The Hideous Heart of Scandinavia
Morning in Oslo, from my hotel window I see many roofs
most of them the same design; tidy, I wonder if Oslo employs
roof sweepers. Social democracy in action, cold and efficient
not given to surface passion. Even its homegrown terrorist is
boring, but my god, able in his murderous pursuit for glory.
Streets in Oslo are clean too, so spotless they look somehow
defenseless and slightly obscene. The citizens are restraint
tolerantly wait at traffic lights to turn green to cross, even if
no cars are coming But there is an another Oslo, especially at
weekends, when people drink enormous amount of beer and
violence lurks, when fights break out and knives shine in
moonlit nights. A lust for murder that harks back to a shared
cataleptic memory. And you know there is a pent up passion,
in the dark heart of Scandinavia; that given the right order can
turn compassionate people into vicious Vikings.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Related quotes
Blank Decency
Blank Decency
The capital of Norway, Oslo, has well lit
clean streets swept clear of humanity;
you’ll see clusters of people here and there
sat inside plastic tents- pavement cafes-
smoking tobacco. And now that it’s illegal
to buy sex too, streets will be cleaner then
before. If a consumer of bought of sex
thinks he can go abroad and buy it he will,
if found out, be prosecuted.
There are still cars driving around these
empty streets, to get rid of them it might
be an idea to ban the purchase of petrol;
a car free city, something to boast about,
tourists come and puff virtuous Oslo air.
Those who miss driving can when in, say,
Bangkok on vacation, rent a coupé for
the duration, but remember credit card
purchases can be traced.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Roses
Shadorma (roses)
Poor woman
Sell roses in streets
Of Oslo
Law arrives
She has no proper permit
Flowers confiscated.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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My father was a Norwegian who came from a small town near Oslo. He broke his arm at the elbow when he was 14, and they amputated it.
quote by Roald Dahl
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It is not surprising, then, that in the decade since Oslo began, Arafat used all the resources placed at his disposal to fan the flames of hatred against Israel.
quote by Natan Sharansky
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.
quote by Natan Sharansky
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You can look at the West Bank. Cities are like prisons. They can be closed quickly by the Israeli forces, and everything stops in these cities. This is the result of Oslo.
quote by Hassan Nasrallah
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Only weeks after Oslo began, when nearly all the world and most of Israel was drunk with the idea of peace, I argued that a Palestinian society not constrained by democratic norms would be a fear society that would pose a grave threat to Israel.
quote by Natan Sharansky
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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China Cannot Silence the Voice of Freedom
China threatens us imprisons us punishes us.
China threatens free nations stay away from Oslo.
China threatens do not attend Nobel Peace Prize Award.
China may kill us imprison us punish us but not silence us.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Underground Carpark
This place is the darkest of dark and the blackest of black
as I look all around after just reversing back.
I parked here because it’s usually a secure well lit car park,
but the lights are off and I’m in the dark.
I’ll switch off my lights I don’t want to cause undue attention down here,
and I’ll just sit back and wait for the ceiling lights to reappear.
I’ve been waiting for a good fifteen minutes and still there’s no light,
isn’t it odd how these things always happen at night.
With my window half open I can hear unusual noises that I haven’t heard before.
Now I can hear something heavy being dragged along the floor.
How can the makers of these noises see what they are doing in the dark?
It’s certainly unnerving; I wish more vehicles would enter the car park,
I feel tempted to turn on all my car’s lights and the main beam,
but that would show my whereabouts, and allow me to be seen.
I think that I had better shut my window and secure all the doors
I don’t want to end up being dragged across the floor.
I’ll just try and stay calm by taking deep breaths, and closing my eyes.
What was that..? Something has rubbed against my cars near side.
It shook the whole of the car; oh why can’t I vanish and be elsewhere?
Something else has just passed through my car as I was sitting here.
It’s time to get out of here fast, I’ve had enough of this dark,
but my lights won’t come on and my engine won’t start.
God, I’m stuck with no apparent way of getting out of here,
it’s gone quiet and still, and perhaps there’s nothing to fear.
The car has shook and I think someone or something’s on the roof,
no one would believe this; they just wouldn’t believe the truth.
I can’t believe that this sort of thing could actually happen,
it’s straight out of a movie set of New York and Manhattan.
The car is still and what was on the roof seems to have gone,
again I’ve tried my ignition and lights, but they won’t come on.
I’ve never before been in a dark space for this amount of time
and I’m seeing shades of black as though I’m not quite blind.
I swear a greyish figure flashed by in front of my car,
but I can’t be sure, it’s impossible to see that far.
There was definitely something there, it flashed by again
and one passed in the rear view mirror exactly the same.
What a time for my lights to fail and the engine not to start?
This is supernatural and definitely a world apart.
Despite everything I’ve got to stay calm and do nothing untoward,
so I’ll slowly remove the flashlight from the car’s dashboard.
As I switch on the flashlight I scanned around the other parked cars
and inside them are ghostly white figures covered with scars.
When I shine the light into their faces they turn and point at me,
as if they were giving me a warning of how things will be.
I immediately tried to turn on my engine and lights once more,
then the car park lights came on, and lit up the roof and floor.
The ghostly images all vanished from the cars and from sight,
and I decided I no longer wanted to park here tonight.
poem by Orlando Belo
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Passion
(rod stewart / chen, savigar, cregan, grainger)
Somebody somewhere
In the heat of the night
Looking pretty dangerous
Running out of patience
Tonight in the city
You wont find any pity
Hearts are being twisted
Another lover cheated, cheated
In the bars and the cafes, passion
In the streets and the alleys, passion
A lot of pretending, passion
Everybody searching, passion
Once in love youre never out of danger
One hot night spent with a stranger
All you wanted was somebody to hold on to yeah
Passion, passion
Passion, passion
New york, moscow, passion
Hong kong, tokyo, passion
Paris and bangkok, passion
A lotta people aint got, passion
Hear it in the radio, passion
Read it in the papers, passion
Hear it in the churches, passion
See it in the school yards, passion
Once in love youre never out of danger
One hot night spent with a stranger
All you wanted was somebody to hold on to yeah
Once in love youre never out of danger
One hot night spent with a stranger
All you wanted was somebody to hold on to yeah
Alone in your bed at night, passion
Its half past midnight, passion
As you turn out your sidelight, passion
Something aint right, passion
Theres no passion, theres no passion
Theres no passion, I need passion
You need passion, we need passion
Cant live without passion
Wont live without passion
Even the president needs passion
Everybody I know needs some passion
Some people die and kill for passion
Nobody admits they need passion
Some people are scared of passion
Yeah passion
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Empty Chair
an empty chair
that none will take..
A man in jail
for Freedom’s sake.
The honor of a Nobel prize
was viewed by China as offense-
They boycotted the Oslo fete
in honor of their dissident.
His wife is under house arrest
He is in his prison cell.
Why is China so afraid
Of what the prisoner might tell?
An empty chair
An unheard speech
A man imprisoned
For years, not weeks
An empty chair
An unheard plea
From one who’d rather
breathe air that’s free.
poem by John F. McCullagh
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Turn Some More Lights On
Roy orbison
Turn some more, turn some more
Turn some more lights on
Turn some more, turn some more
Turn some more lights on
I came by your house last night
I was feeling so blue
We didnt have a date
I was lonely for you
I walked all the way
To break my heart in two
I saw the lights turned way down low
Oh, someone else was kissing you
Turn some more, turn some more
Turn some more lights on
Turn them all, turn them all
Turn them all back on
Make him leave, make him leave
Make him leave, leave you alone
Im standing in the rain
See you there with him
Oh theres so much pain
See the lights so dim
I see you smile that same old smile
In that same old way
But you smiled, you smiled, you smiled at me
Oh yesterday, yesterday
Turn some more, turn some more
Turn some more lights on
Turn them all, turn them all
Turn them all back on...
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Can't Get a Night of Peaceful Sleep
Isn't it much easier,
To sit back and critique?
Than it is,
To have your neck on the chopping block...
And your name going defenseless,
On the streets?
To be tossed about,
Like hair dropping out.
From an ill fitted weave.
And flying through the air,
With the greatest of ease.
Without anyone to retrieve it,
In the free flowing breeze.
Isn't it fun to enjoy with everyone...
Picking on people behind their backs.
And when in public they are seen...
You snub them when they speak.
Knowing there is no reason,
For you to be that mean.
And when adverse reactions,
Come to confront you.
Isn't it wonderful to know,
Those who choose to do it...
Were friends you knew who screwed you too.
In ways you reminisce...
You made a choice to do this.
But now a forgiveness wished,
That your feelings could be spared.
But no one is there,
To show a caring that is shared.
Isn't it much easier,
To sit back and critique?
Than it is,
To have your neck on the chopping block...
And your name going defenseless,
On the streets?
And no one is concerned,
Your lessons have been learned.
Leaving you to toss and turn...
From nights spent trying to get some sleep!
Haunted by those memories,
Of how you hurt innocent people so deep.
And you're left alone to moan.
To do your boo hooing on your own.
With an empathy felt,
That attracts no help...
To come soon to relieve.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Best Days
Over the river they all go again
Out into leafy nowhere hope someone's waiting out there for them
Cabbie has his mind on a fare to the sun
He works nights but it's not much fun
Picks up the london yo-yos
All on their own down soho
Take me home
Other people wouldn't like to hear you
If you said that these are the best days of their lives
Other people turn around and laugh at you
If you said that these are the best days of our lives
Trellick tower's been calling
I know she'll leave me in the morning
In hotel cells listening to dull tones
Remote controls and cable moans
In his drink he's been talking
Gets disconnected sleepwalking back home
Other people wouldn't like to hear you
If you said that these are the best days of our lives
Other people turn around and laugh at you
If you said that these are the best days of our lives
song performed by by Blur from The Great Escape
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Red Light Fever
I'm wide awake in the dark
Tryin' to figure out where you are
Always goin' nowhere
'Fraid of goin' somewhere
Somewhere's a place in your heart
Sometimes when I think about you
Why you're always running away
Sitting in your car
Changing who you are
Drowning the thoughts of you like in the music
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't run it to even her
How you gonna get through the year
You can't
Playin' on the sides of the night
Too many people want too many things
And you ?? to forget
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to even her
How you gonna make it through
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
To yourself
You're always thinkin'
You're always thinkin'
You knew what everybody else
Should do with their lives
I'm wide awake in the dark
Tryin' to figure out where you are
Always goin' nowhere
'Fraid of goin' somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Somewhere's a place in your heart
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't run it to even her
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to even her
How you gonna get through the year
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We Honour The Courage Of Peace Advocates In China
We waited hoping
China would allow...
Liu Xiaobo
to attend the Nobel
Peace Prize ceremony.
Or his wife or close relatives or friends.
We wait and pray for freedom in China.
We honour the courage of peace advocates in China.
We cry for their pain we share their dream freedom.
We waited for weeks years bitter sour
hoping China would wisdom relent
see reason recognize freedom allow
all Chinese people gift freedom of speech.
At the Nobel Peace Prize Award in Oslo
awarded was to the symbolic empty chair
representing Liu Xiaobo innocent imprisoned
we viewed peace soaring in freedom fair.
Freedom in noble crimson silken robes
took flight before us smiling innocent in adversity
the face of freedom without fear enemies
looked down from heaven in wisdom piety serenity.
In sovereignty freedom declares supremacy immutability.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Beyond The Temple ('78 Demo)
Beyond the temple
There lies a tomb with a king from long ago
A traveler from a distant planet
Ten thousand years or so
The legend tells of an agin' man
Whose city he built alone
Till the pirates of our western world
Tore it down stone by stone
The clouds are gettin' heavy
As he points unto the sky
But with the guidance of his finger
He let the lightning fly
So don't turn around, don't turn around
Lightning don't strike twice
Don't turn around, don't turn around
Death is a very high price
He gathered up his people
And he took them underground
To the caves of silvery water
Where they never could be found
The king came to the surface
Could not believe what he had found
The temple left in ruins
His city knocked to the ground
He went back to his people
Sad news he had to tell
The only justice for the king
Was to put these men in hell
So don't turn around, don't turn around
Lightning don't strike twice
Don't turn around, don't turn around
Death is a very high price
His face showing sorrow
His heart full of grief
His life's work in ruins
Destroyed by a thief
His people just sit around
His children just cry
The king's mind is all confused
Just wonderin' why
The temple split in half
And scattered through the desert
The dust had risen in the air
The race of people had to live in devastation
Why wasn't he even there?
Message from the gods to gather up his people
The kingdom couldn't lose them there
That's when all the gods and all are livin' peaceful
Just a galaxy away
The king rose up from underground
To light the darkened sky
Red lights, green lights, blue lights flashing
It seemed a mile high
As it lifted from the ground
And soared into the air
The king looked at what might have been
A world that needed care
A storm had risen quickly
Across the take of hope
Now there's no trace of the king
Just a memory carved in stone
So don't turn around, don't turn around
Lightning don't strike twice
Don't turn around, don't turn around
Death is a very high price
Don't turn around, don't turn around
Lightning don't strike twice
Don't turn around, don't turn around
Death is a very high price
song performed by by Def Leppard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bus ride at night
At quarter to five
the driver refuses,
that I get on a bus
in Burnett street
because it is already full.
There are men, woman and children
and we talk various languages
while we wait for the bus
and I see a car guard
dancing in the street
while he does tricks like a clown.
We wait on the next bus
and the afternoon passes
and the bus is very late
and it stays away
and just Putco and North Star busses
stop at other places.
At dusk the bus appears
and it’s got a double deck,
but is also full
and on the top level the roof is so low
that I bump my head
while it draws from the curb.
There’s no place to sit down
before we travel halfway to the city
and there’s a crowd of people around me
and we sit tight against each other
and in the front a child is holding onto a bar
while she licks the window with her tongue
and try to draw spit lines.
The bus braids through cars,
but it takes longer than an hour
to ride two stages
and a woman calls her husband
to pick her up at church square.
In Visagie Street the cars stand in a traffic jam
and it becomes night
while we wait in the traffic
and I embark from the bus
and twist through the pedestrians
and everywhere there are people
that stand in dark corners
and alleyways
and shout at each other in foreign languages.
At Church square I see stars in the sky,
but uncle Paul looks friendly
while the lights
of a few cars passes by
and I see how his men
are protecting him
and there’s nobody else in the street
and I wonder what to do
if the last bus has already left.
I wait at night at a bus stop
and an old black man
comes and stand near me
and we are both glad,
to catch a ride
on the last bus.
The bus is lighted brightly
And it’s comfortable and hot inside
and I see the zoo passing by
just before the bus stops for me
and red lights
disappears in the distance
and the evening wind tugs at my jacket,
but my house is near.
poem by Gert Strydom
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The things I love with a passion
I rock and roll with passion
I talk out my soul with a passion
I eat good food with passion
I defeat bad mood with a passion
I sleep well with passion
I weep hell with a passion
I dream endlessly with passion
I gleam ceaselessly with a passion
I aim for money with passion
I do the same for honey with a passion
I listen carefully with passion
I glisten dutifully with a passion
I search for fame with passion
I research to blame with a passion
I walk everyday with passion
I talk and play with a passion
I embrace life with passion
I face nightlife with a passion
I laugh out with passion
I chaffe about with a passion
I cook with others with passion
I look at mothers with a passion
I touch gently with passion
I clutch tightly with a passion
I work hard with a passion
I rock mad with a passion
I gear up goals with passion
I stir up roles with a passion
I make friends with passion
I take weekends with a passion
I love kissing with passion
I love teasing with a passion
I make love with passion
I take from above with a passion
If push comes to shove
Label me old fashioned
For these are things I caption
In life with all my passion
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
poem by Sylvia Chidi
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Over The Rainbow
*****Erasure Lyrics*****
*****Version 1.0*****
Albums and B-Sides
-Painstakingly compiled and transcribed by John Setlik
([email protected]) with much help from Vidar Hanssen and Wes Hsu
-Source of lyrics indicated for each album or song
-Please do not re-distribute for commercial purposes
-Over The Rainbow- (from my own listening)
Somewhere over the rainbow
There is a light that shines
Like saying prayers on a Sunday
Makes me feel so divine
I never knew such a burning love before
Ooh, you stop and and you hear me crying out for more
The boys are back in town
They'll never let you down
That much is true
We'll spend the summer in Oslo
Land of the midnight sun
By the time that it's over
We will have just begun
Oh how I love you lying by the pool
We'll listen to Agnethe ("An-yet-ta"), Anni-Frid, Ben and Bjorn
The boys are back in town
They'll never let you down
That much is true
I never knew such a burning love before
Ooh, you stop and and you leave me crying out for more
The boys are back in town
They'll never let you down
That much is true
song performed by by Erasure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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