Fredman's Epistles is a collection of 82 songs by the dominant figure in Swedish 18th century song, Carl Michael Bellman, first published in 1790. It was created over a period of twenty years from 1768 onwards. [1] A companion volume, Fredman's Songs was published the following year.
The songs in Fredman's Epistles vary widely in style and effect, from Rococo-themed pastorale with a cast of gods and demigods from classical antiquity to laments for the effects of Brännvin-drinking; lively tavern-scenes, apparent improvisations skilfully crafted. The lyrics describe a gallery of fictional and semi-fictional characters and events taking place in Stockholm of that era, based on the lives of actual people Bellman was aware of. Jean Fredman, an alcoholic former watchmaker, is the central character and fictional narrator. [1] Ulla Winblad, based on one of Bellman's friends, is the chief of the fictional "nymphs", half goddess, half prostitute, of the demimonde characters of Fredman's Epistles. [2] Many of the songs have remained culturally significant in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden.
They are widely sung and recorded, by amateur choirs and professional singers alike. The Orphei Drängar are a choir named for a phrase in Epistle 14, and set up to perform Bellman's works; they give concerts around the world. [3] Several professional solo singers in the Swedish ballad tradition largely made their name in the 1960s singing Bellman, while accompanying themselves in Bellmanesque style with a guitar. They were the members of the "Storks" artistic community ("Vispråmen Storken") in Stockholm, and they include Fred Åkerström (1937–1985) with his albums Fred sjunger Bellman , Glimmande nymf and Vila vid denna källa , and Cornelis Vreeswijk with his albums Spring mot Ulla, spring! and Movitz! Movitz! . [4] Other singers such as Sven-Bertil Taube and William Clauson used the less authentic accompaniment of an ensemble; Clauson was also the first to release a recording of Bellman in English, alongside his Swedish recordings. [5] Singers from other traditions sometimes sing Bellman; for example, the folk singer Sofia Karlsson [6] and the popular musician Cajsa Grytt. [7] Over 500 recordings of Bellman's Fredman's Epistles or Fredman's Songs have been placed on YouTube. [8]
Among the best known of Fredman's Epistles are: No. 2, Nå skruva Fiolen , No. 3, Fader Berg i hornet stöter , No. 7, Fram med basfiolen, knäpp och skruva , No. 12, Gråt Fader Berg och spela , No. 23, Ach du min Moder!, described as "the to-be-or-not-to-be of Swedish literature"; [2] No. 28, I går såg jag ditt barn, min Fröja , No. 33, Stolta Stad! , No. 35, Bröderna fara väl vilse ibland ; No. 36, Vår Ulla låg i sängen och sov , a poem of "immeasurable artistry, balance, and subtlety of effect"; [9] No. 40, Ge rum i Bröllops-gåln din hund! , "one of the wildest weddings in Swedish literature"; [10] No. 48, Solen glimmar blank och trind ; No. 63, Fader Bergström ; No. 71, Ulla! min Ulla! säj får jag dig bjuda ; No. 72, Glimmande nymf ; No. 80, Liksom en Herdinna, högtids klädd ; No. 81, Märk hur vår skugga ; and No. 82, the last, Hvila vid denna källa . [2]
Each of the 82 epistles is listed here with its number and its original descriptive title or dedication. The contemporary Gustavian age cast of characters is listed under "Mortals"; the classical and Nordic gods and demigods (and in one Epistle, a cast of Old Testament heroes) are listed under "Immortals".
Number | First line | Dedication | Theme | Mortals | Immortals | Location, notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gutår, båd natt och dag | Til Cajsa Stina | Drink | Cajsa Stina, Jergen Puckel, Benjamin Schwalbe, Eric Bergström, Anders Wingmark, broder Berg, Christian Samuel Bredström | ||
2 | Nå skruva Fiolen | Til Fader Berg, rörande Fiolen | Tavern, Fiddle | Fader Berg, Fredman | Bacchus | |
3 | Fader Berg i hornet stöter | Til en och hvar af Systrarna, men enkannerligen till Ulla Winblad | Wine, Women, Song, Horn | Fader Berg, Jergen Puckel, Ulla Winblad | Charon, Paris, Helen, Freya | Introduces Ulla Winblad |
4 | Hej Musikanter ge Valdthornen väder | Enkannerligen till Anna Stina | Wine, Women, Song | Anna Stina | Bacchus, Freya | |
5 | Käre bröder, så låtom oss supa i frid | Til de trogne Bröder på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden | Drink, Companions | Bacchus | Terra Nova Tavern in Gaffelgränden by Skeppsbron | |
6 | Käraste Bröder Systrar och Vänner | Til de Galimater på hinsidon den Konungsliga Djurgårdenom | Wine, Women, Song | Ulla Winblad | Djurgården | |
7 | Fram med basfiolen, knäpp och skruva | Som synes vara en Elegie, skriven vid Ulla Winblads säng, sent om aftonen | Muse | Ulla Winblad, Fader Berg | Freya | |
8 | Dörrarna öpna, Fiolerna klara! | Til Corporal Mollberg | Wine, Women, Song | Mollberg | Introduces Mollberg | |
9 | Käraste Bröder, Systrar och Vänner | Till gumman på Thermopolium Boreale | Wine, Women, Song | Fader Berg, Jergen Puckel, Jungfru Lona | Bacchus | |
10 | Systrar hören min musik | Klingar väl vid flöjttraver | Wine, Women, Song | Bacchus, Cupid | ||
11 | Hej! sade Fredman hvar gång han hörde Valdthorn börja skråla | Til Bröderne och Systrarna på Lokatten | Wine, Women, Song | Ulla Winblad | Cupid | Lokatten (Lynx Tavern) Begins "Portugal, Spanien,/ Stora Britannien" |
12 | Gråt Fader Berg och spela | Elegi öfver slagsmålet på Gröna Lund | Drink, violence | Jergen Puckel | Gröna Lund (The Greenwood Tavern) | |
13 | Nå ä nu alla församlade här | Till Brodern Bredström | Drink, Companions | Bredström brothers, Anders Wingmark, Benjamin Schwalbe, Jergen Puckel | Cupid | |
14 | Hör J Orphei Drängar | Till poeten Wetz | Drink, Companions | "Orpheus's servants" | Apollo, Bacchus, Cupid, Venus/Freya | |
15 | Käraste min Theophile | Enkannerligen til Theophilum Skomakar-Gesäll, under dess förföljelse skrifven til tröst och hugsvalelse | Drink, Companions | Theophile | Bacchus | |
16 | Fader Bergström fingra ditt Oboe, blås | Enkannerligen til de Birfilare på den Konungsliga Djurgården | Drink, Companions | Fader Bergström, Cajsa | Djurgården | |
17 | Systrar och Vänner | Til Syster Lisa | Drink, Companions | Lisa, Jergen Puckel | ||
18 | Gubbarna satt sig at dricka | Til Gubbarna på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden vid Skeppsbron | Drink, Companions | Jergen Puckel, Benjamin | Terra Nova Tavern in Gaffelgränden by Skeppsbron | |
19 | Trumslagarn kommer, flickor god dag! | Til Systrarna på den Konungsliga Djurgården | Wine, Women, Song | Fader Berg | Djurgården | |
20 | Står du och gråter? | Til Fader Berg och Jergen Puckel | Dance | Fader Berg, Jergen Puckel | Bacchus | |
21 | Skyarna tjockna | Varutinnan han 1:0 avmålar natten med dess nöjen, 2:0 tyckes liksom för ögonen ställa ett slags aequilibrium emellan vinets och kärlekens styrka, men omsider ljusligen uppenbarar övervikten | Wine, Women, Song | Fader Berg | ||
22 | Glasen darra mellan knogen | Til de Nybyggare på Gröna Lund | Drink | Gröna Lund (The Greenwood Tavern) | ||
23 | Ack du min Moder! | Som är ett soliloquium, då Fredman låg vid krogen Kryp-in, gent emot bankohuset, en sommarnatt år 1768 | Drink | Fredman | Krogen Kryp-In (The Crawl-in Tavern), Järntorget 85, Gamla stan | |
24 | Kära Syster! | Till kära mor på Bruna Dörren | Drink | Bacchus | Bruna Dörren (The Brown Door Tavern) | |
25 | Blåsen nu alla | Som är ett försök till en pastoral i bacchanalisk smak, skriven vid Ulla Winblads överfart till Djurgården | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad | Neptune, Venus/Freya, Zephyrs, water nymphs, Tritons, Palaemon | Water crossing to Djurgården |
26 | Hvar står Fiolen? | Rörande mutter Berg och angående Lotta i Kolmätargränden och vad som passerat | Drink, Violence | mutter Berg, Lotta | ||
27 | Gubben är gammal, urverket dras | Som är dess sista tankar | Drink, Death | Movitz | Bacchus, Freya | |
28 | I går såg jag ditt barn, min Fröja | Om ett anställt försåt emot Ulla Winblad | Muse | Ulla Winblad | Freya, Themis | Yxsmedsgränd |
29 | Movitz tag dina pinnar | Till de förnäma | Loss | Movitz | Freya | |
30 | Drick ur ditt glas, se Döden på dig väntar | Till fader Movitz, under dess sjukdom, lungsoten. Elegi | Drink, Death | Movitz | Bacchus, Freya | |
31 | Se Movitz, hvi står du och gråter | Över Movitz, då han blev uppiskad på gatan, för det kvinten sprang på basfiolen, en sommarafton 1769 | Violence | Movitz | ||
32 | Kors! utan glas, du ser ut, din Canalje | Till fader Movitz, varutinnan han liknar honom vid ett skepp | Drink | Movitz | ||
33 | Was ist das? / Stolta Stad! | 1:0 Om fader Movitz' överfart till Djurgården och 2:0 om den dygdiga Susanna | Life | Movitz | Djurgården | |
34 | Ack hvad för en usel koja! | Till Movitz, när elden var lös i hans kvarter uti Kolmätargränden | Disaster | Movitz | Charon, Themis | Kolmätargränden |
35 | Bröderna fara väl vilse ibland | Angående sin sköna och hennes obeständighet | Loss | Movitz | Freya | |
36 | Vår Ulla låg i sängen och sov | Rörande Ulla Winblads flykt | Muse | Ulla Winblad | Apollo, Astrild, Bacchus, Freya | |
37 | Mollberg, stå stilla, stå stilla vid grind | Till Mollberg på post vid Kungsträdgården | Music, Life | Mollberg, Bergström | Flora, Orpheus | Kungsträdgården |
38 | Undan ur vägen | Rörande Mollbergs paradering vid korporal Bomans grav | Death | Mollberg, Christian Wingmark, Corporal Boman | ||
39 | Storm och böljor tystna ren | Öfver Bergströmskans Porträt på Liljans krog | ||||
40 | Ge rum i Bröllops-gåln din hund! | Angående bröllopet hos Bensvarvars | Wine, Women, Song | Movitz | A chaotic wedding at Bensvarvars [10] | |
41 | Mollberg satt i paulun | Vid et tilfälle då Christian Wingmark miste sin nattkappa i Slagsmålet med Mollberg | Drink, Violence | Christian Wingmark, Mollberg | ||
42 | Ren Calas jag spår och tror | Rörande Kortspelet på Klubben | Cards | Mollberg, mor Wingmark, Ulla Winblad | The club, Mälaren | |
43 | Värm mer Öl och Bröd | Til Ulla Winblad, skrifven vid et ömt tilfälle | Muse | Ulla Winblad | Astrild | The birthing-room |
44 | Movitz helt allena | Öfver Bredströmskans och Movitz melancholi | Wine, Women, Song | Movitz | Astrild, Bacchus, Chloris, Freya | |
45 | Tjenare Mollberg, hur är det fatt? | Till fader Mollberg rörande hans harpa | Drink, Violence | Mollberg | Apollo, Bacchus, Maecenas, Venus | |
46 | Undan ur vägen, ge rum för Courirn | Huru Mollberg skal bjuda til begrafning efter Mutter på Krogen Wismar, och om hans avfärd ifrån Sterbhuset | Mollberg | Wismar Tavern | ||
47 | Kommer intet Mollberg? Jo nyss på stund | Angående Mollbergs återkomst til Sterbhuset på Krogen Wismar | Mollberg | Wismar Tavern | ||
48 | Solen glimmar blank och trind | Hvaruti afmålas Ulla Winblads hemresa från Hessingen i Mälaren en sommarmorgon 1769 | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad, Movitz | Neptune | Lake Mälaren back to Stockholm |
49 | Mamsell Ulla, märk Mamsell | Angående Landstigningen vid Klubben i Mälaren en sommar-afton 1769 | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad, Mollberg | Bacchus | The club, Mälaren |
50 | Phoebus förnyar | Om des sista Ögnekast på Ulla Winblad vid Hännes återfart ifrån Djurgården | Pastorale, Rococo | Ulla Winblad, Movitz | Jupiter, Neptune, Pan, Cupids, Freya | Return from Djurgården |
51 | Movitz blåste en Concert | Angående Concerten på Tre Byttor | Wine, Women, Song | Movitz, Ulla Winblad, Wingmark, Bergström, Berg | Eol, Neptune, Orpheus | Tre Byttor Tavern |
52 | Movitz, mitt hjerta blöder! | Til Movitz när hans Fästmö dog. Elegie | Death | Movitz, his wife Charlotte | Cupid, Freya | |
53 | Vid et stop Öl och några Supar | Angående Slagsmålet nedanför Danto-Bommen hos T. en höstnatt | Drink, Violence | Near the Danto Barrier | ||
54 | Aldrig en Iris på dessa bleka fält | På St. Cathrina Kyrkogård | Corporal Boman, Movitz | Flora | St. Catherine's Churchyard | |
55 | Så ser Han ut midt bland de strålar | Rörande Movitz Kägelspel hos Faggens vid Hammarby-Tull en sommar afton 1770 | Mollberg | Faggens Tavern by Hammarby Toll | ||
56 | Se Mollberg med svart Råck och Flor | Angående Mor Maja på Förgylda Bägaren | Mollberg, Movitz | Astrild, Clotho, Freya | Golden Beaker Tavern | |
57 | Allting är rigtigt clareradt och gjordt | Om Barnsölet | Mollberg | |||
58 | Hjertat mig klämmer | Öfver Kilberg, Bacchi man och Ordens Officiant i Templet | Charon | |||
59 | Hurra Courage, Bagage! God dag Bröder! | Til Lo-Katten | Drinking | Freya | Lokatten (Lynx Tavern) | |
60 | Sitter du ännu och ljuger | Til Bränvins-Advocaten Fader Kulkus om något som passerat | Cajsa Wingmark | Freya, Themis | ||
61 | Kära Mor! | Til K. Mor på Fyrkanten | Movitz | Fyrkanten Tavern | ||
62 | Movitz Valdthornet proberar | Angående sista Balen på Gröna Lund | Movitz, Christian Wingmark | Bible: David and Goliath, Ahasuerus, Esther, Noah | Gröna Lund pleasure gardens | |
63 | Fader Bergström, stäm up och klinga | Diktad midt i veckan | Dance, Drinking | Fader Bergström, Fredman | ||
64 | Fäll dina ögon och skäms nu din tåssa | Rörande sista Balen hos Frömans i Horns-Kroken | Movitz | Freya | Horns-Kroken Tavern | |
65 | Movitz med flor om armen, hålt! | Om Styrmans-Dottren Gretgens död på Fabriken | Movitz, Gretgen | Charon, Freya | ||
66 | Se hvar Movitz sitter där | Til Movitz Målare | Movitz | Freya, Astrild | ||
67 | Fader Movitz, Bror! | Til Mutter på Tuppen | Wine, Women, Song | Movitz | Freya | Tuppen (The Cock Tavern) |
68 | Movitz, i afton står Baln | Angående sista balen på Grönlund | Wine, Women, Song | Movitz, madam Wingmark | Bacchus, Chloris | Grönlund Tavern |
69 | Se Dansmästarn Mollberg, Bröder | Om Mollberg Dansmästare | Dance, Life | Mollberg, Ulla Winblad | ||
70 | Movitz vik mössan högt öfver öra | Om något som passerade i Artilleri-Lägret Anno 1773 | Movitz, Ulla Winblad | |||
71 | Ulla! min Ulla! säj får jag dig bjuda | Till Ulla i fönstret på Fiskartorpet | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad | Fiskartorpet | |
72 | Glimmande Nymf! blixtrande öga! | Lämnad vid Cajsa Lisas säng, sent om en afton | Muse | Cajsa Lisa | Freya, Jupiter | |
73 | Fan i Fauteuillerna! stolarna kullra | Angående Jergen som förskref sig til Fan | Drink, Life | Movitz | ||
74 | Min Son! | Om Bergströmskans Porträt | Movitz | |||
75 | Skratta mina barn och vänner | Til sin Rival Fader Movitz, på Cajsa Lisas Namnsdag | Movitz, Cajsa Lisa | |||
76 | Se Hans Jergen hur han sig bockar | Til Mutter på Wismar, rörande Hans Jergen, då han blev utpiskad ifrån Balen | Hans Jergen | Wismar Tavern | ||
77 | Klang mina Flickor! se skyarna glimma | Angående Jungfru Sophia på Lokatten och om något som passerat | Fredman, Mollberg | Bacchus | Lokatten (Lynx Tavern) | |
78 | Knapt Jeppe hant ur gluggen gå in | som är et Fägne-Spel på Fader Didriks Namnsdag år 1780 | ||||
79 | Charon i Luren tutar | Afsked til Matronorna, synnerligen til Mor Maja Myra i Solgränden vid Stortorget, Anno 1785 | Death | Mor Maja Myra | Charon, Eolus | Solgränden by Stortorget |
80 | Liksom en Herdinna, högtids klädd | Angående Ulla Winblads Lustresa til Första Torpet, utom Kattrumps Tullen | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad, Mollberg | Flora, Jupiter | Första Torpet, outside Kattrump Tollgate |
81 | Märk hur vår skugga, märk Movitz Mon Frère! | Til Grälmakar Löfberg i Sterbhuset vid Danto bommen | Death | Grälmakar Löfberg, Movitz | Charon | Sterbhuset by Danto Barrier |
82 | Hvila vid denna källa | Eller Oförmodade Afsked, förkunnadt vid Ulla Winblads Frukost en sommar-morgon i det gröna | Pastorale | Ulla Winblad, Fredman | Bacchus, Clotho, Charon, Eolus, Freya |
Fredmans epistlar is a collection of 82 poems set to music by Carl Michael Bellman, a major figure in Swedish 18th century song. Though first published in 1790, it was created over a period of twenty years from 1768 onwards. A companion volume, Fredmans sånger was published the following year.
Solen glimmar blank och trind is Epistle No. 48 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The Epistle is subtitled "Hvaruti afmålas Ulla Winblads hemresa från Hessingen i Mälaren en sommarmorgon 1769". One of his best-known and best-loved works, it depicts an early morning on Lake Mälaren, as the Rococo muse Ulla Winblad sails back home to Stockholm after a night spent partying on the lake. The composition is one of Bellman's two Bacchanalian lake-journeys, along with epistle 25, representing a venture into a social realism style.
Ulla! min Ulla! säj, får jag dig bjuda, is one of the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's best-known and best-loved songs, from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 71. A pastorale, it depicts the Rococo muse Ulla Winblad, as the narrator offers her "reddest strawberries in milk and wine" in the Djurgården countryside north of Stockholm.
Hvila vid denna källa is a song by the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 82, the final Epistle. It is subtitled "Eller Oförmodade avsked, förkunnat vid Ulla Winblads frukost en sommarmorgon i det gröna. Pastoral dedicerad till Kgl. Sekreteraren Leopoldt" . It depicts the Rococo muse Ulla Winblad, as the narrator offers a "little breakfast" of "red wine with burnet, and a newly-shot snipe" in a pastoral setting in the Stockholm countryside.
Bröderna fara väl vilse ibland, is a song by the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman, from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 35. The epistle is subtitled "Angående sin Sköna och hännes obeständighet.". The first verse ends "My girl has forgotten me, I'll die faithful. Night and day in drunkenness, shall all my sorrow pass away."
Fader Berg i hornet stöter is Epistle No. 3 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Till en och var av systrarna, men enkannerligen till Ulla Winblad". One of his best-known works, it is both about and mimics the rhythm of playing the horn, while Fredman enjoys the sight of Ulla Winblad dancing in a ruffled dress.
Käraste Bröder Systrar och Vänner is Epistle No. 9 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled with the dedication "Til Gumman på Thermopolium Boreale och hännes Jungfrur.", Barbara Ekenberg. It describes the fictional Jean Fredman's cheerful world of brandy, women, and dance, in the setting of a tavern which is halfway to a brothel. The song ends with Fredman's credo, a celebration of everything that is delightful in life.
Blåsen nu alla, "All blow now!", is one of the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's best-known and best-loved songs, from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 25. It is a pastorale, based on François Boucher's rococo 1740 painting Triumph of Venus.
Glimmande nymf, is a song by the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 72. It is subtitled "Lemnad vid Cajsa Lisas Säng, sent om en afton", and set to a melody by Egidio Duni. A night-piece, it depicts a Rococo muse in the Ulla Winblad mould, asleep in her bed in Stockholm, complete with allusions to both classical and Nordic mythology.
Liksom en Herdinna, högtids klädd, is a song by the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 80. The Epistle is subtitled "Angående Ulla Winblads Lustresa til Första Torpet, utom Kattrumps Tullen". It is a pastorale, starting with a near-paraphrase of Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux's French guide to the construction of pastoral verse. That doesn't prevent the supposed shepherd and shepherdess from falling into bed drunk at the end of the song. It has been described as lovelier in Swedish than in Boileau's original French. The epistle's humorous depiction of the human condition has been praised by critics.
Vår Ulla låg i sängen och sov is Epistle No. 36 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Rörande Ulla Winblad's flykt". It begins with the innkeeper peeping through the keyhole to her bedroom and whispering with his friends as she sleeps, slowly waking up. Then she dresses ornately and enters the tavern, delighting the menfolk until she is suddenly arrested.
Gråt Fader Berg och spela is No. 12 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Elegi över Slagsmålet på Gröna Lund". It is a lament over a pub brawl, caused by Fredman's drinking a soldier's beer and dancing with someone else's girlfriend. Set to the melody from the aria "The flocks shall leave the mountains" in George Frideric Handel's opera Acis and Galatea, it is the best-known of his poems describing the consequences of brandy-drinking. Bellman used the contrast between the romantic associations of the melody and the brutal reality of heavy drinking to humorous effect.
Ge rum i Bröllopsgåln din hund! is Epistle No. 40 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. One of his best-known works, it describes an utterly chaotic wedding at a venue where soldiers mixed up with musicians and the wedding-party; the chimney catches fire, and even the priest robs the collection. The verse-pattern and elaborate rhyming scheme combine to assist the feeling of chaos.
Stolta stad! is Epistle No. 33 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. One of his best-known works, it combines both spoken and sung sections. In the spoken sections, Bellman, as composer and as performer, imitates a whole crowd of people of many descriptions. It has been described as Swedish literature's most congenial portrait of the country's capital city, Stockholm.
Movitz blåste en konsert is epistle No. 51 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Angående konserten på Tre Byttor", naming a restaurant in Stockholm's Djurgården park. It was written after Bellman had become a court musician to the new King Gustav III in 1773. The melody was borrowed from George Frideric Handel's 1718 opera, Acis and Galatea.
Tjenare Mollberg, hur är det fatt? is No. 45 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Till fader Mollberg rörande hans harpa, och tillika et slags ad notitiam at Mollberg led oskyldigt på Krogen Rostock" ; the song is sometimes known under this name. It describes a fight in a tavern that starts when Mollberg innocently plays a Polska on his harp, leading his audience to assume it was propaganda for Poland.
Fader Bergström, stäm upp och klinga is one of the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's songs, from his 1790 collection, Fredman's Epistles, where it is No. 63. The melody is based on a minuet by Carl Envallsson. Bergström was a musician, and the song celebrates dancing and drinking late into the evening. The song, written in 1773, was revised heavily to make it suitable for publication. The initial version, naming Movitz not Bergström as the musician, was an attack on an over-zealous priest who had caused Bellman to be summonsed for an earlier poem that had joked about salvation. The song has been recorded by Bellman interpreters including Fred Åkerström, Fredrik Berg, and Rolf Leanderson.
Nå skruva fiolen is Epistle No. 2 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Till fader Berg, rörande fiolen". It is both about and mimicking the rhythm of playing the violin. The scholar Lars Lönnroth comments that Bellman used the resemblance of a cello to a woman's body, certainly pretending to play it as such for laughs, while the use of words like "screw" in the lyrics was similarly explicitly obscene. The Bellman interpreter Fred Åkerström recorded the song on his 1974 album Glimmande nymf.
Fram med basfiolen, knäpp och skruva is Epistle No. 7 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle is subtitled "Som synes vara en elegi, skriven vid Ulla Winblads sang, sent om en afton". It describes an attempt by Jean Fredman to make love to Ulla Winblad, set to a tune from a French operetta, narrated with a combination of biblical allusion and suggestive metaphor. The mention of elegy implies that the song is about death, but the subtext is of the "little death" or female orgasm. Scholars have remarked the epistle's ambiguity, enabling it to work both on a high mythological level and a low worldly level. Similarly, the musician's cello serves both as a musical instrument and as a symbol for Ulla Winblad's body, allowing the singer to mime plucking strings and feeling a woman's body.
Värm mer Öl och Bröd is epistle No. 43 in the Swedish poet and performer Carl Michael Bellman's 1790 song collection, Fredman's Epistles. The epistle, dated 14 November 1771, is subtitled "Till Ulla Winblad, skrifven vid et ömt tilfälle". The source of the melody has not been traced.