"Julbocken", with the opening lines "En jul när mor var liten", 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) 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.
A recording was done by Alice Babs in Stockholm in November 1963.[1] Another recording was done by pupils from Stockholms musikgymnasium and Stockholms musikklasser on the 1972 album God morgon, mitt herrskap.[2] The song was also recorded by Anita Lindblom on her 1975 Christmas album Jul med tradition.[3]