He is a world-class soloist and artist with heart and soul: Nils Landgren.
Jazz and church music shaped his childhood. As cornetist, Nils Landgren's father brought US jazz into the house. The traditional Swedish chorales and songs came from his grandfather, who was a preacher. Nils Landgren was born in 1956. He began playing drums at the age of six. At 13 he layed his hands and lips on the trombone and was hooked for life.
Between 1972 and 1978 Nils studied classical trombone at the music college in Karlstad with David Maytan and at the university in Arvika with Ingemar Roos. During this time he also met the legendary Swedish Folk-Jazz pioneer Bengt-Arne Wallin and the fantastic tromboneplayer and proffessor of the Graz Conservatory in Austria, Eje Thelin. These two men completely changed the way for Nils to go; from a strict classical player to an improviser with his own idea of what to play and why. After his graduation Nils moved to Stockholm to work as a professional tromboneplayer. First the life of a struggling jazz musician, making no money but gaining loads of experience. Then the call that totally changed his life: an offer to go on tour with Sweden's most successful pop star of that time Björn Skifs who at that time was at #1 in the US pop charts with "Hooked on a feeling". The money was ok, the vibes were cool and the band was simply great! Ever since that time Nils Landgren has been involved in a variety of music styles and projects. These include jazz, rock, soul, hip hop, big band’s, studio sessions, and by his own reckoning, at least 500 albums. Mostly, for natural reasons with Swedish artists but also with such internationals stars as ABBA, The Crusaders, Eddie Harris, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Herbie Hancock. Nils even plays on the first Wyclef Jean solo album, titled "Carnival".
In 1981 Thad Jones invited the Swede into his new Bigband project "Ball of Fire", to take the lead-trombone chair. The band was built up around such great musicians as Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Tim Hagans, Bobby Burgess, Roger Kellaway, Sahib Shihab, Dusko Goykovich, and Benny. "A fantastic band, sad that it did not work out in the end", Nils says about that expreience. Two years later Nils debut album "Planet Rock" was released, followed by "Streetfighter" in 1984, "You are my Nr 1" in 1985, "Miles from Duke" with Bengt-Arne Wallin in 1987, "Chapter Two 1", in 1987, "Chapter Two 2" and "Follow your heart" in 1989. Between 1985 and 1987 Nils also performed as actor, singer, trombonist, and dancer in over 360 performances of the Swedish "play of the year", SKAEL, as well as appearing in several TV-films as an actor.
1992 saw the first performances and recording of the Nils Landgren Unit; the recording was called "Red Horn", and was mixed by the legendary sound engineer Bruce Swedien. (re-release 2001 as "The First Unit", ACT 9292-2). That same summer the band performed at the "Playboy Jazzfestival" in Los Angeles, hosted by the great Bill Cosby. The final breakthrough outside of Scandinavia came first in 1994: it was at the Jazz Baltica Festival in Germany that the "Unit" became the "Funk Unit". The album "Live in Stockholm" (ACT 9223-2) with guest star Maceo Parker was released that year and was the foundation for the collaboration with Siegfried Loch and his young ACT label.
Green fields
Nils Landgren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once there were valleys where rivers used to run
Once there were blue skies with white clouds high above
Once they were part of an everlasting love
We were the lovers who strolled through green fields
Green fields are gone now, parched by the sun
Gone from the valleys where rivers used to run
Gone with the lovers who let their dreams depart
Where are the green fields that we used to roam
I'll never know what made you run away
How can I keep searching when dark clouds hide the day
I only know there's nothing here for me
Nothing in this wide world, left for me to see
Still I'll keep on waiting until you return
I'll keep on waiting until the day you learn
You can't be happy while your heart's on the roam
You can't be happy until you bring it home
Home to the green fields and me once again
The song "Green Fields" by Nils Landgren talks about the past joys and the loss of love. The opening lines describe the beauty of nature, green fields, valleys, and blue skies with white clouds. These natural elements, in context, were once a part of the everlasting love that the singer shared with his lover. The use of the past tense in this description suggests that this love is no longer present or has faded away.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Green fields are gone now," representing the fleeting nature of love and the cyclical nature of life. The use of the metaphorical language further emphasizes the theme of loss and the passing of time. The lines "Where are the green fields that we used to roam, I'll never know what made you run away" show the longing and confusion that comes with the end of a relationship.
The last few lines, "Still I'll keep on waiting until you return, I'll keep on waiting until the day you learn, You can't be happy while your heart's on the roam, You can't be happy until you bring it home, Home to the green fields and me once again," offer a glimmer of hope. The singer still has faith that his love will return, and they can find happiness together once again, in the green fields.
Line by Line Meaning
Once there were green fields kissed by the sun
In the past, there were beautiful green fields that the sun would touch with warmth and life.
Once there were valleys where rivers used to run
Previously, there were valleys where rivers would flow and bring vitality and joy.
Once there were blue skies with white clouds high above
At one time, there were endless blue skies with fluffy white clouds floating far away.
Once they were part of an everlasting love
These natural wonders were an integral part of an enduring love.
We were the lovers who strolled through green fields
We, the lovers, would walk through these green fields and experience their beauty together.
Green fields are gone now, parched by the sun
The green fields are no longer here, they have become dry and cracked under the heat of the sun.
Gone from the valleys where rivers used to run
The valleys where the rivers ran have become barren and empty with no sign of life.
Gone with the cold wind that swept into my heart
This loss of beauty and love has left me with a cold, heavy feeling inside my heart.
Gone with the lovers who let their dreams depart
As the green fields disappeared, so did the lovers who gave up on their shared hopes and aspirations.
Where are the green fields that we used to roam
I wonder where those green fields are now, the ones we used to wander through with happiness.
I'll never know what made you run away
I will never understand what caused you to leave suddenly and without warning.
How can I keep searching when dark clouds hide the day
It's hard to keep searching for answers when everything is shrouded in darkness and uncertainty.
I only know there's nothing here for me
All I'm certain of now is that there is nothing left for me here.
Nothing in this wide world, left for me to see
There's nothing interesting or worthwhile left for me to discover in this vast world.
Still I'll keep on waiting until you return
Despite everything, I will wait for your return, keeping the hope and promise of love alive.
I'll keep on waiting until the day you learn
I'll wait until the day you realize the importance and depth of our love for each other.
You can't be happy while your heart's on the roam
You cannot find happiness while your heart is wandering and searching for something else.
You can't be happy until you bring it home
You cannot be truly happy until you bring your heart back to where it truly belongs - with me and the green fields.
Home to the green fields and me once again
Return to me and the green fields, where love, beauty and happiness were once within our reach and can be again.
Writer(s): Richard Dehr, Terry Gilkyson, Frank Miller
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arizona Pilot
This is a song my father used to listen to. I used to think it was too sappy but I’m starting to really appreciate what a lovely soothing song this is.
KateCat 2
Thanks for your lovely comment , warm hug Kate
JA Olive
Song forever. I missed my childhood. Thank you so much.
LaReMi 73
Beautiful video and song!
yoichiro tani
So beautiful video and song!! Thank you dear Kate!!
KateCat 2
yoichiro tani happy Summer days 🌻 Kiss and hugs Kate 🌻
Stephanie C h
Wonderful! ♥
KateCat 2
Stephanie C h happy Summer days dear, Kiss and hugs 🌻 Kate
Martiniano Lopez Colin
Exquisito . 🎬🎼🌼🌷💐🍸
KateCat 2
Martinianolopez c happy Summer days 🌻 Kiss and hugs Kate 🌻