Swing För Hyresgästföreningen

I've taken the liberty to translate this text into English. I might have made some faults in interpreting and translating it, so please be aware and comment on anything that may not be right.

A little swing for the tenants' union and sorry for the delay, Seems that I owe some money and the landlord is so stern, he can't even wait a week and now the roof has started leaking Tries to write a few cheques it oughta cover something a thousand bucks should do it but now he's talking about interest

I work fifty hours per week, but the overtime don't seem to last out Mom and dad, can you perhaps send some money, it's getting a bit tight, I'd have to admit I've received notice of eviction but with your help, it could be avoided I've been living second-hand* since I learned how to read 'cause the housing market's closed for factory wages so I started robbing bankers so give me the money but they call the cops, have been running since then, tell me why does it have to be so hard to be able to rent an apartment or get a loan, I lack both money and contacts have neither will or am able to afford, but now they're knocking because of money

And the landlord he's stern, he can't even wait a week and now the roof has started leeking Tries to write a few cheques it oughta cover something a thousand bucks should do it but now he's talking about interest

I might have paid too much for the apartment but know barely nothing about properties I need someplace to settle down when the whole town sounds of police sirens I mean, false accounts and bills attracts attention from the public So what can you do when you're not born with [a silver spoon in your mouth]** and the public employment service won't give you the means?***

This is where the problems start, the bill is already three weeks overdue but have nothing more to give from my wallet but a lot in my legs Can easily run from all shop assistants, so the money is due Friday, you can't possibly mean it's too late to pay back and make things right But no, that ship had sailed****

I owe some money And the landlord he's stern, he can't even wait a week and now the roof has started leaking Tries to write a few cheques it oughta cover for something a thousand bucks should do it but now he's talking about interest

I guess you'll have to start singing barbershop and try to save up for something Sell roses on Sergels Torg*****, or try to win in some lottery Appreciate the little you've got Try to reap the little you've sowed If you've found and sold something you didn't know anything of

Now I have stripes on my shirt Concrete ceiling and the check of a lawyer I won't end up this way, in any way I have to get away, so when may the package be due, had hoped an envelope would do have already made my appeal but no one was there and everything because of a greedy landlord

So they incarcerate me and my longing is for freedom can't even wait a week and now the roof has started leaking Tries to write a few cheques It oughta cover for something A thousand bucks should do it But the lawyer wants interest

Ladies and gentleman, it's just about time for me to introduce to you the official dance of this song, Jazz Hands, so it's just for you to shake 'em or as we say in Swedish, "The Piano Fingers", get 'em out in the open do as you wish, start counting or do as [Swedish pianist] Robert Wells, have them insured

Guess I owe some money and the landlord he's stern, he can't even wait a week and now the roof has started leaking Tries to write a few cheques It oughta cover for something A thousand bucks should do it But now he's talking about interest Guess I owe some money

• "Living second-hand" in Sweden means that you or your family is renting an apartment from its actual tenant or home-owner. The second-hand market is particularly prevalent in larger cities and living this way is especially common among the underprivileged.

** "Med skeden", lit. "With the spoon"; derives from this idiomatic expression.

*** This whole verse was difficult translating, because it demands a deal of personal interpretation. My translation is mostly literal.

**** Translation of an idiomatic expression into another; "Kontoret har stängt för länge sedan", lit. "The office has closed since long", meaning basically that you're way too late, whether the office in fact is closed or not. Usually it's a shop ("butik") and not an office that has closed in the expression, but whatever.

***** Sergels Torg is a big plaza on a very central location in Stockholm.