The text of the Swedish National Anthem, "Du gamla, Du fria," was written by folklorist and ballad writer Richard Dybeck (1811-77) and set to a folk tune from the province of Västmanland in the middle of the 19th century. By the end of the century, the song was so popular that it became the Swedish national anthem.
The Swedish National Anthem
Listen to the Swedish National Anthem (wma)*
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,
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!
Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!
Thou ancient, thou freeborn, thou mountainous North,
In beauty and peace our hearts beguiling,
I greet thee, thou loveliest land on the earth,
Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.
Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.
Thy throne rests on mem’ries from great days of yore,
When worldwide renown was valour’s guerdon.
I know to thy name thou art true as before.
In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land,
In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land.
The King’s Song
Written around 1844, The King’s Song (“Ur svenska hjärtans djup en gång”) pays homage to the Swedish king as the symbol of the Swedish nation. Lyrics by C. V. A. Strandberg and music by Otto Lindblad.
Listen to the King's Song (wma)*
Ur svenska hjärtans djup en gång
en samfälld och en enkel sång,
som går till kungen fram!
Var honom trofast och hans ätt,
gör kronan på hans hjässa lätt,
och all din tro till honom sätt,
du folk av frejdad stam!
The lyrics of the Swedish National Anthem and the King's Song (as a pdf file)
Performed by the Band of the Royal Guards Regiment. Conductor: Mats Janhagen.
All rights reserved.
Copyright: The Swedish Institute and the Band of the Royal Guards Regiment.
*) To listen to these songs, you need Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded free of charge at www.microsoft.com.