"Julbocken", with the opening lines "En jul när mor var liten",[b] is a Christmas song written by Alice Tegnér. The lyrics describe a time when the Julbocken (Yule goat or Christmas goat) was still a more popular Christmas gift-bringer in Sweden than the Jultomten (Christmas elves or gnomes)[c] or Santa Claus. The lyrics describe the goat giving presents, a doll for "Mother" when she was a child, who was frightened when the goat jumped; and for her brother, a drum and a trumpet. When the goat is old, he returns to "Mother", who now has children of her own.
| "Julbocken" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | Swedish |
| Published | 1913 |
| Genre | children, Christmas |
| Songwriter(s) | Alice Tegnér |
Publications
editRecordings
editA recording was done by Alice Babs in Stockholm in November 1963.[2] Another recording was done by pupils from Stockholms musikgymnasium and Stockholms musikklasser on the 1972 album God morgon, mitt herrskap.[3] The song was also recorded by Anita Lindblom on her 1975 Christmas album Jul med tradition.[4]
References
edit- Footnotes
- ^ 19th century Swedish Christmas card, God Jul by Jenny Nyström
- ^ "One Christmas when Mother was small"
- ^ Cf. Brownie (folklore)
- Sources
- ^ Alice Tegnér (1913), "Sjung med oss, mamma!" [Sing with us, Mom!], Små visor (in Swedish), 6, Skoglund
- ^ "Sjung med oss mamma Vol. 2 / Babs, Alice" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1963. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Godmorgon mitt herrskap : Lucia-, advents- och julsånger / elever ur Stockholms musikgymnasium och musikklasser" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1972. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Jul med tradition / Lindblom, Anita" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1975. Retrieved 17 May 2011.