Johansson (born November 2, 1963 in Stockholm) is son of the well-known Swe… Read Full Bio ↴Johansson (born November 2, 1963 in Stockholm) is son of the well-known Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson and brother of the heavy metal drummer Anders Johansson. In 1982, the classically trained Johansson left the jazz fusion band Slem and joined the Swedish metal band Silver Mountain, which also included Anders. In 1983 he left Sweden for California and joined guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen as a member of his band, Rising Force. Numerous records and world tours ensued and he stayed with Yngwie until 1989. Johansson also played with the band Dio between 1989 and 1990. Like Anders, he began an ongoing collaboration with Jonas Hellborg in 1989 which has resulted in several well-received progressive and avant-garde recordings, including Dissident, Silent Run (an acoustic piano trio record with Ginger Baker on drums) and the hard core progressive fusion record, E.

In 1993, Johansson co-founded a progressive blues metal project, The Johansson Brothers, and recorded a self-titled record. In 1996, with a different line-up, they recorded another album, Sonic Winter, this time under the name "Johansson", with Yngwie Malmsteen guesting on guitar. The last Johansson record, The Last Viking, a more "European metal" oriented album, was released in 1999 with special guests Michael Romeo and Göran Edman.

Johansson has released several instrumental solo records such as Fjäderlösa Tvåfotingar, Ten Seasons (a piano solo album improvised in the Mark Kostabi gallery, New York), Heavy Machinery (with Anders and Allan Holdsworth) and Fission (with Anders, Shawn Lane and Mike Stern) and many collaborations with other artists, metal compilations and Berends Brothers' band Mastermind.

He co-founded Heptagon Records to distribute his own recordings and that of other musicians, such as guitarist Benny Jansson and bassist Magnus Rosén.

Johansson auditioned for Dream Theater after Kevin Moore left the band in 1994 but was not accepted. He joined the power metal band Stratovarius in 1995 and has remained since, still releasing solo albums and appearing as a guest or session musician in other projects.

carry me
Jens Johansson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I sometimes wonder why the years go
by, and in the end we always die
but when I held you close, time almost
froze, they say it's life but no one knows

carry, me through eternity, we're
holding the key, we'll always be free
carry, me through eternity, we're

holding the key, we'll always be free

this world has so much hate, we
shouldn't wait, I feel the force of love
and fate

I know you'll be OK, don't go away, we'll
live to fight another day

Overall Meaning

Jens Johansson's song "Carry Me" is a reflection on the transitory nature of life and the power of love to carry us through the uncertainties of time. The opening lines express a common existential crisis many people face: the bittersweet realization that time moves swiftly and life is fleeting. The singer's romantic attachment provides some measure of respite from this anxiety: when he holds his partner, time "almost froze," suggesting an almost transcendental quality to their shared moment. However, this experience is ultimately just a momentary respite from the often-brutal circumstances of living.

The chorus of the song speaks of eternity, and the sense that, through love, we can transcend the limitations imposed upon us by time and death. The singer refers to "holding the key" and "always be[ing] free," signaling the transformative and redemptive qualities of love. This is particularly powerful since love, in Johanasson's estimation, is capable of overcoming hate and creating a world suffused with hope and beauty.

Ultimately, "Carry Me" is a song about how love can help us navigate a world that is often unpredictable and painful. It provides a kind of emotional sustenance that helps us to transcend the limits of our individual bodies and minds. Perhaps, through the power of love, we can achieve a kind of immortality that extends beyond our traditional physical existence.

Line by Line Meaning

I sometimes wonder why the years go by, and in the end we always die
Reflecting on the passage of time, why it seems to fly, and how death is the ultimate end for all of us

but when I held you close, time almost froze, they say it's life but no one knows
When I'm with you, the world stands still and nothing else matters; life is something that nobody fully understands

carry, me through eternity, we're holding the key, we'll always be free
Please be with me forever, as we have the power to shape our own destiny and will always have the freedom to do so

this world has so much hate, we shouldn't wait, I feel the force of love and fate
The world often feels cruel and full of negativity, but we shouldn't wait to spread love and positivity, as these forces can shape our lives and futures

I know you'll be OK, don't go away, we'll live to fight another day
I have faith that you'll be okay, please don't leave me, as we will find a way to overcome any obstacle and keep fighting for our future together

Contributed by Cameron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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