What Is The Denmark National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History
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What Is The Denmark National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History. Photo: JR Videos |
"Der er et yndigt land" ("There is a lovely country") is one of the two national anthems of Denmark. Denmark is one of only two countries in the world with two official national anthems. Here’s everything to know about ‘Der er et yndigt land’, which you’ll hear at sporting events, its history, original lyrics and English translation.
History of Denmark Anthem
The lyrics were written in 1819 by Adam Oehlenschläger and bore the motto in Latin: Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet (Horace: "This corner of the earth smiles for me more than any other"). The music was composed in 1835 by Hans Ernst Krøyer. Later, Thomas Laub and Carl Nielsen each composed alternative melodies, but neither of them has gained widespread adoption, and today they are mostly unknown to the general population.
When first published, the national anthem had twelve verses, but this was shortened to the first, third, fifth, and last verse in later editions. In common use, only the first verse (or stanza) and the last three lines of the fourth verse are sung. The first half of the last verse is rarely heard and the last line of each verse is repeated once.
Denmark is one of only two countries in the world—the other being New Zealand—with two official national anthems. Officially, Kong Christian stod ved højen mast is both a national and a royal anthem; it has equal status with Der er et yndigt land, which is treated as the civil national anthem. On royal and military occasions, Kong Christian is performed alone, or the two national anthems are played together.
What are the lyrics to Denmark’s civil national anthem, ‘Der er et yndigt land’?
While originally published with 12 verses, later editions of ‘Der er et yndigt land’ just have the first, third, fifth and last verses. At today’s sporting events, only the first stanza and last lines of the fourth verse are sung, with the last line of each verse repeated once.
Der er et yndigt land,
det står med brede bøge
nær salten østerstrand
nær salten østerstrand
|Det bugter sig i bakke, dal
,det hedder gamle Danmark
og det er Frejas sal
Der sad i fordums tidde
harniskklædte kæmper,
udhvilede fra strid
udhvilede fra strid
|Så drog de frem til fjenders mén,
nu hvile deres bene
bag højens bautasten
Det land endnu er skønt,
thi blå sig søen bælter,
og løvet står så grønt
og løvet står så grønt
|Og ædle kvinder, skønne mø'r
og mænd og raske svende
bebo de danskes øer
bebo de danskes øer
Hil drot og fædreland!
Hil hver en danneborger,
som virker, hvad han kan!
som virker, hvad han kan!
Vort gamle Danmark skal bestå,
så længe bøgen spejler
sin top i bølgen blå
sin top i bølgen blå
Denmark National Anthem in English Lyrics
There’s a beautiful country
It stands with wide beeches
Near the salty eastern beaches
Near the salty eastern beaches
It bays in the back and valley
It’s called Old Denmark
And it it Freya’s hall
Who sat in former times
The armour dressed fighters
Rested from the fight
Rested from the fight
then went up to the enemies injury
Now resting their legs
Behind the menhir of the hills
The country that’s still great
because blue is the sea that waves
and the foliage is so green
and the foliage is so green
and noble women and beautiful virgins
and men and healthy swains
inhabit the islands of the danish
inhabit the islands of the danish
Hail king and motherland
Hail any Danish citizen
who gives what he can
who gives what he can
Our old Denmark will endure
as long as the beech-tree mirrors
its treetop in the blue waves
its treetop in the blue waves
Lyric videos of Denmark national anthem
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