The song Crosses, from Crosses EP and the later Veneer, appeared on the finale of the second season of the popular American television comedy-drama The O.C.. His cover of Heartbeats (also from Veneer) was used in a popular Sony BRAVIA TV commercial featuring coloured bouncing balls in San Francisco and an episode of Zach Braff's Scrubs
His song Far Away was also prominently featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption.
His trademark sound is solo acoustic guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of great hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Born in the U.S.A., and Teardrop.
González also appears in the Zero 7 album The Garden, in which he sings on three tracks and on a re-worked version of Crosses.
Swing
José González Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing what nature gave you
Swing and move like you don't care
Swing to the rhythm inside you
Swing to the waves in the air
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing what your mama gave you
Swing your bum like seaweed
Swing what your papa gave you
Swing your hands like forest leaves
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby
Move, move
Move your body, buddy
Sing to what nature gave you
Sing like the whales in the sea
Sing to the sound that surrounds you
Swing to the beat of the rhythm machine
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Swing, swing
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Move, move
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
The lyrics to José González’s song “Swing” are a simple yet effective call to action to move your body and feel the rhythm within you. The repetition of the phrases “swing, swing” and “move, move” give the song a trance-like quality, encouraging the listener to let go of their inhibitions and let their body move freely. The description of swinging your “belly, baby” and “bum like seaweed” suggests a playful, carefree attitude towards dancing – it doesn’t matter what your body looks like or how you move, as long as you surrender to the music and express yourself through movement.
The song’s focus on nature and the environment is also noteworthy. The repetition of the phrase “Swing what nature gave you” encourages the listener to embrace their natural body and to move with the flow of the natural world. The mention of “singing like the whales in the sea” and “swinging to the beat of the rhythm machine” suggests that the rhythm and flow of nature can be found in both natural and man-made sounds, and that we can connect to this rhythm through our bodies and movement.
Overall, “Swing” is a song that celebrates the joy of movement and the connection between our bodies and the world around us. Its simple lyrics and repetitive structure create a hypnotic effect that encourages the listener to let go of their inhibitions and move freely to the beat of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Swing, swing
Keep on dancing and moving
Swing your belly, baby
Move your midsection and let it all hang out
Move, move
Don't stop grooving
Move your body, buddy
Get your whole self into the music
Swing what nature gave you
Dance in a way that feels natural and free
Swing and move like you don't care
Let go of self-consciousness and just enjoy the moment
Swing to the rhythm inside you
Dance to the beat of your own drum
Swing to the waves in the air
Move in sync with the music and the atmosphere around you
Swing what your mama gave you
Dance with the moves you inherited from your mother
Swing your bum like seaweed
Shake your backside in a fluid, organic way
Swing what your papa gave you
Dance with the moves you inherited from your father
Swing your hands like forest leaves
Move your arms fluidly and gracefully like branches in the wind
Sing to what nature gave you
Express yourself through song in a way that's true to your nature
Sing like the whales in the sea
Sing loudly and uninhibitedly like the majestic creatures of the ocean
Sing to the sound that surrounds you
Let the music be your guide and inspiration
Swing to the beat of the rhythm machine
Move your body in time with the electronic music
Swing your belly, baby (swing your belly, baby)
Keep on dancing and moving your middle
Move your body, buddy (move your body, buddy)
Get your whole self into the music and don't stop grooving
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Hannele Fernstrom, Jose Gonzalez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JoseGonzalezOfficial
Swing is taken from José González's new album "Local Valley" out Sept 17th. Listen / Buy : http://josegonzalez.lnk.to/localvalley
Video director Karlsson about the SWING:
"I was thinking of ideas for ‘Swing’ when I stumbled upon a scientific paper that focused on the behavioral patterns of birds and their movements in the sky. I found the natural choreography of the birds really beautiful. Like a form of dance, shaped for survival.
"That gave me the idea to for an alternative kind of dance video, using everyday scenes and set in a common place, like an average Swedish beach. I wanted to see what natural choreography I could find there. In the basic interaction between people, animals and objects. Trying to highlight specific movements and patterns in order to find some banal, but beautiful and iconic little snapshots from everyday life, and make them dance."
@eliotdangerflash
Just saw him live two weeks ago and before he played this song he said he wrote it for his two year old daughter. Adorable :)
@benjamindegroot2166
Long time Jose fan. Love this. Love him as an artist. So lucky to have him on planet earth <3
@TRANCENDENCED
Indeed ‘ totally 💡
@LilyVazquez214
I got the privilege to watch him at the Majestic Theater in Dallas,TX. I loved every moment of it! 🥰🥰 Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
@adrianovivas9510
Una belleza de tema
@janahdezgalvan4764
Qué ritmo más guapo ❤️
@SalahZhouri
Wonderful as always! Suits the time and the circumstances we are living ❤️🌻
@Chitukuravi
What a glorious tune! Thank u spotify 🙏
@ryanspaulding9288
Please come back to Michigan soon. Much love and peace❤