Biography
Johnson is from the small town of Ängelholm in the south western part of Sweden, but the surroundings and the media compare her with the biggest stars in the music business. By the age of four, she had decided that she wanted to become an artist. She was highly encouraged by her local choir leader.
She now lives in a hunting lodge in the Western Gothlandic woods of Sweden, but also has a home in Stockholm.
As a 12-year old, she started off as vocalist in a Country & Western band, Tomboola Band, touring in Norway and Denmark. She signed eventually with EMI-Medley in Denmark and recorded an album, produced by top producer Paul Bruun. The title-track, Sugar Tree, became a hit in Denmark. In 1996, she had her first Swedish hit with Kommer tid, kommer vår”, a duet with Jan Johansen.
In 1998, she performed Kärleken är at Melodifestivalen, winning the Swedish finals and going on to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest. This established Johnson as one of the prime Swedish artists. The success was followed by the hit album När hela världen ser på and a successful tour.
In mid 1999, Johnson went to L.A. to look for material for her second album. At home, she worked with Andreas Carlsson (ASCAP Writer of the Year 2000), who is known for several massive hits, the biggest , so far, being Celine Dion's That's the Way It Is. She also tried out a few local new-comers and the album Daughter of Eve was released in early 2000. It was very well received and Johnson was compared with some of the world's best artists.
In 2000, she received a platinum-record in Denmark for the sound-track Promise To Love from the Danish block-buster, "Eneste Ene". Later that year, Johnson started to collaborate with other songwriters such as Jenny Orenstein, Charlie Stefl, Mary Green [Biem Writer of the Year 2001]. This resulted in her receiving a Publishing contract in Nashville Tennessee. Consequently, in 2002 Johnson's album entitled "Good Girl" came to be with the help of producer Scott Bagget and some of Nashville’s top musicians. This album secured Johnson's artistic sound and style and once again she was extremely well received by the press in their reviews where she was described as an artist of International calibre.
In the Swedish finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 she qualified at fourth place (out of 32 entries) but and her song “Crazy in Love" became a hit and received a great deal of radio play and was followed by a successful tour.
Johnson's collective "Discography" CD was released in late March 2003. It contains the 20 most popular songs since her debut in 1995. This Cd went straight into the sales charts for best selling CDs in Sweden. The single “Crazy in Love” stayed at No 1 in the Swedish Top Charts (Svensktoppen) 12 weeks consecutively and No 2 for 15 weeks. "Discography" sold Gold in Sweden and Johnson also got a Grammy for this album.
The new album "Roots and Wings" was released in November 2003, recorded and produced by Amir Aly in Sweden and by Scott Baggett in Nashville, USA. "Roots and Wings" sold gold in less than two weeks and platinum a few months later. The album "Being who you are" was released in Sweden in late March 2005 and sold gold in only a few weeks. Johnson was the host of the 2005 Swedish finals of the Eurovison Song Contest in Stockholm
Going Down To The River
Jill Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
O sisters let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O sisters let's go down,
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
O brothers let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
Come on brothers let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
O fathers let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O fathers let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
O mothers let's go down,
Come on down, don't you want to go down,
Come on mothers, let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
O sinners let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down,
O sinners let's go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
The lyrics of Jill Johnson's song "Going Down To The River" are simple and repetitive but they convey a sense of spiritual seeking and yearning. The singer begins by saying that she went down to the river to pray and study about the "good old way". This could be interpreted as a desire to connect with tradition and faith, to delve into the mysteries of religion and find guidance from the divine.
The repeated refrain of "O sisters/brothers/fathers/mothers/sinners let's go down" suggests that the singer is calling out to all who are seeking a deeper understanding of life and a connection to something greater than themselves. The reference to the "starry crown" and the "robe and crown" could be seen as a symbol of heaven and the rewards of a life well-lived.
Overall, the song is a simple but powerful expression of the human desire for spiritual connection and guidance. The repeated refrain and the use of communal language suggest that the singer is not alone in her quest for meaning and that there is strength in shared faith.
Line by Line Meaning
As I went down in the river to pray
As I immersed myself in the water to engage in a spiritual practice of prayer
Studying about that good old way
Reflecting on the traditional, virtuous path of the past
And who shall wear the starry crown
Contemplating the identity of the esteemed figure who gets to wear the celestial crown
Good Lord, show me the way !
Requesting guidance and illumination from God
O sisters let's go down,
Inviting and urging female siblings to join in the spiritual ritual
Let's go down, come on down,
Let us all participate together, encouraging others to follow
O sisters let's go down,
Female siblings should join in the activity for communal worship
Down in the river to pray.
Join me in the body of water as we engage in religious practice.
O fathers let's go down,
Calling on fathers to take part in the spiritual practice
Come on brothers let's go down,
Encouraging and inviting male siblings to participate in the religious practice
Come on mothers, let's go down,
Mothers should also take part in the ritual
Down in the river to pray.
All genders are welcome to pray alongside me in the river.
O sinners let's go down,
Addressing and welcoming those who may have strayed from the righteous path to join in the practice
Let's go down, come on down,
Inviting anyone to join in and pray together
O sinners let's go down,
Encouraging those who may feel unworthy to still come and engage in worship
Down in the river to pray.
The water is a sacred space for all to unite in religious activity.
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Reflecting on who will be worthy and rewarded with the royal garments and accessories that represent spiritual status.
Good Lord, show me the way !
Expressing a continued plea for spiritual guidance in finding the path to righteousness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dougseegersmusic6202
Thank you to everyone that has watched this video. Please note we just released a new record - "A Story I Got To Tell". Please look for it where you buy your music.
@metzlex7316
Thank you so much for this wonderful song!!! <3
@barbaraann7610
This is magnificent, wowee! An incredible discovery of fantastic voices doing an enchanting, compelling song! You are out of this world!
@kentkarlsson8277
My pleasure, saw you on Jill’s Veranda and then my Cousin Mats Rytterlund told me you played at his Brewery Skebo Bruk in Sweden. You are amazing. I have lived in Los Angeles for the last 40 years
@AASIDJAALO
I have a picture of you me and my daughter that we took in jakobstad finland. We loved your consert and thankful that we got to hear you live.
@greggamba2997
Thank you Jill & Magnus for giving Doug a break of his life! Talented musicians helping fellow talented musicians ... kudos to all of you guys!
@dottiedumke4346
This is real country,,,,, love this song,,, and the poor homeless Man.
@mattseapig390
Remember when country was country. When everything did not need a beat. When lyrics came from the soul. Way down deep. When a life of sorrow and happiness made a song. Not a life of a "thug" pot and drugs.
Remember when talent made a good life for someone. When a simple guitar tune and a voice of gold made a man happy and out of the cold. Now I see homeless men with more talent then the ones standing on the stage. Isn't this a sad world, when talent is hiding in the shade.
@anthonytortorici6665
There's a difference to knowing the words to a song and the song knowing the words to you.
@scottwolf9311
Anthony Tortorici great comment. you must be a musician.