In 1981 Ebbot Lundberg met Patrik Caganis at a U.K. Subs gig. They shared a common musical taste in hardcore music, and the friendship that followed produced the forming of a punk band - "Sure Tråkings Trio". During the years that followed, "Sure Tråkings Trio" was disbanded and Patrik Caganis spent a year as an exchange student in Minneapolis, USA. Going to gigs with bands like Hüsker Dü, Replacements and Soul Asylum, he claims to have been heavily musically inspired. In 1986, Ebbot Lundbergs friend Emrik had tried out as a singer for a band called Heartbeat City. Emrik, (who was also the singer of the domestically famous Swedish funkrockband Stonefunkers), didn't want to stay in the band, and instead suggested that Ebbot Lundberg should audition. Patrik Caganis, a Heartbeat City fan, decided to team up with Lundberg and they went to the audition together.
Heartbeat City then consisted of Björn Olsson on the guitars and Henrik Rylander on the drums. The audition and jams that followed proved to work out well - fitting in Caganis' guitars with Olssons' and adding Lundbergs' improvised lyrics and melodies.[citation needed] After a while Lundberg brought in long time friend Per Helm on bass - an addition that also proved to add to the groups evolving sound. This composition formed Union Carbide Productions. They started writing songs, and on June the 14th 1986 they had their live debut. It took place at the "Save the Forest" festival in Gothenburg. The gig resulted in an amplifier hitting someone's head, and a crowd of skate punk friends creating chaos - a phenomenon that would set the key for many of their gigs to come.
At the end of 1986 the band recorded three songs at Music-a-Matic Studio in Gothenburg: "Financial Declaration", "Summer Holiday Camp" and "So Long". Since they had no record deal, the band paid for the sessions themselves. They sent a demotape to Carl Abrahamsson, the then editor of underground fanzine Lollipop, who liked the band so much that he got Financial Declaration distributed on a flexi-disc that was sold along with the fanzine. In the spring of 1987, the band managed to get a record deal with the small label Radium 226.5, which released their first album "In The Air Tonight". Later the same year, they played at the Swedish festival Hultsfredsfestivalen. In 1988, UCP continued touring in Sweden and also did some gigs abroad. One of the more notable venues being CBGB's in New York where they were the opening act for another band. Before going to USA, Per Helm (bass) was replaced by Adam Wladis (bass) - a former bandmate of Henrik Rylander. During the tour, UCP continued to build on their reputation as a crazy live-act. Before recording their next record, Financially Dissatisfied, Philosophically Trying, Adam Wladis quit and was replaced by returning member Per Helm.
During the years, the band changed its members a lot, but in 1989 they settled and appeared in their final incarnation, consisting of: Ebbot Lundberg, Patrik Caganis, Henrik Rylander, Jan Skoglund, Ian Persson and Christian Martinius. Some of the band's material was produced by Henryk Lipp - a Swedish producer who has worked with Millencolin, Thåström, Håkan Hellström and Sator. The band recorded their last album - "Swing" - in 1992 in Chicago, and it was produced by Steve Albini. The band broke up in 1993. Ebbot Lundberg and Ian Persson later went on to form the successful rockband The Soundtrack of Our Lives, of which also Björn Olsson has been involved both as a musician and as a producer. In 2003, they made a temporary reunion and returned to Hultsfredsfestivalen, sixteen years after their first appearance there.
Be Myself Again
Union Carbide Productions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know that soon my time is running out
I've been so high and I've been so low
And all the time I've was movin' too slow
But I guess that time takes a friend
To be yourself again
To be myself again
To be myself again
I don't need your books to know how to read
While this mind of mine is just filled up with speed
You told me this now you're telling me that
Well, did I ever tell you how to act
'Cause you know it's time, time to pretend to
To be yourself again
And I'll be myself again
Be myself again
Be myself again
Again
The lyrics of Union Carbide Production's song "Be Myself Again" are deeply introspective and contemplative in nature. The opening lines "I feel so way by down and out, and I know that soon my time is running out" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer of the song is lost and struggling to find himself. He has been through highs and lows, but all the while feels that he was moving too slow. He understands that time is precious and fleeting, and he needs to make a concerted effort to rediscover himself.
The chorus of the song is the most significant part, as the singer yearns to "be myself again." This desire to be true to oneself is evident throughout the song. The singer is tired of being told how to act and what to do. He does not need anyone's advice or books to know how to read since his mind is already fueled with speed. The song encourages taking time to be true to oneself no matter what others might say.
Overall, the song is about rediscovering oneself and avoiding external influence. The singer wants to break away from the expectations of others and be true to his nature, even if that means pretending for a while. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has gone through a dark period and sought to rediscover oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel so way by down and out
I feel extremely sad and hopeless
And I know that soon my time is running out
I am aware that I don't have much time to turn things around
I've been so high and I've been so low
I've experienced both amazing highs and terrible lows
And all the time I've was movin' too slow
I haven't been making progress as fast as I should have been
But I guess that time takes a friend
I suppose that time can be helpful in healing and recovering from difficult times
To be yourself again
To regain one's sense of self and identity
To be myself again
To regain my sense of self and identity
To be myself again
To regain my sense of self and identity
To be myself again
To regain my sense of self and identity
I don't need your books to know how to read
I don't need anyone else to tell me what I should know or how to live my life
While this mind of mine is just filled up with speed
My mind is racing and I am always on the move
You told me this now you're telling me that
You are contradicting yourself and changing your stance
Well, did I ever tell you how to act
I have never tried to control or manipulate you, so please do the same for me
'Cause you know it's time, time to pretend to
It's time to pretend to be myself again
To be yourself again
To regain one's sense of self and identity
And I'll be myself again
I will regain my sense of self and identity
Be myself again
To regain my sense of self and identity
Be myself again
To regain my sense of self and identity
Again
Starting over and getting back to my true self
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTIAN JAN PERSON, HENRIK CARL RYLANDER, JAN KRISTER SKOGLUND, PATRIK CAGANIS, TORBJOERN LUNDBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ludvig Köhler
Yes, Union Carbide Productions, one of the greatest swedish groups ever!
cokeglas
I remember UCP being the roadtrip soundtrack to the first Big Day Out in Sydney, going from Melbourne to Sydney to see Nirvana. Great band.. Un fortunately our driver was a too-enthusiastic singer/
TedStryker19
great band!
Fanny Nine Productions
So young, still they knew it all even back then.
Scarecrow Yard
Kurt Cobain was a fan of this band. I understand, because they're awesome!
getupkid76
Wicked.. Älskar denna låten
diekloper
great stuff
Dropin Dropout
I can´t help myself but Iam still lost with that band!
PapaPaba
I appreciate the funk reference.... Say hello to Emrik and Torsten. And Katarina for the most. Among your geatest songs, BTW.
cokeglas
Should be in the vernacular of anyone talking about Swedish rock bands.