Johansson was a native of Söderhamn, in the Hälsingland province of Sweden. Studying classical piano as a child, he would also go on to master the guitar, organ and accordion, before turning on to swing and bebop as a teenager. He met saxophonist Stan Getz while at university. He abandoned his studies to play jazz full time, and worked with many American jazz musicians, becoming the first European to be invited to join the Jazz at the Philharmonic package.
The years 1961 to 1968 produced a string of classic albums, which would help define his style of re-imagining traditional European folk tunes via jazz and the avant garde. These included Jazz på svenska and Jazz på Ryska (Jazz in Russian) which are both available in an expanded form on CD. Jazz på Ungerska (Jazz in Hungarian) together with Danish Jazz violinist Svend Asmussen is the third album in that series. Jazz in Swedish comprises variations on sixteen Swedish folk songs with Georg Riedel playing acoustic bass. During this period, Johansson also made several recordings with Radiojazzgruppen.
The Grammy award winning albums Musik genom Fyra Sekler (Music from the Past Centuries) builds on traditional Swedish melodies, but this time uses larger groups of musicians, and 300.000. There were also two trio sets, 8 Bitar and Innertrio, which have been reissued as a single CD.
In November 1968 Jan Johansson died in a car crash on his way to a concert in a church in Jönköping, Sweden. His sons, Anders Johansson and Jens Johansson, run Heptagon Records which keeps their father's recordings available.
Younger Than Springtime
Jan Johansson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Softer than starlight are you
Warmer than winds of June
Are the gentle lips you gave me
Gayer than laughter are you
Sweeter than music are you
Sunlight and moon beans
Are you to give me
And when your youth and joy
Invade my soul
And fill my heart
As now they do, then
Younger than springtime am I
Gayer than laughter am I
Sunlight and moon beans
Heaven and earth
Am I with you
The lyrics of Jan Johansson’s “Younger Than Springtime” put forward the idea of the love between two people being youthful and evergreen. The opening line “Younger than springtime are you” reflects the freshness and newness that the singer sees in his beloved. The comparisons drawn in the second line are meant to emphasize how tender and gentle the person’s nature is. The third and fourth lines refer to the passion and warmth that the person brings into the singer’s life, with the imagery of “winds of June” creating a sense of romance and longing. The second stanza takes the youthful theme forward again, with the words “Gayer than laughter” and “Sweeter than music” portraying the joy and lightness that the person brings. The final lines of the song draw a parallel, with the singer stating that he too feels younger and more alive because of the love they share.
Overall, the lyrics of “Younger Than Springtime” capture the essence of youthful love, portraying it as passionate, tender, and joyous. The words create an emotional connection between the singer and the person they are addressing, evoking the feelings of excitement and happiness that come with falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Younger than springtime are you
You are younger than the season of spring, filled with the hope and energy of youth.
Softer than starlight are you
You possess a gentle nature, and your touch is as tender as the light of the stars.
Warmer than winds of June
Your embrace is like the warm winds of the month of June, comforting and soothing.
Are the gentle lips you gave me
Your affection is expressed through the tender touch of your lips, embodying love and warmth.
Gayer than laughter are you
Your presence brings joy and happiness, more than the sound of laughter itself.
Sweeter than music are you
You are as enchanting as music, with a voice and disposition that is endlessly captivating.
Sunlight and moon beans, Heaven and earth
Your love is like an all-encompassing force, filling one's world with the radiance of sunlight and the beauty of the moon. It feels divine, consummate and complete, like the very concept of heaven and earth.
Are you to give me
You offer the perfection of all that is good and pure, sacrificing for my sake with a selflessness that is rare and admirable.
And when your youth and joy invade my soul
Your vibrancy and happiness permeates through me, filling my spirit with the essence of your own vitality and enthusiasm.
And fill my heart
You fill even the depths of my heart with your love and warmth, enveloping me in a cocoon of unconditional affection.
As now they do, then
This is true both presently and forever, our love and passion for each other shall endure and grow stronger over time.
Younger than springtime am I
I am as youthful and zealous as the season of spring, made so through your love and presence in my life.
Gayer than laughter am I
You have given me a sense of joy and contentment beyond what laughter could offer, lifting my spirit to new heights of bliss.
Sunlight and moon beans, Heaven and earth
With you, I am whole and complete, blessed with an abundance of all that is divine and beautiful in this world.
Am I with you
Your love has transformed me, and I am forever changed by the profound impact you have had on my life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Richard Rodgers Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind