Lekman recorded and released much of his material privately from 2000 to 2003 on CD-R. Because one of his songs during this time was entitled "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song to the Blind Girl", Lekman was mistakenly referred to as Rocky Dennis for a while (the song was actually written from the perspective of the main character of the 1985 film Mask). Lekman says that it was a "mistake": "someone thought that was my real name cause I had a song about him, and then radio picked up on it, and I never had a chance to change it". He put the confusion to rest with his Rocky Dennis in Heaven EP (2004).
His self-released 7" vinyl EP Maple Leaves caused a big stir in 2003, mainly due to sound files circulating on file sharing networks. When the same EP was released on CD by the Swedish independent label Service Records in the autumn, he was already a well-known name. The songs Maple Leaves and Black Cab were heavily played on Swedish national radio. He soon signed a contract with the American label Secretly Canadian for releases outside of Sweden. Heavy touring and his debut album soon followed.
His first album When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog was released in 2004, and consisted of recordings made between 2000 and 2004 (some tracks had been previously released independently by Lekman). The album attracted attention among the alternative music press in both Europe and the US. The song You Are The Light was a successful radio hit, and a video received some rotation in the Nordic MTV and ZTV. In Sweden the album reached #6 in the national chart. Lekman was nominated for three Swedish Grammies, three P3 Guld and three Manifest awards, as well as dubbed album of the year by Nöjesguiden.
A concert film shot from Lekman's sold-out show with José González at Göteborg's concert hall in December 2003 was broadcast by Swedish national television two times in 2005. In June 2005, a compilation CD of Jens' first three EPs, with extra tracks, was released as Oh You're So Silent Jens. Lekman also had a track on Secretly Canadian's SC100 compilation, released in April 2007.
His latest album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, was released in October 2007, and appeared on many lists for the best albums of said year.
Live performances by Lekman differs in style. Sometimes he performs alone with only a guitar and a CD player, or doing a capella versions of his songs. Other times, he is accompanied by a choir and string quartet, and he was recently seen on tour with a full band (including horns etc) consisting of all women musicians, dressed in white 60s dresses.
Official: [http://www.jenslekman.com]
Fan-site/Forum: [http://www.mapleleaves.se]
If You Ever Need A Stranger
Jens Lekman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To sing at your wedding
A last minute choice then I am your man
I know every song, you name it
By Bacharach or David
Every stupid love song that's ever touched your heart
Every power ballad that's ever climbed the charts
You think it's funny
My obsession with the holy matrimony
But I'm just so amazed to witness true love
And true love can be measured
Through these simple pleasures
They are waiting there for you to be discovered
I would cut of my right arm to be someones lover
Maybe I'll meet her there tonight at the wedding buffet
I walk up to her when she's caught the bouquet
And oh, it's just like a whirlwind
These lyrics are an offer from the singer to sing at someone's wedding if they need a last minute replacement. He is confident in his ability to sing any song about love, from the popular hits to the classics of Bacharach and David. He acknowledges that some may find it funny that he is so drawn to weddings and the idea of true love, but he believes that it is a beautiful thing to witness. He suggests that the simple pleasures that come with love are often overlooked, but are waiting to be discovered by those who seek them. The singer goes so far as to say he would cut off his right arm to be someone's lover, emphasizing the intense desire and passion he feels for love.
The last part of the lyrics takes a turn towards the singer's personal hopes and desires. He suggests that the wedding he may be singing at could be where he meets the love of his life, and imagines himself catching the bouquet and beginning a whirlwind romance. The lyrics overall suggest a complex mix of romantic yearning, a passion for the idea of love itself, and a sense of humor and openness towards the unpredictability of life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever need a stranger
Jens Lekman is assuring the listener that he will be there for them if they ever require the services of a stranger.
To sing at your wedding
Jens Lekman is offering to sing at the listener's wedding should they need him.
A last minute choice then I am your man
Jens Lekman assures the listener that he is ready to be their man in case they need a last-minute choice.
I know every song, you name it
Jens Lekman claims that he knows every song the listener can name.
By Bacharach or David
Jens Lekman suggests that he knows songs by the composers Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
Every stupid love song that's ever touched your heart
Jens Lekman implies that he knows every love song that has ever touched the listener's heart.
Every power ballad that's ever climbed the charts
Jens Lekman indicates that he knows every power ballad that has managed to climb the music charts.
You think it's funny
Jens Lekman acknowledges that the listener might find his obsession with holy matrimony funny.
My obsession with the holy matrimony
Jens Lekman admits that he is obsessed with the concept of holy matrimony.
But I'm just so amazed to witness true love
Jens Lekman explains that he is amazed by true love and that is the reason for his obsession with the institution of marriage.
And true love can be measured
Jens Lekman asserts that true love can be measured.
Through these simple pleasures
He implies that these simple pleasures are the means by which true love can be measured.
They are waiting there for you to be discovered
He suggests that these simple pleasures are waiting for the listener to discover them.
I would cut of my right arm to be someones lover
Jens Lekman emphasizes his willingness to do anything to be someone's lover.
Maybe I'll meet her there tonight at the wedding buffet
Jens Lekman suggests that he might meet his lover at the wedding buffet.
I walk up to her when she's caught the bouquet
He anticipates walking up to his lover when she has caught the wedding bouquet.
And oh, it's just like a whirlwind
Jens Lekman describes the feeling of falling in love as a whirlwind.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jens Martin Lekman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Godofwar555
He has such a gifted voice.
Posivibez
such an incredible album
Darth Negro
verdadera música del corazón, letras con sentido, al final todo sera por la mujer.
Michelle Kearney
Such beautiful Jens,
Your love is there, somewhere in front of you <3
Shannon McGarvey
this song is a time machine.
Sara Marveggio
i love it!
didoma73
Need to learn this on the piano...Jens, please teach me
rogirio1
Tack för låten... Den är skit bra!
Dustin Wall
A re-run of This American Life # 339 brought me here. Beautiful.
echristopherson78
Same here. I hear a little similarity to Phil Collins's "Against all Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" in some places; coincidence?
(Also I'm hearing a bit of Annie Lennox's "Walking On Broken Glass".)