Gabriel Jönsson

Gabriel Jönsson (July 18, 1892 – April 23, 1984) was a Swedish author and poet. He is best known for works inspired by Öresund and farming.

Gabriel Jönsson
Gabriel Jönsson
BornJuly 18, 1892
Ålabodarna
DiedApril 23, 1984
Ålabodarna, Glumslöv
NationalitySwedish
Other namesSinger by Öresund
EducationHelsingborgs högre allmänna läroverk, Lund University, studies never completed
OccupationJournalist/poet
EmployerSvenska Dagbladet, Sydsvenska Dagbladet
Known forPoems about the sea and farming
Spouse(s)Anna-Margareta (Annika)
Gabriel Jonsson in 1967

Early life

Jonsson was born into a Baptist religious family. His father Peter was a seaman, but due to back injuries caused by carrying bricks, he started a trading post in Ålabodarna, and later on the island Hven, Husvik. Gabriel's mother was hired to work at the Husvik store and later married Jönsson's father. Peter Jönsson died 1901, when Jönsson was 7. At that time he had 2 brothers and 1 sister.

The mother was a good businesswoman. Jönsson’s wish was to become a seaman like his father, but his mother wanted him to be educated. She paid for her three sons' education. Jönsson studied first in Helsingborg, at the Högre Allmänna Läroverket "Higher Public Learning Institute" and later at Lund University, although he did not graduate.

Published works
  • 1920 Flaskpost (Message in a bottle)
  • 1927 Årsringar (Year rings)
  • 1935 Skånska somrar, Bonniers (Scanian Summers)
  • 1936 Mina skepp (My ships)
  • 1941 Kustland (Coastland)
  • 1944 Skånehistorier (Scanian stories)
  • 1946 Himmel och blandsäd (Heaven and wheet)
  • 1948 Diktens Skåne (Poetry of Scania)
  • 1952 Dikter (Poetry)
  • 1954 Än sjunger Öresund (The Sound is still singing)
  • 1956 Min strand (My beach)
  • 1964 Skåne i kameraögat (Scania in the camera eye)
  • 1975 Minnen från kustlandet och betland (Memories from coastland and sugarbetland)
  • 1978 Ung mellan backar och böljor, Bernces (Young between hills and vawes) ISBN 91-500-0370-4
  • 1980 Porträtt och Poesier, Bernces (Portretts and Poetry) ISBN 91-500-0377-1
  • 1991 Fotboll är också poesi, Förlagsband Förlaga Viken (Soccer is also poetry)

"The Girl from Backafall" ("Flickan från Backafall")

The poem "Vid Vakten" (At the helm) from the book Flaskpost "Message in a bottle" (1920) was turned into a popular song in Sweden "Flickan från Backafall" (The girl from Backafall) by Gunnar Turesson and is today a signature song of the island Hven, where Backafall is located. Backafall translated to English means "falling slope" and is a reference to the area between the white church on the island of Hven's west side and small harbor of the same name below.

The song describes a young seaman in the Caribbean on a long voyage longing for his girlfriend at home that is waiting for him.[1]

References
  1. "Flika fran Backafall". Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  1. Karin Karlsson (1977) Bernces, Malmö, Sångaren vid Öresund "The singer by the Sound", ISBN 978-91-500-0309-3


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