Sofia Karlsson grew up in Enskede, Stockholm. She attended the Folk music dept. of the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Between 1998 and 2002 she was a full time member in Swedish folk music act Groupa. In 2002 she released her debut solo album “Folk songs”.
In 2005 she made her public breakthrough with her second album “Svarta ballader” (Black ballads). The album contains her interpretations of the Swedish poet Dan Andersson. The album was in the charts for more than a year and has to date sold 60.000 copies and was rewarded with a Swedish as well as a Danish Grammy.
After touring Sweden for two years she released her third album “Visor från vinden” (Songs from the loft) with its collection of classical songs sung in Swedish but written by poets and musicians such as Baudelaire, Dan Andersson, Fred Åkerström, Peps Persson, Carl Michael Bellman and Evert Taube. The album also contains Karlsson's own version of Boris Vian's The Deserter.
Hemlängtan
Sofia Karlsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
jag vill hem till jordhöljt bo,
till min koja vid Blodstensmyren,
i de gröna gömmenas ro.
Jag vill leva på bröd och vatten,
om jag endast strax får byta
allt gasljus och larm mot natten
där timmarna tysta flyta.
Jag vill hem till dalen vid Pajso,
till det gräsiga kärret vid So,
där skogarna murgrönsmörka
stå i ring kring mossig mo,
där starrgräs i ånga växer
vid källor som aldrig sina
och där växter växa i jorden
sina rötter silkesfina.
Jag vill hem till dalen vid Kango
där ljungen står brinnande röd
som ett trots i flammande lågor
framför höstens hotande död —
där fjärilar, färggrant glada
på mjöliga vingar sväva
och tunga, sjungande humlor
i den svällande myllan gräva.
Jag vill hem till det fattiga folket
som svettas i somrarnas glöd,
som vakar i bittra nätter
i envig mot köld och nöd. —
Jag vill dit där molnen gå tunga
under skyn där stjärnor skina,
och där obygdsforsarna sjunga
i takt med visorna mina.
The lyrics to Sofia Karlsson's song Hemlängtan express a yearning for a simpler life, away from the noise and chaos of the factory and the city. The singer is tired and longs to return to their humble abode nestled in the countryside, where they can live off bread and water and be surrounded by the peacefulness of nature. The singer describes specific places they want to return to, including a valley by the river Pajso, a grassy marsh in So, and a valley in Kango where the heather burns with a fiery redness.
Throughout the song, there is emphasis on the beauty and purity of nature, with descriptions of the green hiding places, the steam rising from the grass, and the delicate silkiness of the roots. The song paints a picture of a life that is hard and rugged but connected to the natural world, where the people work hard and face adversity but remain grounded by the beauty around them. The singer wants to return to this world, where the hours tick by quietly, and the songs they sing join together with the rhythm of the untouched wilderness.
Overall, Hemlängtan expresses a deep nostalgia for a simpler time and way of life, where nature serves as a sanctuary from the bustle and noise of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Jag är trött, jag är led på fabriken,
I am tired and fed up with the factory
jag vill hem till jordhöljt bo,
I want to go home to a humble abode
till min koja vid Blodstensmyren,
To my hut by Blodstensmyren
i de gröna gömmenas ro.
In the calm and green seclusion
Jag vill leva på bröd och vatten,
I want to live on bread and water
om jag endast strax får byta
If only I could trade
allt gasljus och larm mot natten
All the gaslight and noise for night
där timmarna tysta flyta.
Where the hours flow silently
Jag vill hem till dalen vid Pajso,
I want to go to the valley by Pajso
till det gräsiga kärret vid So,
To the grassy marshland by So
där skogarna murgrönsmörka
Where the forests are dark with ivy
stå i ring kring mossig mo,
Standing in a circle around a mossy bog
där starrgräs i ånga växer
Where the sedge grows in steam
vid källor som aldrig sina
By springs that never dry
och där växter växa i jorden
Where plants grow in the soil
sina rötter silkesfina.
With roots as fine as silk
Jag vill hem till dalen vid Kango
I want to go to the valley by Kango
där ljungen står brinnande röd
Where the heather stands fiery red
som ett trots i flammande lågor
Defiantly burning in flames
framför höstens hotande död —
Facing the impending death of autumn
där fjärilar, färggrant glada
Where butterflies, colourful and happy
på mjöliga vingar sväva
Float on fluffy wings
och tunga, sjungande humlor
And heavy, singing bumblebees
i den svällande myllan gräva.
Digging in the swelling earth.
Jag vill hem till det fattiga folket
I want to go to the poor people
som svettas i somrarnas glöd,
Who sweat in the heat of summer
som vakar i bittra nätter
Who stay awake in bitter nights
i envig mot köld och nöd. —
In a struggle against cold and need.
Jag vill dit där molnen gå tunga
I want to go where the clouds go heavy
under skyn där stjärnor skina,
Under a sky where stars shine
och där obygdsforsarna sjunga
And where the wilderness rapids sing
i takt med visorna mina.
In time with my songs.
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.