In Honor of Evert Taube

This is Evert Taube’s birthday. He was born in 1890 and died 39 years ago. His songs live. He was—is—loved be the Swedish people.

My favorite song is Waltz of Sjösala describing a hard-working family man intoxicated with Spring. He hops out of bed and dances bare-footed outdoors in his night-shirt, makes himself a crown of wild flowers and sings of the wonders of life and the beauty of nature. ”Look, dad’s a bride!” shout his children. Yes, he’s a singing, dancing bride of spring and anyone listening to his song comes under the spell of his happiness.

He wrote this song in 1941 when the Nazis were at the height of their power. Evert felt a need to sing about the beauty and happiness, the enemies of the war.

*

“The struggle for against war and for peace
is a struggle for truth, justice, beauty and love.”
Dartwill Aquila

*

*