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Du gamla, Du fria
English: Thou ancient, Thou free
National anthem of	Sweden
Lyrics	Richard Dybeck, 1844
Music	Old Swedish Folk music; Arranged by Edvin Kallstenius
Adopted	Never officially adopted
Music sample
	Du gamla, du fria

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 original 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). In 1865, the lyrics of the song were published under the title Sång till Norden ("Song to the North"); its incipit was Du gamla, Du fria.

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). After the song started to acquire its informal status as the national anthem, Louise Ahlén wrote verses three and four in 1910. They have, however, very seldomly been published, and have remained largely unknown to the public.

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").

Swedish music abroad
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Charts	Sverigetopplistan
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Media	MTV Sweden
National anthem	Du gamla, Du fria
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[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 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.:/

[edit] Literal translation

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 you will be as you were,

/: Yes, I want to live I want to die in the North :/

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 with God shall I struggle (fight), for home and for hearth,

for Sweden, the dear Fatherland.

I trade You not, for anything in the world

/: No, I want to live I want to die in the North.:/

Note that verses 3 and 4 are nearly never sung and few actually know that they exist.

[edit] See also

Flag of Sweden
National Day of Sweden
Public holidays in Sweden
Ålänningens sång - the official anthem of Åland

[edit] External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Du gamla, du fria

Sound file (mp3)

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] Literal translation

[edit] See also

[edit] External links