In the city of Stockholm
On a high roof
In a very small room
Where mice are scratching
Where cats are fighting
And the wind is blowing
There lived the unhappiest man in the world

Karlsson couldn't fly
But he wanted to become someone's friend
He didn't have a penny to his name
But he did his best to amuse the Kid

He descended from the roof by rope
In order to get to the Kid's cornice
He had to risk his life
To make the Kid believe he could fly

That's how it actually happened
But the people didn't want to hear the truth
Nobody cares about someone else's troubles
That's why unhappy Karlssons grow in number