She appeared in more than 20 films and television series, including The Emigrants (1971) with Liv Ullman and Max von Sydow.
She was above all an outstanding singer, particularly noted for her jazz songs. In 1964 she recorded the jazz album Waltz for Debby with Bill Evans. She was regarded as a role model by many younger Swedish singers. Her long career also included En gång i Stockholm (Once Upon a Time in Stockholm) with which she represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1963. She finished last and scored the infamous null points, but still managed to remain successful in Sweden.
She was known to suffer from scoliosis, and as a result was forced to retire from performing in 1999.
On May 12, 2005, she died in an accidental fire in her apartment in Stockholm.
Once Upon A Summertime
Monica Zetterlund Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We stopped beside then in a flower stall
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots
Was all I let you buy me
Once upon a summertime just like today
We laughed the happy afternoon away
And stole a kiss in every street cafe
You were sweeter than the blossom on the tree
As if the major had offered me the key, the key to Paris
Now another wintertime has come and gone
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
But I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime
Tous les lilas, tous les lilas de mai
N'en finiront, n'en finiront jamais
De faire la fete du coeur
Des jeunes qui s'aiment
S'aiment, s'aiment
Now another wintertime has come and gone
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
But I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime...
The song Once Upon a Summertime by Monica Zetterlund is a beautiful tale of a romantic summer past between two people. The song reminisces about a time when they stopped next to a flower stall and the singer allowed her lover to buy her a bunch of bright forget-me-nots. They laughed and enjoyed the happy afternoon, stealing kisses in every street café. It was a time when her lover was sweeter than the blossom on the tree and she felt as proud as any girl could be. It felt as though the major had offered her the key to Paris. Time has passed, and now another winter has come and gone. The pigeons feeding in the square have flown away, but the singer remembers that once upon a summertime, her lover loved her.
The song captures the essence of a summer romance, filled with love and laughter, where everything seems perfect. The use of imagery such as the bright forget-me-nots, the blossom on the tree, and the singing of the vespers chime all contribute to the nostalgic and romantic mood of the song. It portrays a sense of fondness and longing for a time and a person that may no longer exist, leaving the listener with a bittersweet feeling of what was.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a summertime if you recall
Reminiscing about a past summer when we stopped at a flower stall
We stopped beside then in a flower stall
We paused near a flower stall to appreciate its offerings
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots was all I let you buy me
You bought me a bunch of forget-me-nots, and it was the only thing I allowed you to buy me
Once upon a summertime just like today
This present day reminds me of a past summer experience
We laughed the happy afternoon away
We spent a joyful afternoon laughing together
And stole a kiss in every street cafe
We shared kisses in every cafe we came across
You were sweeter than the blossom on the tree
You were incredibly sweet
I was as proud as any girl could be
I felt proud to be with you
As if the major had offered me the key, the key to Paris
I felt as if I had been bestowed with a great honor, like being given the key to Paris by the city's mayor
Now another wintertime has come and gone
Another winter has passed
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
The pigeons that used to feed in the square are no longer there
But I remember when the vespers chime
I recall the sound of the vespers ringing
You loved me once upon a summertime
During a past summer, you loved me
Tous les lilas, tous les lilas de mai
All the lilacs, all the lilacs of May
N'en finiront, n'en finiront jamais
Will never end, will never end
De faire la fete du coeur
To celebrate the heart
Des jeunes qui s'aiment
Of young people who love each other
Writer(s): JOHN H. MERCER, MICHEL JEAN LEGRAND, EDDY MARNAY, EDDIE BARCLAY
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jennifer86010
Tears cascade down my face as I hear this....a perfect emotional assault from four exquisite artistic armies ..... Bill Evans' Trio playing Michel Legrand's music, with Johnny Mercer's lyrics, sung by Monica Zetterlund... ...I happily surrender and beg for more.....
Edna Ferreira de Souza
Estou ouvindo a Mônica Z nós anos 2023. Assisti seu Filme biográfico. Espetacular e triste.🎼🎼🎼💎
Cindy Carvalho
Perfeição ❤️
Eduardo Lemos Souza
actually: beyond perfection, Ms. Carvalho.
Let `Em Roll
The talented Monica Z died a tragic death in 2005, when her appartment caught fire, and she sat in a wheelchair alone. Her last words on telephone were: "I don´t want to die this way!" Hearbreaking, like this song.
Ray Falkenberg
@Doug Brandt My brain fart entirely! I could have sworn I was responding to a comment about the song “Some Other Time” from On the Town. Lol. Thanks!
Doug Brandt
@Ray Falkenberg No. Mercer.
Ray Falkenberg
@Susan Meyer The lyrics were actually by Comden and Green
Pat Kager
Bill Evans also died tragically in 1980 from a variety of health conditions related to hard living in 60s and 70s.
Susan Meyer
I love this song. Hearing the lyrics, by Johnny Mercer, makes me feel both sad and happy. So sad to hear how Monica died. Thank you for sharing.