“Fisken” (the Fish/Little Fish Tom):
Some background info on this 27min epic concept piece:
“Little Fish Tom” was created over a period of some 6 years. The lyrics were actually written as early as 1986. A naïve but touching little drama about a fish trying to escape the tyranny of the sharks. The whole point of the story was that there should be no underlying meaning and that there should not be a happy ending. At least we achieved the latter….!!! The idea of the lyrics was based on “Wenn die haifische menschen wären” by Berthold Brecht, which we remembered from the German book we had to read in high school. From there, we spun off! Well, at least we came up with some nice rhymes…
The music was based on our first three compositions (courtesy of Øyvind and Kristian), but we eventually added a whole lot of other small pieces (composed by Henrik and Øyvind) that helped make “Fisken” into an epic, somewhat coherent concept piece.
It consists of 10 separate parts:
1. Intro/Overture (synth with waves and underwater atmosphere)
2. Interlude 1 (melodic slow instrumental piece by full band)
3. Ener’n/Beyond the Darkness (the story begins – hard rock song with vocals)
4. Interlude 2 (two guitars only)
5. Toer’n/Through the Fisheye lens (the story continues -hard rock song with vocals)
6. Interlude 3 (melodic line with bottleneck over band playing mellow)
7. Treer’n/Across the Corals (the story nearing its climax – more progressive piece)
8. The Battle/ “Kampen” (yup, quite intense and wild)
9. A Farewell to Tom (beautiful mellow music with some vocals)
10. Afterthought (4 bass guitars melodic finish)
INTRO
(Overture)
-no lyrics
credits:
Henrik: Synths, fretless bass (for some of the “whale singing”)
seagull audio borrowed from Aster Granum
Music: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Henrik & Øyvind
INTERLUDE 1
(no lyrics)
credits:
Øyvind: Lead guitar
Kristian: Acoustic Guitar
Erik: Drums and percussion
Henrik: Fretless bass
Music: Henrik & Øyvind
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
ENER’N
(Beyond the Darkness)
About Ener’n: This was our very first original, composed by Øyvind in 1986. On the (not published) CD from the 90s, it was an instrumental and a bit longer. Henrik did, however, write lyrics for it back in the 90s (just in case we ever could record it properly), and now in 2021 created vocal lines for it, with Erik creating some harmonies. Kristian and Øyvind also did a change to the arrangement to make the song hard hitting and compact.
(verse 1)
When you know nothing better – there’s nothing to regret
But Little Fish Tom, he has dreams – he can’t forget
(bridge)
Feels like a prison – the toil of each day
Life like this ain’t good enough – he’s got to get away
(chorus)
There is no door down on the ocean floor
Beyond the darkness, there’s got to be more
So, he asks himself: «Is this all there is?”
“I know not what, but there’s something I miss”
(verse 2)
Tom believes there must be – another way
Something out there beckons him – come what may
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, lead guitar
Kristian: Guitars, maracas
Erik: Drums, vocals and percussion
Henrik: Bass and vocals
Music: Øyvind
Lyrics: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
INTERLUDE 2
(no lyrics)
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars with volume pedal
Kristian: Guitars
Music: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
The composer wants to add that, even though originally – 30 years ago – I played both the guitar and bass on this interlude – when I heard the beautiful atmospheric volume pedal Øyvind added and the pure genius of details Kristian did on clean guitars on this, it was simply perfect and nothing needed from my side – I’m just so happy and impressed how this little interlude have developed in the hands of Øyvind and Kristian!
TOER’N
(Through the fisheye lens)
About Toer’n: Our second original written by Kristian. Apart from the new jaw-dropping opening, the arrangement is very close to how it was 30+ years ago. Some new dynamics in the arrangement of the verses and a ‘live-feel’ twist to second chorus – that’s mostly it. Speaks volumes to how much we liked the original. Now it’s just way better sound, thanks to Øyvind’s cunning sound engineering and mastering.
(verse 1)
The Sharks told us equality is a must
In “One for All and All for All” we trust
Obey and conform, just follow the norm
The rule of the King can’t be unjust…
Big Father Shark promised food and peace
As long as you follow his rules that is
But Little Fish Tom has seen what happens
To the ones that obey and eat
(chorus)
By the time you’re big and fat
It’s too late
Then Big Father Shark will see you
On the table on a plate
Looking back on the life you’ve lived
Now, it’s too late
And Big Father Shark sees you
On the table on a plate
(verse 2)
Little Fish Tom is swimming around
A purpose, a meaning, is nowhere to be found
His dream is strong, it won’t be long
The sharks are all around
Despite Mama and Papa’s advice
Little Fish Tom has thrown the dice
He wants to escape to the world outside
No matter how deep, no matter how wild…
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, lead guitar, background vocals
Kristian: Guitars, 12-string acoustic and lead guitar, background vocals
Erik: Drums, vocals and percussion
Henrik: Bass and vocals
Hand claps: 4theMoney
Music: Kristian
Lyrics: Erik & Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
INTERLUDE 3
(no lyrics)
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, bottleneck
Kristian: Guitars
Erik: Drums and percussion
Henrik: Upright double bass and fretted electric bass
Music: Øyvind
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
TREER’N
(Across the Corals)
About Treer’n: Our third original (hence the nickname “Treer’n”, meaning ‘the third one’ in Norwegian). Another composition by Øyvind. This one has a rockin’ riff chorus, but the verses are more mellow and create a welcome contrast. We liked it so much, in fact, that we left the first half of the first verse instrumental to highlight the musicality of that part… Then the bridge is heavy, and there’s even a middle part that we call “the reggae theme”… The main change from the original version is the added choir on the second and third bridge, some creative fun with percussion (everything from an angle bracket to a camel bell from Somalia), and a new guitar solo.
(verse 1)
Our little friend has a cunning plan
Maybe he will find the promised land
Waiting in the cold, dark deep
He will escape while the others sleep
(“Soon there will be no turning back – Everything around is turning black – Maybe there will be no tomorrow – But he feels no pain or sorrow” = this part we don’t sing, to give space to the instrumental part of the verse)
chorus:
Little Fish Tom finally takes a chance
Take it or leave it, and dance the last dance
Little Fish Tom clings to the straw
To avoid ending up in Big Father’s Jaws
Little Fish Tom leaves it all behind
The promised land is on his mind
Little Fish Tom clings to the straw
He breaks the Law !
(verse 2)
Little Fish Tom swims away
Knowing his life might begin today
No shark or octopus can stop him now
He’s gonna reach Paradise somehow
But in the corals, there lurks a shark
And Tom can’t see him there in the dark
It’s too late, the guard has seen him
Now he must fight, a fight he can’t win
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, lead guitar, bottleneck
Kristian: Guitars, lead guitar
Erik: Drums, vocals and percussion
Henrik: Bass, vocals and percussion
choir boy voices 1-14: Erik
choir boy voices 15-28: Henrik
choir boy voices 29-32: Kristian
choir boy voices 33-35: Øyvind
Yes, we did add a total of 35 voices for the choir on this tune!
Guards/shark voices; Erik & Henrik
Music: Øyvind & Kristian
Lyrics: Erik & Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
Kampen
(“the Battle”)
Bloodfilled water – whirling around
Nothing to see – neither a sound…..
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars
Kristian: Guitars
Erik: Drums and percussion
Henrik: Bass
Voices: Erik & Henrik
Music: Henrik
Lyrics: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
GOODBYE
(A Farewell to Tom)
(verse)
Goodbye Little Tom
At least you tried
(but) what good did it do?
After all, you died
-goodbye!
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, organ pedal effect, lead guitar
Kristian: Guitars
Erik: Drums, vocals and percussion
Henrik: Bass and vocals
Music: Øyvind
Lyrics: Erik & Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
AFTERMATH
(no lyrics)
4 tracks of bass guitars – three different background arpeggios and one melody
credits:
Henrik: bass guitars
Music: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Henrik & Øyvind
On our first unpublished CD, “AQUA MORTALIS”, we had 4 more songs
FIRER’N
(Buttons on drugs)
About Firer’n: “Buttons on Drugs” was our fourth self-composed song (by Øyvind) and still goes by the nickname “Firer’n”. Firer’n initially went through a lot of changes. Originally, we only had what is today verse and chorus. However, Øyvind made sure to make new parts and changes every time we had managed to learn the song. Now 30 years later, we have removed a couple of those parts, but we did keep some of those additions as well, and even added a completely new part that we just jammed (that was fun). Under the powerful influence of coffee, we began a process of “free association” and came up with a chaos of absurdities and incoherent nonsense for the lyrics. It may be reassuring to know that there is no message or deep meaning in this text. “Buttons on Drugs” is complete nonsense!
(verse)
Two blue boogeymen, flushed down the drain
Sailing on potato chips, isn’t that insane?
They’re not sailing on water, it’s peanut butter dip
If they were flushed with water, the chips would surely flip, yeah!
(chorus 1)
Apple spider crying wheels
Coffee strings ceiling tapes
Cats pillows knives fire
Books guns buttons snakes
Politician thermometer
Telephone chewing-gum
Dr.Pepper light-switch
Hangover purple sun
(verse)
One green apple-pie riding his bike
Drinking too much vodka, crossing on red light
Trapped in a magnetic field, a fruit-cake made of stone
Keeping all lines busy, so E.T. can’t phone home
(chorus 2)
Dissonance falling windows
Whisky laundry vacuum brain
Pictures random flower tickets
Soya-beans acid-rain
Candles steamy jungle ice
Fairytales chili cream
Highway sharks bimbos lies
Crazy footprints stupid dream
(vers)
A pocket full of lizards, skating on the beach
A circus-mouse is dying, poisoned by a peach
Parking on a moonbeam, a snake is lost in space
You don’t worry anymore ’bout footprints in your face
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, lead guitar, a few words
Kristian: Guitars, lead guitar (clean)
Erik: Drums, percussion, backup vocals
Henrik: Bass and vocals
Music: Øyvind
Lyrics: Øyvind & Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
A PILE of BUTTONS
“A Pile of Buttons” can be “freely” translated into Norwegian as: “A Stabell med Knapper”, the surnames of composers Henrik and Øyvind. We had a burning desire to create a more progressive instrumental with lots of different parts and time signatures, and this is what we came up with…
Instrumnetal with the following parts:
I Pax Vobiscum
II Buttons behind bars
III If Buttons had wings
IV The Dance of the Buttons
V A Pile of odd Buttons
VI 15 Buttons behind 2 bars
VII Never trust a smiling Button
VIII Buttoned Up
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars, lead guitar
Kristian: Guitars, lead guitar
Erik: Drums and percussion
Henrik: Bass
Voices: Erik and Henrik
Music: Øyvind and Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
TALES FROM SPOOKY FORESTS
“Tales from Spooky Forests” was written long after the last episode of Twin Peaks… The composition is based on Henrik’s bass groove in the verses (which was inspired by Clapton/Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla”). The lyrics are essentially a meaningless story about ghosts/spirits (I don’t even believe in ghosts!!!). But I guess you have to write about something… Maybe it’s about the demons we all possess (or that possess us)? Maybe I just watch too much TV?? Who knows???
(vers 1)
Once upon a time in Utopia
When summer replaced spring
The lotus induced euphoria
And the people started to sing
Then light gave way to darkness
Tales were being told
The forest was full of madness
The air was wet and cold!
(chorus)
These are the tales from spooky forests
The ghosts here are for real
They hunt for souls and will find you
Are you willing to make a deal?
(vers 2)
The tales were all about evil ghosts
That in the forest hide
But some of them made man their hosts
And among the people reside
The one that’s sitting next to you
Might be demon possessed
He will haunt and taunt you
His ways are mean and grotesque
(-repeat chorus)
(verse 3)
Never walk alone at night
Under the wispering trees
When all your friends are out of sight
The ghosts will make your blood freeze
The old sit by the fireplace
A peculiar look in the eye
They know the evil the ghosts possess
They know that ghosts cannot die
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars
Kristian: Guitars
Erik: Drums, vocals and percussion
Henrik: Vocals, bass, fretless bass, flute, Kenyan kalimba, and Bolivian zampoña flute
Music: Henrik
Lyrics: Henrik
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind
THE NUTKICKER SWEET
“The Nutkicker Sweet” is based on Erik’s reflections after studying/living in Durant, Oklahoma for 4 years. Dealing with hypocrisy, religion, power, brainwashing, colonialism, war, etc. The music reflects the lyrics in a nice way as the main groove of the verse was unscrupulously stolen from “The Osmonds”
Kyrie Eleison
In the beginning, Man created God!
(verse 1)
And so we’ve been told, we are all born sinners
Instinct and free will are evil at heart
No productive thought, no individualistic winners
The mass will correct them, and guide them apart
Scriptures of Glory, and Virtue and Deed
The Book will ensure you are saved
As hypocrites mold it to serve their own needs
Ensuring we all are enslaved
(chorus)
Under the cold and coagulating rain:
“God bless our troops, they follow Thy will!”
Burying the ultimate and vital refrain:
“Thou shallt not Kill!”, “Thou shallt not Kill!”,
“Thou shallt not Kill!”
(verse 2)
Sprinkling, pouring, or full immersion
Fight for the key that opens the door
Impose on the wayward people: “CONVERSION!”
We Promise Heaven, and then leave you poor
We have the right to rape foreign cultures
Our script says: “tell them they’re wrong!”
“Erase your inheritance and hedonistic sculptures-
Let us see you dance to our holy song!”
-And the Spirits dance, the Spirits weeping dance…
Let the dance begin!
credits:
Øyvind: Guitars. guitar
Kristian: guitar
Erik: Drums and percussion. vocals
Henrik: bass
Choir: 4theMoney
Music: Erik
Lyrics: Erik
credit also to the Wintu – the first people of California
for the inspirational song:
“We spirits dance – We spirits weeping dance”
Arrangement: 4theMoney
Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Øyvind