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Du gamla, Du fria ("Thou ancient, Thou free") is the de facto national anthem of Sweden.
Although the Swedish constitution makes no mention of a national anthem, the song enjoys universal recognition and is used, for example, at sporting events. It first began to be used as a national anthem in the 1890s. Despite a widespread belief that it was adopted as the national anthem in 1866, no such recognition has ever been officially accorded. In 2000 a Riksdag committee rejected, as "unnecessary", a proposal to give the song official status. However, there have since been repeated motions with a similar intent.
The lyrics were written by Richard Dybeck in 1844. Swedish composer Edvin Kallstenius arranged the traditional melody from Västmanland. The lyrics have sometimes been wrongly thought as beginning with "Du gamla, Du friska" (Thou ancient, Thou hale). However, the original lyrics are "Du gamla, Du fria" (Thou ancient, Thou free). Patriotic sentiment is notably absent from the text of the original two verses, which is because they were written in the spirit of Scandinavism popular at the time (Norden refers to the Nordic countries in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish). Since the song had started getting its informal status of national anthem, Louise Ahlén wrote the verses three and four in 1910. They have, however, very seldomly been published, and have remained largely unknown to the public.
It should be noted that the song is originally titled Sång till Norden ("Song to the North") and that Du gamla, Du fria is merely its incipit. A very common mistake is singing "Jag vet att Du är och förblir vad du var" ("I know that You are and remain what You were") instead of "Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad du var" ("I know that You are and You will be what You were").
[edit] Lyrics
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Original verses by Richard Dybeck:
- 1
- Du gamla, Du fria, Du fjällhöga nord
Du tysta, Du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar Dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
/: Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna.:/
- 2
- Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar,
då ärat Ditt namn flög över jorden.
Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad Du var.
/: Ja, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.:/
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- Louise Ahlén's addition from 1910 (usually not seen as part of the national anthem, and not sung)
- 3
- Jag städs vill dig tjäna mitt älskade land,
din trohet till döden vill jag svära.
Din rätt, skall jag värna, med håg och med hand,
/:din fana, högt den bragderika bära.:/
- 4
- Med Gud skall jag kämpa, för hem och för härd,
för Sverige, den kära fosterjorden.
Jag byter Dig ej, mot allt i en värld
/: Nej, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.:/
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[edit] Literal translation
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Original verses:
- 1
- You ancient, you free, you mountainous North
- You quiet, you joyful beauty!
- I greet you, most beautiful land upon earth,
- /:Your sun, Your sky, Your meadows green.:/
- 2
- You throne upon memories of great olden days,
- When honored your name flew over the world,
- I know that you are and will be as you were,
- /: Yes, I want to live I want to die in the North :/
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- Additional verses:
- 3
- I forever will serve my beloved country,
- your faith until death I want to swear,
- Your right will I protect with mind and with hand,
- /:your banner, full of feats, carry high.:/
- 4
- Along God shall I struggle (fight), for home and for hearth,
- for Sweden, the dear Motherland.
- I trade You not, for anything in the world
- /: No, I want to live I want to die in the North.:/
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Note that verses 3 and 4 are nearly never sung and few actually know that they exist.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
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Swedish patriotic songs |
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National anthems of Europe |
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National anthems
of sovereign states |
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National and regional
anthems of other
political entities |
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Anthems of former
political entities |
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Anthem of
European Union and
Council of Europe |
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Sweden
