Smith & Thell is a Swedish folk-pop duo, comprising Maria Jane Smith & Victor Thell.
They have spent the last few years contributing songs to artists like Molly Sanden, Danny Saucedo, and Samir & Viktor.
Now, there’s a new brilliant single on their own called “ROW”, which is taken from the debut album “Soulprints”.
“ROW” is a fight song for grownups” said Smith & Thell. “When you grow up, you realize that life doesn’t go “merrily down the stream” like we were told when we were kids. It’s a song about looking your demons right in the eyes and saying you will will make it through the hard times, no matter what. We used a few children’s rhymes in there but took the freedom to change the parts in those songs where the adults lie to the kids about how life is going to be great”.
The clip for “ROW” is a cinematic video directed by August Segerholm, who has previously collaborated with advertising big-name such as Adidas, Xbox and Mario Testino.
“We shot the video on an island called Gotland, which is a 3-hour boat ride from Stockholm,” explains Maria. “Some call it ‘God’s Land’ because of the beautiful landscapes and it is also the home of legendary Swedish movie director Ingmar Bergman. The song ‘Row’ is about fighting through the metaphorical mud and dirt in life, and looking your demons and monsters right in the eyes and making it through tough times. Throughout the video we’re collecting little pieces that might look rusty and ugly on their own, but when put together, they end up creating something beautiful.”
“Soulprints” will be released at the start of next year.
Lyrics:
Row, row, row your boat
These riders deep and I’c know
but right now you need honey
we just gotta row, row row
So mud, dirt, dust and bones
raging with us eyes alone
Keep your head up high and nice
untill show, show, show
We gotta make some most
out of this real life
So I row the boat
through swamp and tide
and if I reach the coast
but the time goes high
I’ll grab those oars again
Mama
I will row my boat
Far from the mess that you made
Mama I will row my man away
You better row
You better row
You better row
You better row
I told myself
you better row
You better row
You better row
You better row
Iny, miny mainy, mo
There’s monsters behind every door
but I’m not scared this time I’m ready
for war, war, war
Even tho my hands are tied
I’m not … or alive
Ooh
We gotta make some most
out of this real life
So I row the boat
through swamp and tide
and if I reach the coast
but the time goes high
I’ll grab those oars again
Mama
I will row my boat
Far from the mess that you made
Mama
I will row my man away
You better row
You better row
You better row
You better row
Mama
I will row my boat
Far from the mess that you made
Mama
I will row my man away
You better row
You better row
You better row
You better row
I told myself
You better row
You better row
You better row
You better row
