“When I wrote Stand Up, I wanted to create something in the veins of Neil Youngs Rocking In The Free World. Thematically it questions what we are doing to each other and the planet we are living on. We can stop now, but we can never turn around!“

Stand up. For the words the you’ve spoken.
Stand up. Now is time for changes, you were there on the day our mother drowned.
Stand up. Our planets bleeding.
Stand up. Our waters boiling. Burning oil, sharks are nowhere to be found.

You and me we wanna dance together,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

You and me we wanna sing forever,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

Stand up. I see satan´s coming.
Stand up. I see the Wall returning – “sure as hell don’t want that kind inbound”.
Stand up. I see there´s bullets wasted.
Stand up. I see kids are killing, firing guns when we should all be safe and sound.

You and me we wanna dance together,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

You and me we wanna sing forever,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

Stand up. All the bloodlines lost now.
Stand up. I see helmets coming, white will help, black can force you to the ground.
Stand up. For the words the you’ve spoken.
Stand up. Now is time for changes, you were there on the day our mother drowned.

You and me we wanna dance together,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

You and me we wanna sing forever,
we can stop but can never turn around.
You and me we gonna stand together.

“In Today could be the day, I imagine someone getting tickets to Ariana Grandes concert i Manchester. Someone else getting tickets to Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. These two moments of joy, turned out to be something else – moments of terror.

(The crying baby is my son sounding through the babycall into my studio while I was recording vocals. I left it in there as it created a fitting atmosphere)”

Today, could be the day, you´ll be going to war.

This day in May you had been waiting.
Blew out the candles I made a wish come true.
You sure had Grande expectations.
Finally old enough, and now she´s singing for you.

 So many people were out that night.
Manchester lights and the kids are allright
It´s all about love, send a message through.
What right did he have to take that from you?

This day, this fall, you had been waiting.
Blew out the candles I made a wish come true.
It was the way a night should feel now,
Finally old enough, and now he´s singing for you.

So many peolple were out that night.
Las Vegas lights, and the kids are allright.
It´s all about love, send a message through.
What right did he have to take that from you?

Today, could be the day, you are going to war. 

It was written after I had watched the movie The Revenant. I wanted to catch the essence of the evil characters – the indians. Something dangerous going from village to village, in a small boat down the river, with a need to fill its Bag of Bones.

Can you see me coming as I float on up around the bend?
Can you see what I´m carrying my boat up around the bend?
Can you see water turning red as I turn on up around the bend?
Can you see what I´m carrying in my boat are ready for the end?

As I reach the shore I step outside, but first I grab my bag of bones.
My boots are dry, your spirits high, as I grab a hold on my bag of bones.
You welcome me, your soup is hot, and beside me is my bag of bones.
You look at it, and you wander why is he carrying all this stones?

I grab my knife, the blood looks light dirt, I use it just to cut the rope.

I open up, and I offer you to peak inside my bag of bones.
As you look inside, I grab my knife, slit your throat inside my bag of bones
I chop and I carve untill your head falls offs, and your bleeding while your loved once moans.
I can still hear you scream, and your body falls down, leaves your head inside my bag of bones.

I wrap it up, my bag of bones, I leave your family there all alone.
The soups still hot, while your children cry with your head inside my bag of bones.
I Leave your house, I go back to my boat, and beside me is my bag of bones.

I leave the shore, heading out for more I have a need to fill my bag of bones.
Can you see me coming as I float up around the bend?
Can you see me coming?

“I’m a Highway Star” pictures me sitting in a car reflecting over my mothers troublesome life. I’m thinking of all the love she had and all the sadness she was carrying inside of her. She always stood strong and loved us kids very much. Until she could not take it anymore and chose to leave us. I’m a Highway Star is a tribute to my mother”.

I´m a highway star
Traveling way to fast and going to far.

I´m hiding in the rain,
You had to struggle not to go insane.

I know you couldn’t stay.
Now you no longer hear the things I say.

I thought that you would be,
the one to always be there next to me.

I know you tried your best,
As life got harder you couldn’t pass the test.
I can still see you.
Vague shadows forming memories in blue.

I know what mattered to you,
And suddenly everything you had was due.
I did think of it then,
but now I see you always planned for the end.

I got to say goodbye.
But I could never ever see u cry.
I got hold your hand.
As you where making your final stand.
I had to leave you there.
I guess I was too young for death to share.

I´m a highway star.
I´m Traveling way to fast and going to far.

“Red Door” is about going mad. Hopefully I am not quite as mad as the person in song. But it is inspired by ups and downs I have had in my life. A touch of OCD and performance anxiety that I have struggled with manifests itself in the song. Put a little on the edge, Red Door is what it sounds like…

I want to scream I want to run,
I want to tick tock times ticking.
I want to click I want to lock,
I repeat it until I bleed.

Don’t want to find, I hide my fright,
I hear myself in my head.
I trust my self, don’t trust myself.
I repeat, bad thoughts I breed.

In my head I’m fighting, I’m dying.
Why can’t I do it, am I going all insane?
In my head I’m fighting,
I’m trying. Win or lose it, am I going all insane?

Car lights flashing, fists are bashing,
blood spurts out from my nails

Clocks go tick, and table turns,
my eyes closed but still I see.
Darkness raising, hope is falling.
Will I found the strength?
Darkness sliding, hope is raising.
On my way back again.

In my head I’m fighting, I’m dying.
Why can’t I do it, am I going all insane?
In my head I’m fighting,
I’m trying. Win or lose it, am I going all insane? 

Someone tell me, what’s this madness in me, can I leave it behind?
So, which side should you chose when I’m going mad.

“Let The Birds Fly” is written by my good friend and co-pilot Heinz Karnitschar. This is one of the songs that brought us together. I was asked by this guy on a forum if I would be interested to sing and play guitar on one of his songs. Of course I was interested. And funny enough the song fit perfect in on the album I was making at the time. Love this song”.

Where to go from here?
Where do i go from here?
What have i got today? 

A bitter sting. Emotion.  (A bitter sting).
Children feel the pain.
People have been slain.
I’m standing here, 

I’m standing here,
I’m standing here and i cry.
Let the birds fly. 

A deceving dream? (A decieving dram)
Or the original sin? (The original sin)
Feeling numb and cold.  (Feeling numb and cold)
Yeah, bitter tears, bitter tears ran dry! (Bitter tears rund dry)
Let the birds fly.

Did you turn away? (Did you turn away?)
No reason to obey? (No reason to obey)
Drift against the stream! (Drift against the stream)
Bring me back, bring me back. Bring me to the sky! (Bring me back to the sky)
Let the birds fly!

If i had the power,
I could change mankind.
If i had the potion, i’d leave no soul behind.
Candlelights are fading. Is it all too late.
Battered hearts are waiting – to alleviate.

Facing fear and anguish …. (Facing fear of anguish).
But the sun will rise again!

G.M.A is about the bombing in Manchester after Ariana Grande had performed at Manchester Arena. I had attended her concert in Stockholm just a week before with my daughter. I was horrified by the happening. It could have happened to us. It was heartbreaking.

No-one saw you coming. In the shadows tonight.
Left all your light behind. Only hatred in sight.
What you got to remember? That theres kids inside.
So what you gonna do? You should run and hide.

Now, I can see them crying. I can see them flying,
Oh, I can see them dying. Desperately trying.
And its all your fault. This is all on you. You.

You shouldn’t touch our children. You shouldn’t come to our home.
You should not interfere. You should take care of your own.
You should trie to remember. Fuck colour, sex and God.
We´re here to live in peace, no matter who you are.

Can you see them coming? Yeah, there here for you.
Burning wings and empty eyes. You shall burn there too.
´Cause your name is forgotten. No-one knows who you are.
There’s no mission accomplished, not even a falling star.

´Cause you left her broken. From the bottom of her heart.
Rotting flowers on the ground. Then make a brand new start.
Cause we will never give in. And we will never give up.
Cause she will raise again. We will raise again.

We will never give in.
We will never give in.
We will never give in.