John Mitchell & Sofie Jonsson

SWEET TO ME by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM) & Ernst Roland Skogmo (MANUS (STIM))

 

Is there pride alone in what a man can own 

His pockets filled with gold? 

No end in sight for the hungry eye 

His conscience long been sold 

When greed comes free and the money’s cheap 

An ego surely swells 

The chessmen rule their willing fools 

And direct us all to hell 

 

Says he, the man with the grandest plan: 

”Yeah, that’s our greatest scam” 

Turn the tables ’round, a world upside down 

Now that sounds sweet to me 

 

Our tired minds locked on fellowkind 

Convinced the other won 

We compare our share thinking life’s unfair 

But they play us all for fun 

One slave sparred against another, scarred 

Maintains the status quo 

While out of view the hidden few 

Enjoy this timeless show 

 

Says he, the man with the grandest plan: 

”Yeah, that’s our greatest scam” 

Turn the tables ’round, a world upside down 

Now that sounds sweet to me 

 

Don’t take the bait they make, avoid the old mistake 

Of kicking on those already on the ground 

Forgetting where the answer is found 

Turn your eyes to the puppeteers, let’s go fucking interfere!

We’ll turn the tables ’round, a world upside down  

Yeah, that sounds sweet to me 

We’ll turn the tables ’round, a world upside down 

Yeah, that sounds sweet to me 

Yeah, that sounds sweet to me

  

   

 

PETER by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM) & Jöns Jonas Hansson (Gehrmans musikförlag)

 

En onsdagkväll i juli, Siljan blank som en spegel 

Man hoppas på en chans, tar en fika, säger hej till nån bekant och kollar läget 

Det kanske verkar lite segt först, man står där och trampar 

Men plötsligt som en hägring står han där 

Man blir modig och vägen rak 

 

Åh åh åh Peter, himlen öppnade sig 

Jag vet knappt vad jag heter när du ser på mig 

Åh åh åh Peter, som om änglarna fanns 

Jag går inte en meter om du inte ger mig en dans 

 

Det är nåt visst med rytmen, den bubblar upp från tån till benen 

Och sprider sig i kroppen: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 och 8, det svänger! 

Inget når mig där på golvet i glädjen, en leende frihet att få vara den jag är 

Ett trasigt hjärta kan bli helt igen 

 

Åh åh åh Peter, himlen öppnade sig 

Jag vet knappt vad jag heter när du ser på mig 

Åh åh åh Peter, som om änglarna fanns 

Jag går inte en meter om du inte ger mig en dans 

 

Sen är det måndag i november, hela stan är klädd i grått 

Är sen till jobbet, hela världen luktar vått 

Sommar’n är en blekblå dröm som kvällen där vid sjön 

Jag vill alltid känna som jag gjorde då… 

 

”- Amän, kokksa på an dan!” 

”- Ja, ä va då oskapli ökkön fin en kar!” 

 

Men när jag stannar bilen, stiger ut och tankar 

Stiger in på macken, rotar klart i väskan 

Stegar fram till disken, halar fram mitt kort 

Och tittar upp… 

 

Åh, där står Peter, himlen öppnade sig 

Jag vet knappt vad jag heter när du ser på mig 

Åh åh åh Peter, som om änglarna fanns 

Jag går inte en meter om du inte ger mig en dans 

Åh åh åh Peter, kan du inte ge mig en dans 

Åh åh åh Peter, snälla kan du ge mig en dans

 

 

 

 ANGELO by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

I pray to God from the valley below that you fly me safe back to Angelo

Through the night, as black as sin, fear creeps through the skin

This senseless game that noone wins, we just get high on adrenaline

A single thought to a mojo pin, fools go rushing in

Any wonder at the shape we're in, still I close my eyes and...

 

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

 

30 years under a fading sun, many battles fought, many battles done

Politicians they just have their fun and the turning wheel turns in

Any wonder at the shape we're in, still I close my eyes and...

 

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

Like a new-felled tree they came and cut you down

Was noone there for to hear that sound?

 

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

Oh oh oh, Angelo... My heart's not really here so let me go

Like a new-felled tree they came and cut you down

And the old idea, well it's still hanging around

Beyond the count of three you stay in the ground

Where noone else can hear that sound

 

 

 

GAGNEF GIRL by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM)

 

Han tar tunnelbanan ner till Oxford Street, det är fredag och han ska ut

Trängs där på gatan bland bilar och folk, kliver in i lugnet på The Royal Oak

Medan skummet lägger sig på ölen i hans glas hörs från stereon en sång från förr

"Dancing Queen, young and sweet", i hans sinne väcks minnen till liv

 

Flottbron skimrade i månens sken, älven skar blank genom natten

Jag ska älska dig till jag dör, my little Gagnef girl

 

Tänk vad åren flyr, det känns som nyss, han var nitton och allt var på lek

Den där sommar'n i Kyrkbyn, då stod hon där: "Hä bi tölv å femti, skä du ha än pösä å?"

Men tiden går fort när varje dag är en dans, varje morgon bjuder på en chans

Sommar'n blev höst, det fanns ingen tröst när han åkte och hon blev kvar

 

Flottbron skimrade i månens sken, älven skar blank genom natten

Jag ska älska dig till jag dör, my little Gagnef girl

 

Men så sägs det ju så att finns det liv finns det hopp, det är inte över förrän det är over

Kyrkan står väl kvar, och minnesstugan med, i Tjärnsjön badar barnen om sommar'n

"So who knows", kanske minns honom än, när han reser sig och går har han bestämt sig

I hans hand finns ett brev som han just skrev, det börjar "My little Gagnef girl..."

 

Flottbron skimrade i månens sken, älven skar blank genom natten

Jag ska älska dig till jag dör, my little Gagnef girl

Flottbron skimrade i månens sken, älven skar blank genom natten

Jag ska älska dig till jag dör, my little Gagnef girl

 

 

 

LEAVING CAROLINA by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

 

Well, my head’s stuck on the pillow

‘Cause I know it’s time to go

As daylight falls on Charleston

My mood is oh so low

And I’m walking down the garden

Only look back to close the gate

One last run in the Chevy

On Columbia interstate

 

Farewell ye’ Battery

And your projects

Where hope grows thin

 

I’m leaving Carolina

Of times we’ve had the best

Just one last stop to make

Before I touch down in Inverness

And that’s to say goodbye to you

My heart is pulled down and torn in two

I am leaving Carolina

 

All the palmtrees by the roadside

Are waving in the wind

The sun dips on the skyline

The new day forth to bring

 

Last night weighs heavy

On a heart that’s very low

 

I’m leaving Carolina....

 

Southern comfort afore you go

While Fogerty plays on the radio

 

I’m leaving Carolina...

 

I am leaving Carolina

On the early morning plane

Yes, I am...

 

 

 

BABY IT'S COLD TONIGHT by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM)

 

Baby it's cold tonight

Babe we better sit close

Wrap up warm and stick tight to each other

 

Baby it's dark tonight

Babe we better stay close

Hold a candle to my darkest corners like I'll do yours

 

Don't run with the devil just to keep warm

Don't think there's noone on your side

The deeper the dark, the more powerful the flame

Baby when it's cold outside

 

It can get lonely now

Babe we'd better stand close

Stretching our arms out, reaching for each other

 

But it can get better now

Babe we better keep our faith

Tending it like a flower's promise to bloom

 

Don't run with the devil just to keep warm

Don't think there's noone on your side

The deeper the dark, the more powerful the flame

Baby when it's cold outside

 

 

 

HAUL AWAY by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

 

Shore side boys waulk graith in the river

Whilst the South Deep chiels pitch to the wave

Lister draws warp to the barrel

Twice round the dolly and you haul away

 

Cape Cod girls are mighty pretty

And the Cape Cod boys would woo all day

South Deep lads chase their darlings

Must rise in the morning when the fleet's away

 

On the banks and knolls the bows are ploughing

The North Sea holes to where the fleet's away

Shoot and heave darlings of silver

Twice to the dolly and you haul away

 

 

 

RISE WITH THE RIVER by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

 

In the currency of currencies

And the climate of economies

Plummet like the mercury that made them

In spite of hard-earned lessons laid

The crosses borne from crosses made

Time is all it seems remains unchanging

 

The more the flood the less the floe

Pretty soon we all must go

Rise with the river

 

Rise with the river

When the tables turn what do you learn

A handful of nothing

Rise with the river

Ford into the raging stream

And leave those fallow banks

 

In place of charity within the land

It's the occupation of the sand

And a population on a strand that's breaking

The more the blood upon the sand

The less we seem to understand

That time is a river

 

Rise with the river…

 

In spite of hard-earned lessons laid

The crosses borne from crosses made

Time is all it seems remains unchanging

 

Rise with the river…

 

Rise with the river…

 

Rise with the river

Just a handful of nothing

Just a handful of nothing

When the tables turn what do you learn

When the tables turn what do you learn

Just a handful of nothing

 

 

 

TURNING A CORNER by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

 

"This land is your land, this land is my land"

So who made the borders?

From those highbrow echelons

Past the mid ground denizens

To the low-lying quarters

 

The greatest gift to the common man

Was the promised land

Land of the free

Thereupon are many corners for turning

Turning, turning to the sweetest mysteries

Turn away from darkness

Embrace the light

Turn away from the solitude of the lonely, lonely night

Turning a corner, turning out, turning free

 

When you wanna give in, then your ship comes in

Too many battles fought and lost for wars you just ain't winning

When your deal goes down, what's left comes around

And you can't tell a start from a beginning

 

The greatest gift...

 

When you wanna give in...

 

Making peace with an enemy

The olive branch in Gethsemane

Truly turning a corner

Gaining ground on the distance

Easing into deliverance

And a newfound order

 

The greatest gift…

 

When you wanna give in…

 

 

 

THE BONNIEST LASS IN A' THE WARLD (original lyrics by Carolina Oliphant (1766-1845), also known as Lady Nairnie, now reworked and added to by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM))

 

The bonniest lass in a' the warld,

I've often heard them telling

She's up the hill, she's down the glen

She's in yon lonely dwelling

 

Is it Kate, is it Susie,

is it Jean or is it May

Is it Effie or Bess

I've never heard them say

 

The bonniest lass is kind and sweet

as dew upon the pansie

But nane could bring her to my mind

Wha lives but in the fancy

 

Is it Kate, is it Susie,

is it Jean or is it May

Is it Effie or Bess

I've never heard them say

 

So lasses keep a gude heart

Ne'er let envy darken your day

For be your eyes black, blue or gray

Ye're bonniest aye to your lad

 

The tender heart, the charming smile

The truth that ne'er will falter

Are charms that never can beguile

And time can never alter

 

 

 

ROVER (ROLLING HOME) by John Mitchell MANUS (STIM)

 

Another day upon the rove

Wandering the road less known

Per chance to find my way

Pride of the summer

From where and whence I roamed

Back to where the breakers roll

Step right on

Step right on

 

I'm a rover

I'm a rolling stone, rolling home

A brave returning

From the great unknown

It's been such a long time

Since the diesels turned

I can hear the calling

Step right on

Step right on

 

There's a point on the hill

Just below the sill

Where oft' times I found Nancy

And stole the day where the breakers roll

As chance did take my fancy

 

I'm a rover

I'm a rolling stone, rolling home

A brave returning

From the great unknown

It's been such a long time

Since the diesels turned

I can hear the calling

Step right on

Step right on

Step right on

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER by Ann-Sofie Jonsson MANUS (STIM)

 

Now the leaves in our garden are painted in yellow

softly fall in an old-fashioned waltz

Cover the ground with a blanket of sweet dreams

quietly singing its well-known lullaby

 

The geese fly above us so near we could touch them

their eager wings hurrying south

Under our ceiling of satellites and planets

one shooting star holds a promise of next year

 

Hush now my friend, all must come to an end

Dream of blue waves and of long sunny days

Now summer's away but you and me stay

Deep in sleep until spring wakes in May

 

The air is so clear as the sun gently settles

pouring gold onto hillsides and homes

And the man in that full moon knows the secrets of summer

He's whispering to us as we walk side by side

 

So light us a fire, let's gather around it

sing songs and tell stories of old

Everything changes but nothing is new

as one season slumbers and the next one is born

 

Hush now my friend, all must come to an end

Dream of blue waves and of long sunny days

Now summer's away but you and me stay

Deep in sleep until spring wakes in May

 

 

 

SONG OF THE FIRTH by John Mitchell (music) MANUS (STIM) & George Gunn (lyrics)

 

There's a firth behind me

And a firth yet to come

I will swim out to the foreshore

And turn numb

 

Go slowly and go

I will hear your name

Whispered by the northern wind

'Cause nothing remains the same

 

And the song of the firth

Is the stretch of my life

I will go slowly now

So slowly

And change this world

'Cause nothing remains the same

 

 

 

STOCKHOLM by Jason Isbell (Kobalt Music Group), adapted into Swedish by Ann-Sofie Jonsson

 

Jag har hört om den himmelska ron

På väg hem en sen natt förbi Västerbron

Om en sommarvind mot en kind himlen blå

Men av allt det jag tänkte blev ingenting så

 

Färgerna bleknar när dag följer natt

“Sakta” blev “sen” hinner aldrig ifatt

Och till skillnad från förr när jag drömde mig matt

Stockholm, nu vill jag hem

 

Jag minns en vår som jag kallade höst

För mitt arv hette längtan, min själ sökte tröst

Genom skogar, under månens bleka sken

Till en frusen monark klädd i silver och sten

 

Skeppen i hamnen är fast liksom jag

Lättar sitt ankar och dröjer sig kvar

Men till skillnad från förr har mitt hjärta ett svar

Stockholm, nu vill jag hem

 

Alla dom jag känt

Vad gör dom nu och minns dom mig än?

Namn försvann, lämnade spår som finns kvar men dom fattas min famn

 

Skeppen i hamnen är fast liksom jag

Lättar sitt ankar och dröjer sig kvar

Men till skillnad från förr har mitt hjärta ett svar

Stockholm, nu vill jag hem

Nu vill jag hem

Nu vill jag hem