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Ja vi elsker dette landet

From Wikisource
Ja, vi elsker dette landet (1859)
by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

Ja, vi elsker dette landet (or: Ja, vi elsker) is the national anthem of Norway. The lyrics were written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson between 1859 and 1868, and the melody was written by his cousin Rikard Nordraak in 1864. It was first performed publicly on May 17, 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the constitution. Usually only the first and the last two verses are sung.

— Excerpted from Ja, vi elsker dette landet on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.
32840Ja, vi elsker dette landetBjørnstjerne Bjørnson

Official lyrics

[edit]
Original language English
1.
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
drømmer på vår jord.
Og den saganatt som senker
drømmer på vår jord.
1.
Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rocky, weathered, above the sea,
with those thousand homes.
Loving, loving it and thinking
about our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams to our earth.
And the saga night that sends,
sends dreams to our earth.
2.
Dette landet Harald berget
med sin kjemperad,
dette landet Håkon verget
medens Øyvind kvad;
Olav på det landet malte
korset med sitt blod,
fra dets høye Sverre talte
Roma midt imot.
2.
This country Harald saved
with his giant fleet,
this country Håkon protected
whilst Øyvind sung;
upon the country Olav painted
with his blood a cross,
from its heights Sverre spoke
up against Rome.
3.
Bøndene sine økser brynte
hvor en hær dro frem,
Tordenskiold langs kysten lynte,
så det lystes hjem.
Kvinner selv stod opp og strede
som de vare menn;
andre kunne bare grede,
men det kom igjen!
3.
Farmers their axes sharpened
as the army came,
Tordenskiold around the coastline thundered
so that we could see it back home.
Even women stood up and fought
as if they were men;
others could only cry
but that soon would end!
4.
Visstnok var vi ikke mange,
men vi strakk dog til,
da vi prøvdes noen gange,
og det stod på spill;
ti vi heller landet brente
enn det kom til fall;
husker bare hva som hendte
ned på Fredrikshald!
4.
Sure, we were not many
but we were enough,
when they challenged us
and it was at stake;
we rather let our country burn
than be defeated;
just remember what happened
at Fredrikshald!
5.
Hårde tider har vi døyet,
ble til sist forstøtt;
men i verste nød blåøyet
frihet ble oss født.
Det gav faderkraft å bære
hungersnød og krig,
det gav døden selv sin ære -
og det gav forlik
5.
Hard times we have coped with,
were at last disowned;
but in the worst suffer, blue-eyed
freedom was to us born.
It gave (us) father's strength to carry
famine and war,
it gave death itself its honour -
and it gave compromise.
6.
Fienden sitt våpen kastet,
opp visiret for,
vi med undren mot ham hastet,
ti han var vår bror.
Drevne frem på stand av skammen
gikk vi søderpå;
nu vi står tre brødre sammen,
og skal sådan stå!
6.
The enemy threw away his weapon,
up the visor went,
we, in wonder, to him hasted,
because he was our brother.
Driven onto stand by the shame
we went to the south;
now we three brothers stand united,
and shall stand like that!
7.
Norske mann i hus og hytte,
takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte,
skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
mødrene har grett,
har den Herre stille lempet
så vi vant vår rett.
7.
Norwegian man in house and cottage,
thank your great God!
He would protect the country,
even though it looked dark.
And as the fathers have fought,
and the mothers have wept,
the Lord has quietly moved
so we won our rights.
8.
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 og seir,
også vi, når det blir krevet,
for dets fred slår leir.
8.
Yes, we love this country
as it looms up,
rocky and weathered, above the sea,
with its thousand homes.
And as the fathers' struggle has raised
it from poverty to victory,
even so will we, when demanded,
for its peace to stay.