I Believe In Robert Lind

Here's my translation of a classic 1979 revue routine by Hans Alfredson and Tage Danielsson. Kramfors is a town of 6000 inhabitants in central Sweden, near the 62nd parallel.

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TD: New religions keep popping up like mushrooms, and now it's time for the – ubiquitous in entertainment these days – Religious Corner. Sitting next to me is a fellow man [HA: “Flatterer”] ... a co-slipper on the endless unsanded sidewalk of life. And I would like to ask you a straight and direct question: do you believe in God?

HA: No, in Lind. Robert Lind in Kramfors.

TD: Is that someone you know?

HA: No, but I believe in Him.

TD: But you don't know if He exists?

HA: I believe He does. I'm almost convinced that He exists. I can sort of feel it in my entire body that He exists. Yes, I believe He exists. The answer is “yes”.

TD: So this is something inside of you?

HA: Yes, I believe, I sort of know. Also, I've felt that I could hear His voice.

TD: How so?

HA: I called Him.

TD: How do you know it was Him? It might have been Bosse Parnevik [a popular impersonator at the time].

HA: I don't think so. Parnevik was on tour in Finland at the time.

TD: But my dear friend, do you have any evidence for the existence of Robert Lind?

HA: Well, evidence, you know, it's hard to come by. But He does advertise every week. I think that's a kind of evidence. Last week for instance there was a big ad in the Saxon weekly, for a biodynamic health bike in rugged Hammer Plastic, and other things. You know, He has this mail order company in Kramfors, “Robert Lind in Kramfors Ltd.”, you've heard of them, right?

TD: But I don't understand, how can a person learn Robert Lind's will?

HA: Well, prices and stuff are in the catalogue...

TD: Yes, but if you are troubled and want contact, everyone can't just call Him, can we?

HA: That's true, it would get expensive if everyone called. Kramfors is after all outside the Stockholm area code. But I usually call from work, that's the kind of guy I am. Simply a bad boy!

TD: But I was thinking of Him [gestures towards the ceiling], He must get completely swamped by calls.

HA: Yes, that may very well be true. He did seem a little miffed last time I called. He said, “You again? Dammit, there's got to be an end to this now!”. This suggests that the End is nigh.

TD: But if this Robert Lind really does exist [HA: He does! He does!], then do you feel that he may have existed for all eternity?

HA: Yes, in the beginning was Robert Lind, yes, box, all right.

TD: But how do you know?

HA: I can feel it. And besides, my mother says so. I asked my mother, and she said, “Oh, Robert Lind in Kramfors, they must have been around for ever”. You aren't suggesting that my mother is a fibber?

TD: Certainly not!

HA: Watch it or I'll sic the old lady on you! She's strong! Middle-weight Olympic winner.

TD: Please understand that these are all new concepts to me. How do you picture Robert Lind?

HA: I think he's short and fat. Or tall and muscular. He's got hairy legs. I don't know, I'm just guessing, sort of imagining him. I've got a diffuse, a diffident idea of Him.

TD: How do you picture the Afterlife?

HA: That's a bit clearer to me. I believe that when you die, you go to Kramfors. But if you've been wicked, then you'll have to stay in Dals Långed.

TD: What is your mental image of Kramfors itself?

HA: I think it's all light and beauty. But Dals Långed is a hellhole.

TD: And I suppose that Robert Lind rules the quick and the dead?

HA: I wouldn't go that far. But He has a certain influence, at least in Kramfors. You see, He's on the Municipal Council. He's a very powerful person. Generally speaking, I've devoted my life to Him. I've become a sales agent! Can I offer you a set of garden furniture in pressure-treated softwood? Four pieces? Including a couch?

TD: No, really, I demand a bit more of the One I believe in than a set of garden furniture in pressure-treated softwood, including a couch, four pieces.

HA: Oh. Well, then you're talking to the right person, because there's a soap dish included as well!

TD: Aha, now we're talking!

More like this

The yes box alright bit refers to a silly joke current in schools at the time, involving a man who knows only those three words of English and uses them blindly to incriminate himself.

"Box" sounds like "boss" which is how it enteres the use of those not particularly good at English. "Yes, boss".

By BirgerJohansson (not verified) on 19 May 2015 #permalink

Actually, I think it refers to a meme that was prevalent at the time. The Swedish postal system wanted people to include the PO Box number clearly in the address when mailing letters to companies, and ran an ad campaign with the tagline "Yes. Box. Alright." This was picked up and used generally as soon as you were answering anything with an affirmative...

Blessed are the cheesemakers.

And has Robert Lind given us his only begotten sandwich maker?

By Eric Lund (not verified) on 20 May 2015 #permalink