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]
The Cold Swedish Winter
Jens Lekman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was outdoors plowing
She just walked up to me and said
'Hey boy, how's it going?'
I admired her straight-forwardness
And brushed away my fringe
As a signal of well-being
We went home to her place
And cooked up some chili
Warmed us from the inside
'cause the outside was chilly
We had to be quiet
To not wake up her family
But I made a high pitched sound
When her cold fingers touched me
She said "shhh
Please be quiet
I know you don't want to
But please deny it"
She said "shhh
Please be quiet
I know you don't want to
But please deny it"
When people think of Sweden
I think they have the wrong idea
Like Cliff Richards who thought it was just
Porn and gonorrhea
And Lou Reed said in the film
"Blue in the face"
That compared to New York City
Sweden was a scary place
They seem to have a point
After meeting with this girl
Maybe not Cliff Richards
But Lou has surely met her
The doubt in her eyes
When I said I wanted to kiss her
For the sake of liking her
And not because of the blizzard
She said "shhh
Please be quiet
I know you don't want to
But please deny it"
She said "shhh
Please be quiet
I know you don't want me
But please deny it"
'Cause the cold Swedish winter
Is right outside
And I just want somebody
To hold me through the night
The cold Swedish winter
Is right outside
And I just want somebody
To hold me through the night
In two thousand years
This place will be covered by ice
And the people who will dig us up
Will be in for a big surprise
After carefully studying
Our calcium-nourished bones
They'll find enclosed
Our hearts of stone
Singing the cold Swedish winter
Is right outside
And I just want somebody
To hold me through the night
The cold Swedish winter
Is right outside
And I just want somebody
To hold me through the night
The lyrics to Jens Lekman's The Cold Swedish Winter tell the story of a chance encounter between the singer and a girl during a snowstorm. The girl boldly walks up to Jens while he's outdoors plowing and strikes up a conversation. Jens admires her straightforwardness and they end up going back to her house to cook chili and warm up from the cold outside. However, an awkward moment arises when Jens tries to kiss her and she asks him to deny it, likely due to the fact that her family is asleep in the other room. The song is a reflection on loneliness and the desire for human connection during the cold, harsh winter months in Sweden.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released as a single in 2005 and was later included on Jens Lekman's 2007 album Night Falls Over Kortedala. The song has become one of Lekman's most popular and beloved tracks. Another interesting fact is that the song's opening line, "I met her in a snowstorm," was inspired by Lekman's own experience of meeting a girl during a snowstorm. Lekman has said that he wrote the song in order to create a romanticized version of the encounter that never actually happened.
The song also features a reference to English singer Cliff Richard, who was known for his wholesome image in the 1960s and 70s, as well as a reference to Lou Reed's portrayal of Sweden in his film "Blue in the Face." Additionally, the song's lyrics reference the idea that someday in the distant future, Sweden will be covered in ice and future generations will discover the bones of those who lived there.
Musically, the song features a catchy melody and lush instrumentation that incorporates a variety of instruments, including guitar, drums, and horns. The song's bittersweet lyrics are complemented by Jens Lekman's smooth, gentle vocals.
In summary, The Cold Swedish Winter is a poignant, melancholic song about loneliness and the desire for human connection during the harsh winter months. It combines catchy, lush instrumentation with bittersweet lyrics that reflect on the complexities of romantic relationships.
Chords (Capo 4th fret):
Verse: G, D, Am, C
Chorus: D, C, G
Line by Line Meaning
I met her in a snowstorm
I encountered her during a snowstorm
I was outdoors plowing
At that moment, I was plowing outside
She just walked up to me and said / 'Hey boy, how's it going?'
She approached me directly and greeted me with a casual phrase
I admired her straight-forwardness
I respected her honesty and directness
And brushed away my fringe
I flicked away some hair in a casual manner
As a signal of well-being
That gesture was a sign that I was comfortable with her
And accepting her challenge
That action conveyed my willingness to engage with her
We went home to her place
We went to her home
And cooked up some chili
We prepared a bowl of chili
Warmed us from the inside
The hot meal made us feel warm internally
'cause the outside was chilly
This is because it was cold outside
We had to be quiet
We had to speak quietly
To not wake up her family
So we wouldn't disturb her relatives who were asleep
But I made a high pitched sound
However, I emitted a loud, high-pitched noise
When her cold fingers touched me
This happened when she touched me with cold fingers
She said "shhh
She whispered
Please be quiet
She asked me to keep quiet
I know you don't want to
She thought I didn't want to be quiet
But please deny it"
However, she pleaded that I pretend to deny it
When people think of Sweden
When individuals imagine Sweden
I think they have the wrong idea
I believe they hold incorrect viewpoints
Like Cliff Richards who thought it was just
For instance, Cliff Richards believed it was only
Porn and gonorrhea
A place known for pornography and gonorrhea
And Lou Reed said in the film
And Lou Reed mentioned in the movie
"Blue in the face"
"Blue in the face"
That compared to New York City
That Sweden was less secure compared to New York
Sweden was a scary place
Sweden is a dangerous place
They seem to have a point
They have valid arguments
After meeting with this girl
After encountering this girl
Maybe not Cliff Richards
Perhaps not like Cliff Richards mentioned earlier
But Lou has surely met her
In contrast, Lou Reed may have met her
The doubt in her eyes
She appeared hesitant
When I said I wanted to kiss her
She was unsure when I expressed an interest in kissing her
For the sake of liking her
But not out of convenience
And not because of the blizzard
And not due to the frigid weather at that time
She said "shhh
Once again, she whispered
Please be quiet
She reiterated her desire for me to speak softly
I know you don't want to
She assumed that I didn't intend to be quiet
But please deny it"
Thus, she asked me once again to pretend to deny it
'Cause the cold Swedish winter / Is right outside
Because the weather outside is cold and harsh
And I just want somebody / To hold me through the night
I only desire someone to embrace me throughout the night
In two thousand years
Thousands of years later
This place will be covered by ice
This area will be under ice sheets
And the people who will dig us up
The individuals who uncover us
Will be in for a big surprise
Will be startled by what they discover
After carefully studying
After meticulous analysis
Our calcium-nourished bones
Looking at our bones that are strengthened by calcium
They'll find enclosed
They'll discover
Our hearts of stone
Our unyielding hearts
Singing the cold Swedish winter
Singing that the weather in Sweden is cold
Is right outside
It's freezing outside
And I just want somebody / To hold me through the night
All I desire is someone to embrace me throughout the night
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jens Martin Lekman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind