Sofia Karlsson (born 1975 in Enskede, Sweden), is a Swedish folk singer. Read Full Bio ↴Sofia Karlsson (born 1975 in Enskede, Sweden), is a Swedish folk singer.

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.

Jul Jul Strålande Jul
Sofia Karlsson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jul jul
Strålande jul
Glans över vita skogar
Himmelens kronor
Med gnistrande ljus
Glimmande bågar
I alla Guds hus
Psalm som är sjungen

Från tid till tid
Eviga längtan
Till ljus och frid
Jul jul
Strålande jul
Glans över vita skogar
Kom kom
Signade jul
Sänk dina vita vingar
Över stridernas
Blod och larm
Över all suckan
Ur människobarm
Över de släkten
Som gå till ro
Över de ungas
Dagande bo
Kom kom

Signade jul
Sänk dina vita vingar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sofia Karlsson & Martin Hederos' song Jul jul jul describe the beauty and majesty of the Christmas season. The title of the song translates to "Christmas, Christmas, Christmas" in English. It celebrates the radiance of Christmas and the hope it brings to humanity. The first stanza highlights the shining Christmas season with beautiful imagery of white forests, sparkling lights, and bows in every house of God. The second stanza talks about the deeper spiritual significance of Christmas, seen through the ages in the form of hymns and the eternal longing for peace and light.

The second half of the song takes on a more somber tone, recognizing the world's tragedies and conflicts. The lyrics ask the blessed Christmas season to embrace and uplift those who suffer from war, grief, and despair. The metaphor of Christmas wings invites us to reach out to the world's marginalized and oppressed people and embrace them with love and kindness. The song's final line expresses the same request, calling for the white wings of Christmas to descend and provide comfort and hope to those who need it most.

Line by Line Meaning

Jul jul
The joyous month of Christmas is upon us

Strålande jul
The radiance of the season shines bright

Glans över vita skogar
The beauty of winter's snow-covered forests reflects the light of Christmas

Himmelens kronor
The glorious heavens above

Med gnistrande ljus
Are adorned with flickering, sparkling lights

Glimmande bågar
And shimmering bows

I alla Guds hus
Are found in every house of God

Psalm som är sjungen
The hymns that are sung

Från tid till tid
Through the ages

Eviga längtan
For everlasting yearning

Till ljus och frid
For light and peace