INGA SWEARINGEN

written by Inga Swearingen

produced by Inga Swearingen and Chris Robertson

​

This song—my other pick specially for the month of April, along

with this one—comes to us from a young Scandinavian/American

singer named Inga Swearingen, whom I originally came to know

through her appearances on Garrison Keillor’s radio show A Prairie

Home Companion—at least one I can think of, the show’s 30th anniversary celebration, from 2004.

​

I believe I actually knew a bit more about Inga a few years ago—for example (mea culpa and apologies), I can’t really remember now if she was born in Sweden, specifically, or just spent enough time there to learn the language... though it seems that way, as she notes that she and her sister Britta used to sit together under a big oak tree on their farm. This song comes off her jazz album First Rain. I got it back when I was really into learning Swedish, because she also has a Swedish song on it (“Visa från Järna”).

​

Have notes to add? Let me know!

​

YT:

full version

​

Inga’s official website

Lyrics

​

An April afternoon, the wind is carrying a tune / The grass on the hillside is rippling like the waters of the sea / Moving all the branches on a tree / Blooms of jasmine flower perfume the air / I imagine kissing your dark hair, I remember you / Blew straight into my heart, like the wind through my window / I danced with the breeze in my arms / The breeze in my arms / Joy is our song, while the days grow long / And the birds sing measureless music / And the dark December is gone / And it’s late at night, and later still / When I’m quiet enough to feel you here with me / Last night I dreamed you older than you are / It was beautiful and sad to me / ’Cause I want you here, forever / No, I don’t want you to leave / Your hands, so strong, and beautifully calm / Will always be there, to catch me when I fall / x1