National Anthem Comparison
Norway vs Sweden
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
15
15 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Norway and Sweden, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Norway's "Yes, We Love This Country" was written in 1859, while Sweden's "Thou Ancient, Thou Free" dates to 1844.
Both anthems share themes of Love of homeland, Nature and Ancestors / Heritage. Norway additionally explores God / Faith and Peace, while Sweden also touches on Freedom and Identity.
The emotional tones differ: Norway's anthem is Proud, while Sweden's is Solemn.
Shared themes
Norway
❤ Love of homeland 🌿 Nature 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace
Sweden
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🕊 Freedom 🏛 Identity
Shared themes:
❤ Love of homeland 🌿 Nature 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Metadata
| Norway | Sweden | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1859 | 1844 |
| Adopted | 1864 | 1866 |
| Lyricist | Bjornstjerne Bjornson | Richard Dybeck |
| Composer | Rikard Nordraak | Traditional folk melody |
| Language | nb | sv |
| Region | Northern Europe | Northern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Norway
Ja, vi elsker dette landet
Original
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem,
elsker, elsker det og tenker
på vår far og mor
og den saganatt som senker
drømme på vår jord.
Norske mann i hus og hytte,
takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte,
skjønt det mørkt så ud.
Alt, hva fedrene har kjempet,
mødrene har grett,
har den Herre stille lempet,
så vi vant vår rett.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
det av nød til seir,
også vi, når det blir krevet,
for dets fred slår leir.
Translation
Yes, we love this country,
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with its thousand homes,
love it, love it, and think
of our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams upon our earth.
Norwegian man in house and cabin,
thank your great God!
The country He wanted to protect,
though it looked dark.
All that our fathers fought for,
our mothers wept for,
the Lord has quietly granted,
so we won our right.
Yes, we love this country,
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with its thousand homes.
And as our fathers' struggle raised
it from need to victory,
we too, when called upon,
shall pitch camp for its peace.
Sweden
Du gamla, du fria
Original
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.
Translation
You ancient, you free, you mountainous North,
you quiet, you joyful, beautiful one!
I greet you, most lovely land upon earth,
your sun, your sky, your green meadows,
your sun, your sky, your green meadows.
You sit enthroned on memories of great days of old,
when your honoured name flew across the earth.
I know that you are and you shall remain what you were.
Yes, I want to live, I want to die in the North,
yes, I want to live, I want to die in the North.
Interesting facts
Norway
- 1. Composer Rikard Nordraak died of tuberculosis at just 23 years old, only a year after writing the melody; his cousin Edvard Grieg composed a famous funeral march in his honor.
- 2. Norway also has a popular second anthem, 'Nordmannen' (The Norseman), which is so well-loved that debates occasionally arise about which song should hold primary status.
- 3. The anthem has eight verses, but Norwegians typically only sing the first and last, with most citizens unable to recall the middle stanzas from memory.
Sweden
- 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.
Listen
Norway
Sweden
