Du gamla, Du fria

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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, it enjoys universal recognition and is used, for example, at sporting events. Only the first two verses are normally sung. At international sporting events, often only the first verse is played, which is really more like playing only half a verse of "God save the Queen", and ending before the last chorus-like strophes. Furthermore, many - if not most - instrumental recordings instead take up time by playing the repeated fourth and fifth strophe of the melody as an "intro" before playing the actual song. This is something that is never done with any other national anthem.

The lyrics, which originally began with the words "Du gamla, Du friska" (Thou ancient, Thou hale), were written by Richard Dybeck in 1844 to a traditional melody from Västmanland. The song first began to be used as a national anthem in the 1890s. Despite a widespread belief that the song 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.

It should be noted that the true title of the song is Sång till Norden ("Song to the North"). The opening words Du gamla, Du fria as the title is more like the de facto title. Mostly everything concerning this very unofficial national anthem deals with de facto singing this way, or that way. Another very common mistake is singing "Jag vet att Du är och förblir vad du var" instead of "Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad du var" in that strophe.

Since the song had started getting its informal status of national anthem, Louise Ahlén wrote the very unknown verses three and four in 1910. They have, however, very seldomly been published, and have remained very unknown to the public. Right wing extremist nationalists tend to know all four verses very well, and the official society does not seem to have any wish to gain the national anthem "back" from theses circles.

Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Literal translation 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Lyrics

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.:/

Louise Ahléns 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.:/

[edit] Literal translation

Original verses by Richard Dybeck: 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 honoured 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 :/

Louise Ahlens addition from 1910 (usually not seen as part of the national anthem, and not sung) 3 I forever will serve my beloved country, your faith until death will I swear, Your right will I protect with mind and with hand, /:your banner, great the feats it carries.:/ 4 With God shall I struggle, 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.:/

[edit] See also

• Flag of Sweden
• National holiday of Sweden
• Holidays in Sweden
• Vårt land (Maamme) - Finland's national anthem, originally with Swedish lyrics
• Ålänningens sång - the official anthem of Åland

[edit] External links

• Sound file (mp3)
• Sound file (midi)

	Swedish patriotic songs
Du gamla, Du fria | Gustafs skål | Kungssången