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B i o g r a p h y Under Byen is an eight piece band that mix the gentle with the raw. Reigning from Denmark's second-largest city, Århus, they produce their own unorthodox interpretation of rock music. Their qualities especially become evident at their spellbinding live shows where they create a symbiosis between elven fairytale fragility and massive rock energy. Sometimes soft as the wind, other times sharp as a rock. The intimate versus the extrovert. It is in this space that their musical magic emerges. Under Byen seem most at ease walking on thin ice - believing that their talent will keep them above water. And it does. Under Byen (which is Danish for "Under The City") don't use guitars. Instead their soundscape is dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically distorted saw, organ, drums and percussion - to great effect. A somewhat different vein of rock (or pop) spiced up with jazzy, folky and classical elements. This is a band to be heard, simply because they defy satisfactory explanation. The Danish lyrics are an important part of Under Byen, but the sound of the vocals alone will still let the listener into their poetic universe. When senior editor at Rolling Stone, David Fricke, experienced the band live in Denmark in 2002 he said: "Under Byen were fantastic. Of course I didn't understand a word of the lyrics - but that didn't matter at all." The 1999 debut album immediately impressed the music critics, who applauded the band for creating their own style and tone. And far from being a mainstream act Under Byen has nevertheless attracted a devoted fanbase following the release of their two albums and intense live shows. Under Byen's influences are very diverse, but on occasion band members have expressed their fondness for artists such as Stina Nordenstam, Björk, Tori Amos, Sígur Rós, Tom Waits and Mark Hollis (ex-Talk Talk). And the attentive listener might find elements of these hidden here and there in Under Byen's music. |
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Kyst - 1999 -
Sejler |
Det Er Mig Der holder Traeerne Sammen - 2002 -
Det er mig der holder træerne
sammen
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Samme Stof Som Stof - 2006 -
Pilot |
Non Albums Tracks - Misc -
Puma |
*** Thanx a lot to Liv &
Lars for
these lyrics and their translation ! ***
*** Don't forget to visit the
Unofficial Under Byen homepage ***
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Sejler Mågerne stod omkring dit skib Da du lagde til kaj Du sejler i mig Du sejler i mig Mågerne stod om dit skib Brusende bølgende hav Stormfulde sitrende sejl Længselsfuld syndefuld stævn Lukket og underfuld* favn Du lå i havnen og ventede på mig Men jeg blev på kajen Du sejler i mig Du sejler i mig Sejler Sejler Du sejler I mig |
Sailor / Sailing The seagulls were around your ship When you came alongside the pier / quay You are sailing in me You are sailing in me The seagulls were around your ship Roaring wavy sea You were at the harbour waiting for me |
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Hjertebarn Mit hjertebarn Min synderinde Fugtige lænker synger Mellem grenene og den nedfaldne frugt I den vilde have I det tidlige lys Hun forklæder sig Og stjæler natten Du har vel også set hende I kabinettet Det der hår om skuldrene Har senere alene Knækket sammen over bordet Væltet vokset over Med dine akavede arme Ved tanken om linien Fra ryg til hofte I bilen Hvor hun brækker sig |
Heart child My heart child My sinner / 'sinneress'* Moist chains are singing Between the branches and windfall / fallen fruit In the wild garden In the early light She disguises herself And steals the night I guess you have also seen her In the cabinet / boudoir That hair around the shoulders Has later alone Collapsed over the table Knocked over the wax With your awkward arms By the thought of the line From back to hip In the car Where she vomits / throws up Note: * Female |
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Vindeltrappe Vi er dem der rider blandt heste om natten Jeg har set dig på din cykel fra bussen Vindens gigantiske hove i dit hår Hvis du gav slip nu ville du ikke falde Men galopere gennem Eftermiddagskyernes Vindeltrappe |
Spiral staircase We are the ones who ride among horses in the night I have seen you on your bike from the bus The wind’s gigantic hooves in your hair If you let go now you would not fall But gallop through The afternoon-clouds’ Spiral staircase |
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Gå ind i lyset Hun sagde til mig Det bliver bedre dag for dag Og hun sagde til mig Tag min hånd og kom med Gå ind i lyset Som myggesværmen |
Walk into the light She said to me It gets better day by day And she said to me Take my hand and come with me Walk into the light Like the swarm of mosquitoes |
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Vinterbørn Hun taler med englene Og kaster flammer Fra sine hænder Men vinterbørnene ser hende ikke De leger bag øjets skygger I hvidt lys |
Winter-children She speaks with the angels And throws flames From her hands But the winter children does not see her They play behind the shadows of the eye In white light |
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Ingenting hos mig I vores gård Inde mellem husene Findes længslerne Inde mellem husene De driver de sukker De siler ned Ingenting hos mig I vores gård Ovre bag gardinerne Findes glæderne Ovre bag gardinerne Med babygråd og nøgne kroppe Med barnehvin og elskovssukke Ingenting hos mig |
Nothing with me / Nothing by my side In our yard Between the houses Are the yearnings Between the houses They drift they sigh They pour down Nothing with me / nothing by my side In our yard Over behind the curtains Are the joys / pleasures Over behind the curtains With baby weeping and naked bodies With children squeals and sighs of love Nothing with me /nothing by my side |
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Fugle og ild Jeg ligger på taget af pastel parcel Og slikker regn og lyn Luften er rå Elektriske træer med mørke under Lunder mod teglsten Luften er rå Der er fugle og ild nok Vælg et par vinger og Lad os flyve til himmels |
Birds and fire I lie on the roof of pastel plot And lick rain and lightning The air is raw Electric trees with darkness under Lungs against tiles The air is raw There are birds and fire enough Choose a pair of wings and Let us fly skywards |
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Sylfiden En sylfide på disse kanter Kroppen synger i bølgernes brøl Hudens duft er en evighed Når du bøjer dig mod Blå øjne blå mund blå bryster En strandvasker mod dine kyster Turister og lokale kan se Liget af en elskerinde Gennem dit blege ansigt |
The Sylph A sylph in these parts / around here The body sings in the roar of the waves The scent of skin is an eternity When lean towards Blue eyes blue mouth blue breasts A body washed ashore on your shores Tourists and locals can see The body of a mistress Through your pale face |
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Kyst Sandets våde kys Over os himlen Duftende våde kys Over os himlen Hvor rovfuglene Smidigt skriger Voldsomt kredser Over bølger Vil vi være Sandede fiskede frugtede Råt kød mod hinandens Tænder og drømme Røntgenbilleder Af frodighed Hvis du giver mig lov |
Coast / Shore
The wet kiss of the sand |
Det Er Mig Der holder Traeerne Sammen
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Det er mig der holder træerne sammen Det er mig |
It is me who keeps the trees together
It is me |
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Plantage (Danser så stille I salenes tom Nikker imod glas) Udenfor gror plantagen Stammernes sagte hvisken Krystallernes kant Og tiden er sprød En due med dunkende hjerte Når der standses og lyttes Til planternes drømme derude Der lister ind under sømmen Og stoffets knitren mod gulvet Note: The words in brackets are written in the cd sleeve, but are not sung. |
Plantation / Orchard (Dancing so slowly in the hall's empty Nod against glass) Outside the plantation / orchard grows The gentle whisper of the trunks The edge of the crystals And the time is crispy A pigeon with a pounding heart When one stops and listens To the dreams of the plants out there That slips under the hem / seam And the rustle of the the fabric against the floor |
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Mission Det ligner mod Men er det ikke Mest af alt ønsker jeg mig En mission Jeg ligger lavt Jeg er langt ude Jeg går så langt jeg kan Jeg går igennem Jeg går hele vejen Det ligner mod Men er det ikke Det er noget at leve for En mission Jeg overvinder Jeg overkommer Jeg kysser katastrofer Det ligner mod Den sang når jeg angriber Det er noget at dø for En mission |
Mission It looks like courage But it is not Most of all I wish for A mission I'm lying low I'm far out I go as far as I can I go through I go all the way It looks like courage But it is not It's something to live for A mission I overcome / conquer I manage / overcome I kiss catastrophes It looks like courage That song when I attack It is something to die for A mission |
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Ride Silende regn Da riderne kom Og bortførte mig Over fjorden Over gråt vand Over stejle skrænter Med grus jordskred Blafrende hud Hænger i tjørnekrattet Ved indgangen til fjeldet Kom ride flyv mig Kom ride fang mig nu Kom ride flyt mig Kom ride find mig nu |
Kittiwake Pouring rain When the kittiwakes came And abducted me Over the fiord / inlet Over grey water Over steep slopes With gravel landslide Flapping / fluttering skin Hanging in the whitethorn thicket / scrub By the entrance to the mountains Come kittiwake fly me Come kittiwake catch me now Come kittiwake move me Come kittiwake find me now Note: A kittiwake is a certain species of seagull. |
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I dag har jeg klædt mig |
The City Flows The City Is Soaked / The City Is Floating Today I have dressed myself In silk and desire Today I have seen us In the window At the table Up the front door The city is soaked / The city is dripping By our love / With our love Note: The Danish word 'driver' means 'floating', but this use seems to mean the city is floating with their love. Like the city is soaked in it and hence dripping with it. |
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Batteri Generator Snevejr gør noget ved folk Det er ikke til at sige hvad det er Når man vågner op i kraner Og verden er hvid Kabler skal lige rettes til Motorer justeres Alt omkring funkler og glitrer Batteri generator Og ingenting er længere for sent Man kan nå at være tro Man kan nå at være utro Man kan leve lidt alligevel |
Battery generator Snowy weather does something to people It is difficult to tell what it is When you wake up in cranes And the world is white Cables need to be corrected Engines adjusted Everything around (you) sparkles and glitters Battery generator And nothing is any longer too late One can still be faithful One can still be unfaithful One can still live for a bit anyway |
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Legesag |
Plaything / Toy Nothing but a plaything / toy So simple and sexy When I disappear and get scared You study my fragments You poke in the open You lick on my soul You munch on my pulse You are nothing but a bastard Such a crawling creep Such a greedy liar Yeah yeah it was marvellous It was fine fine Go away and never come back Wretch I know your kind Shadows that tempt and want Rude rude shadows Have no idea what is in the food Who awaits in the dark staircase It doesn't matter now Everyone knows that I am sick with longing Nothing else but Moon struck and strange / peculiar I'm tired of people Who just leave me Way too hopelessly hopeful Hereabouts there is danger and destruction / peril and ruin Hereabouts not a damn thing happens Note: The word "toy" doesn't quite cover as what is meant is that it's a woman treated badly by someone else - and not a plastic car from Toys'R'Us. |
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Om vinteren Om vinteren Kusken har sorg i tasken under sædet Jeg er lidt for sen og forhastet Om vinteren I kabinen Kan man sidde på hynder af stiv brokade Eller rulle sig sammen på det lille gulv Om vinteren Mørket falder på ruder og læber Dyrene derude hiver efter vejret Der er en jeg søger Om vinteren Og måske har jeg givet op Endnu før jeg tog afsted Men måske var jeg lissom drevet Af for mange søvnløse nætter Af den skøre uro der aldrig helt forsvinder Om vinteren Helt stille Prøver af holde natten borte Selvom det for sent Ville jeg så gerne du skulle være stolt af mig Om vinteren |
In the winter In the winter The driver* has sorrow in the bag under the seat I'm a little too late and rash / hasty In the winter In the cabin You can sit on cushions of stiff brocade Or curl up on the tiny floor In the winter The darkness falls upon windows and lips The animals out there are gasping for breath There is one I search In the winter And maybe I have given up Even before I set out But maybe I was kind of driven By too many sleepless nights By the crazy restlessness that never quite disappears In the winter All quiet Trying to keep the night away Even though it's too late I so much wanted you to be proud of me In the winter Note: * A 'kusk' is a driver of a horse-drawn carriage (coachman?). |
Pilot
Jeg var din
Hemmelige brud
Usynlig og næsten usårlig
I din maskine
Du var min
Pilot
Så pur når du skar himlen op
Under al radar
Vi var ingen andres
Ingen andre
Så mine blonder i instrumenternes
Bløde blus
Vi var som ingen andre
Den tomme luft
Bærer endnu dit mærke
Dine perfekte snit lagt i ilt
Den her
sang handler om at få det bedste ud af det
På besøg hos onkel
L æderstol i det private bibliotek
Skal hun lære at dy sig?
Skal hun lære at te sig?
Ja hun skal ja hun skal
Onkel bøjdiginderoverher
Åh hjerte åh mund
Svulmende blussende
Belysning Hitchcock
En lille bokser
Der danser graciøst bum bum bum
Håndsæbe
Og flossede fingre
Angorasweater
Og der er kun den hårde måde
Snavs til ynde
Træthed til disciplin
Tranformation af
Et landskab der krakelerer
Byer der styrter i grus
Børn der ikke vågner igen
Tindrer
Vi tindrer vi raser
Vi gløder vi
Slår os ikke ned
Falder ikke til ro
Vi er gale
Og fine
Skøre som glas
Som parfurmeret papir
Vist
Vi mister
Hinanden
Og kan ikke klare det
Og kommer aldrig over det
Fortabes
Begraves
I fremmede byer
Men husk vi er stadig i live
Vist
Er vi det
Heftig
Ensomheden er den heftigste affære jeg har haft
At spendere en slags aftener med langsom badning
At betro sig til lagner og linned
At forføre sig selv og finde
Aelskab i spejle derinde
Tar de også tøjet af og vil det hele
Dystert dygtigt
Af samme
stof som stof
Rawlplugsformede er illusionerne
De skruer sig ind og man bruger dem
Til at få verden til at blive hængende på væggen
Længselsformet er væggen
Med planteplanker under
(Plotpanter)
Af samme stof som stof
Sirupsbetrukne er instinkterne
De danner karavaner af vaner og man bruger dem
Til at få tiden til at gå og gå i stå
Til at få livet til at glide ned
Man glider imellem paralelle nøglehuller og knaphuller
(Sukkersmuds)
Af samme stof som stof
Film og
omvendt
Min elskede
Hver aften med dig en afsked
Hver morgen øm og død
En forveksling
Minder og film og omvendt
Tilgiv mig
At jeg har levet kun for din sult
Som jeg også tilgiver
At jeg elsker dig
Ingen straf
Selvom du tvinger mig
Til at tage dig
Med ned i mørket og
Opdage dig helt dernede
Hvor jeg er
Siamesisk
Bag alle lukkede døre i et hus fuld af gåder
Spiser støv drikker mudder
G år hvor genfærd ikke tør gå
Så såre siamesisk er alle tankene sluppet op
Intet kan stille den hunger
Palads
Paladset er frosset til det inderste af stjerne
Perle is
Vinduerne er dækket af rim og remser
Enhver der våger sig ud bliver kørt over 3 gange
Og når frem pakket med glemsel
Og når frem mere halve end hele
Og ved ikke hvorfor de kom
Og under tunge dyner drømmes om alskens instekter
Om klæbrige klistrede knitrende vinger
Om ikke at skulle holde ud
Slå sorte
hjerte
Englene sitrer og vindene hvisker farvel
Tapeterne bølger og folder sig i feber
Lagnerne smykker sig kinesisk og ånder tungt
N år du går med mig ned
Slå mit sorte hjerte
Syng min hvide nat
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Puma Honningpelsen brænder |
Puma
( Puma EP ) |
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Vindeltrappe ( Puma EP ) Vi er dem der rider blandt heste om natten |
Spiral Staircase ( Puma EP ) We are the ones who ride among horses in the
night |
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Spindelvævssind
( Puma EP ) |
Cobweb Mind
( Puma EP ) |
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Veninde i vinden Et kort øjeblik over
forgængerovergangen |
Girlfriend In The Wind A short moment over the
pedestrian crossing / crosswalk |
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Mathilde (Valsch med mig) Mathilde vals med mig |
Mathilda
(Waltzzz With Me) Mathilda waltz with me |
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I en drøm om vilde
heste ( Live )
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In A Dream About Wild Horses
( Live ) |
Povl Dissing: Hvor er man henne?
( Live Cover )
Lillebitte blir man når man sover,
Blød og lille som en kat man selv har fundet.
Når man ligger med sin dyne over
blir man pluds´lig borte og er helt forsvundet.
Hvor er man henne når man er borte
og hvor er man henne når man sover hen?
Det er svært at forstå når man ikke forstår det,
for om morgenen er man der altid igen.
Lillebitte blir man når man drømmer,
varm og lille som et lys der står og brænder.
Søvnen lister ud i alle lemmer
og så pluds´lig er man en man ikke kender.
Hvor er man henne når man er borte
og hvor er man henne når man sover hen?
Det er svært at forstå når man ikke forstår det,
for om morgenen er man der altid igen.
Note: This is the original poem
"Lillebitte" by Halfdan Rasmussen later sung by Povl Dissing.
Under Byen seem to have made a few very small changes.
TV-2: Kalundborgbåden
( Live Cover )
På Kalundborgbådens agterdæk
forefindes morskabsautomater
et populært
et populært
et populært
tidsfordriv
( Live Cover )
Mumbling goodmorning & raising my head
A bad breath kiss to my pillow pet
I take a look at the day turns & stay in bed
Open my eyes when the day have died
I turned the world and I slept allright
Now my daymare is over I zip my jeans tight
Oh lord won't you bless this night...
From the pale lips of a youth who lay
I'm sleeping my day away
And when the night comes to the city I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
Yeah! With my pale lips in the pillow I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
After dark is the game I play
I'm sleeping my day away I'm sleeping my day away
When my dreams begin I'd be proud to be letting you in
With a smile on my face I guide our dreamboat in
So if you wanna travel along with me
You better sleep tight the rest of the day
You see I could be a sleeper it's not rest I lack
'Coz I hit the sack when the suns coming back
From the pale lips of a youth who lay
I'm sleeping my day away
And when the night comes to the city I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
Yeah! With my pale lips in the pillow I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
That after dark - is the game I play
I'm sleeping my day, I'm sleeping my day, I'm sleeping my day
I'm sleeping my day away
I'm sleeping my day away
Yeah! Now I've turned the world around yeah! I did it again
I'm sleeping my day away
And now I have to wear my shades down sleepers lane
I'm sleeping my day away
Yeah! All the good people have gone to bed again
I'm sleeping my day away
'Coz the devil's at work inside my brain
I'm sleeping my day away I'm sleeping my day away
I'm sleeping my day away I'm sleeping my day away away...
( Live Cover )
In Hannover an der Leine
Neue Strasse Nummer acht
Hat der Massenmörder Haarmann
Viele Menschen umgebracht
Warte warte nur ein Weilchen
Dann kommt Haarmann auch zu Dir
Mit dem kleinen Hackebeilchen
Macht er Hackefleisch aus dir
Aus den Kopft da macht er Sülze
Aus dem Bauch da macht er Speck
Aus dem Arsch da macht er Schinken
Und das anderes schmeißt er weg
Warte warte nur ein Weilchen
Dann kommt Haarmann auch zu Dir
Mit dem kleinen Hackebeilchen
Macht er Hackefleisch aus dir
Und dir
Und dir
Torque
(Tango De La Tongue)
( On Howe Gelb - The listener LP )
Howe:
If I ever were to touch you
I'd never wash that hand
Stumble around like another lost soul
Living life something less than a man
Henriette:
My land is embraced by the sun
Warming up the icy veined creeks
Shattering the shadows
Through every dark hollow
To insanely high peaks
Howe & Henriette:
Ready to witness
Ready to be shown
Do you really love this mess
Leave love alone
Howe:
Must be remarkable where you're from
If they grow up things like you
The torque of your tongue
How it get things done
The way your eyes burn through
Henriette:
If you where to touch me
I'd curl up like a fetus in a womb
Pester me into adoring you
Fester like an open wound
Howe & Henriette:
Was ready to witness
Ready to be shown
Do you really like this mess
Leave love alone
Ready to witness
Ready to be shown
(???)
Leave love alone
Jeg Er Din Mand
( I'm Your Man / Leonard Cohen Cover / Danish Tribute CD )
Ønsker du en elsker
Vil jeg gøre hvad som helst for dig
Skal det være anderledes
Vil jeg maskere mig
Vil du ha en bokser
Stiller jeg op
Vil du lege doktor
Undersøger jeg din krop
Vil du ha en der fører dig
Eller vil du forføre mig
Du ved du kan
Har du brug for hvile
Styrer jeg for dig
Har du styr på det hele
Flytter jeg mig
Vil du ha alt jeg har
Eller vil du bare ha jeg tar
Alt jeg kan
Jeg er din mand
