase "there's nothing that is so shit that it's not good for nå" suggests that even negative experiences can have a positive impact in the future. The song ends with a simple melody of whistling.
Line by Line Meaning
Thousands of vendings kværn around in my head (Ooooh)
I am constantly thinking about different possibilities and scenarios
I'm sitting here thinking on what the gammel man said (Ooooh)
I am reflecting on the advice given to me by my elder
If you wanna do it, you must try - just legg i way (Waah-ooh)
To achieve something, you must take action and not hesitate
Maybe you can do i morra what you can't do today
You may be able to accomplish something tomorrow that you are unable to do today
My gammel man said one each is his own luck's smith (Waah-ooh)
Everyone is responsible for their own success and happiness
That's it simpelthen overhead not nå to do with
It's a simple concept that doesn't require much explanation
The one who first comes to the mill
Is him who first gets painted
The first person to take action will be the first to see results
He also said if you sleep in telt
Make sure that it is raintett
He also cautioned to be prepared for any situation, such as ensuring your tent is waterproof
There's nothing that is so shit that it's not good for nå (Waah-ooh)
Even bad situations can have a positive outcome or lesson to learn from
Kommer times kommer road, we are all sammen in the same båt
We are all in this together and will face challenges and opportunities in life
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.