Edmond Dantés nittonåriga dröm [Edmond Dantés nittonaariga droem] [English translation]

Mercédès, it was 19 years ago

I was thrown in the terrible

prison on the cliff at Marseille

Mercédès, for 19 years my only dream was

to come home to you.

Mercédès, I was condemned unheard

I was innocent, I was cast

in the crypt without substantial ground

Mercédès, I bear a hate, there is a revenge

to claim from the first moment.

Mercédès, I had a lot of time

in prison to write memories

every single injustice.

Mercédès, for 10 years one has time to learn

the difference between wrong and right.

Mercédès, 19 years ago

I was a young man, I was poor

I was full of love, a very simple man.

Mercédès, now I am a noble, I am a gentleman,

now I am elegant.

Mercédès, Mercédès

Mercédès, one stormy night I was

I was mixed up with a deceased person

and thrown out in the sea in a sack.

Mercédès, now I am rich, I have more money

than anything anyone has seen.

Mercédès, I found a chest,

by a deserted place on the sea

in a cave which one cannot see from land.

Mercédès, there was more gold in that chest

than I ever believed existed.

Mercédès, when I became rich

I looked for your house, but I lost my courage

I don't dare to knock on your door.

Mercédès, I didn't have the strength to see

that you were not like before.

Mercédès, I traveled out in the world

Looked at mankind

and learned a new language and new culture.

Mercédès, for nine years I have done

everything I only dreamed before.

Mercédès, Mercédès

Mercédès, I saw a faithless time

it was easy to be a cynic

and lose every hope about mankind.

Mercédès, I was felt despair

when I noticed what happened with the friends.

Mercédès, my large kingdom

my position, my refinement

and my knowledge gave me friends everywhere.

Mercédès, among the friends were also those

who had ignored me when I starved.

Mercédès, I met women

who in duplicity surpassed those

who once threw me in prison.

Mercédès, I could never envision

such a meanness.

Mercédès, I became an avenger

I killed my enemies

and women until I waded through blood.

Mercédès, I carry a fire in my chest

I fear becoming my own threat.

Mercédès, Mercédès

Mercédès, a holy hate

can still never be

the only elixir for one born romantic.

Mercédès, I also built up

a shimmering vision of love.

Mercédès, I am balancing on a knife-edge;

Will I love or die,

will I caress or kill?

Mercédès, you must help me

and show me another way to go.

Mercédès, up until the worst day

I was imprisoned I collected

the memory of what one does when one is free.

Mercédès, for nineteen years I tried forgetfulness

to cope with my life.

Mercédès, I could love you

as poor, can you love me

as rich, then I can love you again

Mercédès, I am the same

deep inside you certainly see the young man

Mercédès, Mercédès

Mercédès, now when we finally

stand here by the cypress,

and I feel that your embrace is tender.

Mercédès, it feels that the last

nineteen years are only a dream.

Mercédès, in this night

we will turn the clocks back,

let us begin our journey again.

Mercédès, this evening I feel ready

to bury the revenge.

Mercédès, tomorrow we will sail!

On the way out of the harbor

we will blow up the whole rocky island next to Marseille!

Mercédès, an ocean of possibilities

wait then for you and me.

• Artist:Björn Afzelius
• Album:Tusen bitar (1990)