”Downhills" fourth release "A Grasshopper's Lament"
That one Straight Line 2007
Label: LimestoneHouse Music
The second release on Limestonehouse Music, with tunes by Jonas Kjellgren, Christoffer Olsson and Mikael Grund . Downhill was invited by the IBMA to perform as a showcase act with songs from "That one Straight Line" at the IBMA Awards in Nashville in 2007.
East of the Mountains 2002
Label: LimestoneHouse Music
The first release on LimestoneHouse Music. The album had the IBMA invite Jonas Kjellgren to perform at the Songwriters Showcase at the Lousville IBMA Awards in 2003. Several songs from "East of the Mountains" have been recorded by other artists since its release.
The Grass of Thor 2000
Label: Holmen Musik
The band's first release. It was mainly recorded live in a cabin on a hill in Torsaker. Lead singers at the time were Jonas Kjellgren and Hans Wahlstedt.
Lyrics from A Grasshoppers Lament
Give It Up and Give In
Have you wandered alone
down life’s crooked way
have you lived without love
oh for nights and for days
Now did you you search for the answers,
did you question yourself
was it all wasted tears
have you cried all those years
for nothing at all
Give it up and give in
don’t you fight it no more
Turn around turn around
don’t you open that door
It will bring you over
to the other side
and when the fire comes down
there’ll be no one around
to show you the way
All mans crumbling works
will be counted as lost
and around and round
all your ships will be tossed
And the sea will eat you
and swallow you down
Now was it all wasted tears
have you cried all those years
for nothing at all
Reckless Wind
If I found me a woman
one thing’s for sure
I will give her plenty
and she will ask for more
Then I’ll be gone
like a reckless wind
just to add another lie
to my list of sinsLife’s a gamble
you’ll pick and choose
It’s head or tales,
it’s win or loose
and it doesn’t matter
just how hard you try
‘cause you can never add the truth to a lie
I wanna climb a mountain
that’s too steep
I wanna swim waters
cold and deep
sometimes I laugh
when I should weep
I have to stand there on the edge
and take a leapA tempting love
however strong
will never keep me
‘cause I need to roam
Then I’ll be gone
like a reckless wind
just to add another lie
to my list of sins
Silver and Gold
Show me your scars
and I’ll show you mine
whisper your secrets
through the walls of time
out in the darkness
the music plays on
silver and gold
soon all will be gone
Come with me now
this time is ours
let go of your fears
bring on the powers
stay by my side
and no one will harm you
follow the light
I walk right beside youI’m a stranger to roses
but friends with the thorns
I walk through hells fire
and I never feel cold
I come with this gift
now don’t be afraid
I’m the last man on earth
I will stay in the shadeCome with me now
this time is ours
let go of your fears
bring down the powers
stay by my side
and no one will harm you
follow that light
I walk right beside youCome with me now
this night is ours
let go of your fear
bring on the powers
stay by my side
and no one will harm you
follow that light
I walk right beside youShow me your scars
and I’ll show you mine
whisper your secrets
through the great walls of time
out in the darkness
the music plays on
silver and gold
soon all will be goneSoon all will be gone
The Duke
Allright now, here we go....Now, loving
What’s the point, my dear?
She said it all
and made it all so clear
If you do love somebody
then, you know,
you’ve got to let it show
or else, let her goNow, hurting
That’s an old friend of mine
and he’ll be with me
‘til the end of the line
when everybody else
will honk her down
he’ll choose to stay around
well, let him wear the crown
Don’t roll away the stone
let me dwell here in my cave
I’ll be dancing, drinking
while I’m digging my own grave
my kingdom needs no horse
no remorse
no queen
no spleen
no, no beauty dreams
no happy end
thank you
I’m quite contentNow, healing
There’s no use in being blue
I knew my time
when it was well overdue
I’m the duke of deflection
my selection
of broken hearts
torn apart
It’s a state of artSo don’t roll away the stone...Thank you, but I’m fine
Us Against the World
I’ve assembled myself
and I’ve poisoned the well
I’ve cursed and I cried out for help
Now I run in this haze
trying to backtrack the traces
to where I first saw that smile on your faceAnd to hell with it all
I might win I might fall
we said it was all for the best
here we silently bowed
and we made our vows
It was us against the worldI was lost you were hurt
we carved our names in the dirt
and sealed our confessions in blood
when we walked down the aisle
the trees trembled and smiled
we could have walked for a thousand yearsBut we picked the wrong trail
I don’t know where we failed
well I guess we weren’t blessed from the start
But we held on to our dream
and we sang out our theme
Us against the world
But the wind lost direction
the sky its reflection
all the colors blurred into grey
we got scared of the ones
that sang for no reason
while the days just faded awayWell I know that they say
that all flesh is hay
but it won’t give me no time to rest
I’ll be home by tonight
so don’t shut out the light
‘cause it’s us against the world
Red Robe
I was still awake
when they nailed me to the floor
the ceiling kept on spinning
someone shouted “Give him more”
It was Jeremiah Walker
friend of Douglas Clerk
I always had considered him
to be some kind of jerk
Say goodbye say goodbye
to your family and friends
you lying, cheating bastard
we will kill you in the end
they plucked me like an old hen
and painted me with tar
and the flames the went higher
I was aiming for the stars
It’s funny now how things sometimes
turn out to go so wrong
with all the good intentions
the Devil comes along
and he gives you an offer
that you just can’t refuse
and suddenly you’ve sold yourself
and your soul will be used
I could have had it all
I held it in my hand
it was a little white dove
I just don’t understand
I’m proud to meet my maker
and his only son
just give me my make up
and put my red robe onPut my red robe on
That Idiot Wind
I wonder if you picture me
hung up from an old oak tree
will you use that phrase
when you see my face
the funny one about the human raceSomeday the first will be the last
and the loser's gonna kick some ass
do you still see him
the skinny one that couldn’t swim
Standing in the hallway
wasted on a Monday
all I know is I gotta go
and I have to see you
Just made it half way
got to call in sick
I got to get laid
pull yourself together now
there’s a strange and familiar sound
blowing through my mind
That’s the idiot wind
It’s kind of strange
I’m out of range
and I see myself from up above
I can’t walk
I can barely talk
and I’m locked up in my own thoughtsYou’re sweet and kind
like the finest wine
you hold the key
that will release me
there´s nothing I can do
now it’s all up to youStanding in the hallway...
Count Me In
I know you treasure freedom
you say it all the time
I just want to be with you
and for Gods sake that’s no crimeYou think you can get rid of me
by playing hard to get
But I do know a trick or to
You ain´t seen nothing yet
No you ain´t seen nothing yet
You can do as you please
go where you want
live as you like
and wear what you want
drive any car
travel free and far
as long as you count me in
And if some old way you love me
then I know for sure
and your poor attempt to hide it well
just makes me love you moreAnd I’m not going anywhere
no matter how you act
I’m staying right beside you
so you’d better face the fact
Yes you’d better face the fact‘Cause you can do as you please...
Crawl Back
Come gather around me people
and a story I will tell
I wrestled with the Devil
and I faced the gates of Hell
I met this fair young maiden
she would lead us all astray
and if you ever touch her lips
she’ll drain you dry as hayShe will snare you with her long black hair
as you drown into her eyes
you fade away your life’s a slay
the raven’s flying upside down
she will peel your skin off
and crush your bones
and feed it to the hogs
the dogs will cry out like a little boy
and so, yes so will you
Crawl back baby, crawl back
back into your hole
Lord, have mercy
on this poor and worthless soul
The night is growing darker
the end is coming near
Trust me, if you touch her lips
it’s all downhill from here
There’s no escape, there’s no way out
there’ll be no flowers on your grave
she will bite your tongue off
and let you sing
the last words you had to say
you will turn yourself inside out
and spin around while you choke
up another roach
this is not a hoax, no
this is not a jokeSo crawl back, baby, crawl back...
Back in Town
I’m back in town
I’ve been gone for a while
I’m walking the streets
with the worlds biggest smile
I’m happy to be here
I’ve been long gone
the lure of the city
brought me back homeCause I spent some years
on the country side
some pretty young girl
took me there for a ride
I work on her fields
from spring to fall
just to find out that blue jeans
don’t suite me at all
When the winter storms
were coming on strong
I said to myself
hey, now something’s wrong
there’s no need for me staying here
trying to be a country boyI
wasn’t made for this country life
with a pick up as a home
and a horse for a wife
no I was born
to slide down the street
and to fall in love
with every woman I meetSo now I’m back in the city
with its bright neon lights
with too much of drinking
and ballroom fights
I’m gambling and hustling
living my dream
it’s so much better
than it might seem
When the winter storms...
Talking to a Barman
I know I live my life
on my own selfish ground
I never had the patience
to really stay around
I choose to live alone
for better and for worse
now this totally empty feeling
has become a curseMaybe it’s your beer
that’s made me want to talk
maybe I’m just fed up
from my aimless walk
My story on your counter
gives my poor heart ease
so poor me another one
won’t you please
‘Cause we all need a background
on which we can depend
but there’s nothing left
where my past used to stand
I choose to live alone
for better and for worse
now this totally empty feeling
has become a curseMy pitiful confession
is coming to its end
and I will rent a room from you
my substitute friend
you don’t need to show me
I can find it on my own
I can have some restless hours
before I’ll be gone‘Cause we all need a background..
.Up and Down These Roads
I’ve been up and down these roads
and around and round this world I’ve roamed
like a reckless miner on a quest for gold
with this growing fear of getting oldNow I know what this is all about
‘cause some things in life you can’t do without
I was blind but you made me see
and now I hope you still wait for me
I’m going home
to the ones I love
I’m gonna wrap myself around them
never to let go
Now I know
what this is all about
now my heart has told me
what I can’t do without‘Cause I’ve travelled far across this land
and now at last I understand
that the more you give the more you get
it’s a lesson learned I won’t forgetI’m going hometo the ones I love.
