Du gamla, Du fria

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Du gamla, Du fria English: Thou ancient, Thou free
National Anthem of	Sweden
Lyrics	Richard Dybeck, 1844
Music	Unknown
Adopted	Never officially adopted
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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 to a traditional melody from Västmanland, and 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). 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"). The opening words Du gamla, Du fria is the de facto title. 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").

1 Lyrics
2 Literal translation
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Lyrics

Original verses by Richard Dybeck:

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.:/

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)

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.:/

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.:/