Sweden
Du gamla, du fria
Thou Ancient, Thou Free
1844
1866
Richard Dybeck
Traditional folk melody
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🕊 Freedom 🏛 Identity |
Key Facts
- 1. Sweden's anthem is one of the quietest and most subdued in the world; unlike the martial anthems of many nations, it reads more like a love poem to the landscape.
- 2. The folk melody predates the lyrics by centuries, and regional variants of the tune have been found in ballad collections from the 1600s across Scandinavia.
- 3. At Swedish sporting events, the final line 'I want to live, I want to die in the North' is often shouted rather than sung, turning a contemplative anthem into a roaring chant.
Lyrics
Du gamla, du fria, du fjällhöga nord,
du tysta, du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
din sol, din himmel, dina ängar gröna,
din sol, din himmel, dina ängar 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.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Richard Dybeck in 1844 and set to a traditional Swedish folk melody. It has never been officially adopted as the national anthem by law but is universally recognized as such. The original first line was 'Du gamla, du friska' (Thou ancient, thou fresh) before being changed to 'du fria' (thou free).