Swedish National Anthem in Old Norse // Du gamla, du fria på fornnordiska | The Skaldic Bard

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Here’s my translation and performance (joined by my wife in the second half) of the Swedish National Anthem, “Du gamla, du fria”, in Old Norse. While attempting to use as many related words to the original Swedish as possible, it’s not an exact word-for-word translation as I wanted to preserve the ABAB rhyming signature where possible in the translation – but the meaning of the original should be preserved. I compiled some videos to play with the music which hopefully show some of Sweden’s beauty and culture.

It’s a glorious anthem with very beautiful lyrics, fitting for such a beautiful country. I’m very fond of Swedes and Sweden itself, which is a special place for me. I’ve spent quite a lot of time there over the years – and it’s where I proposed to my wife!

Quite a few of my followers are Swedish, so this one's for you, mainly. I hope I’ve done it justice.

Please leave a comment and like the video if you enjoyed it!

I do NOT own the clips used in this video. The film clips used in this video are for educational purposes only:
FAIR USE
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act, 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as education, teaching and scholarship.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Film clips from:
“Vikings”, History Channel
Sluga Gosudarev" ("Slaget vid Poltava", i.e. "The Sovereign's Servant")

Follow me on Spotify (The Skaldic Bard): https://open.spotify.com/artist/7E7QqSMsK1JCTOyJj6e8oY?si=Qs80gkfyTVq5YsFrXzvBwg

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Lyrics:
Þú gamla, þú frjálsa norðr fjallháva!
Þú þǫgla, þú prýði gleðiríkja!
Ek kveð þik, land it vænsta jǫrðu á,
sól þína, himin þinn ok grǿnu engjar!

Þú sitr á gjafstóli forndýrðardaga,
þá er manngi gleymði mannorði þínu.
Ek veit þat, at þú ert ok verðr þat, er þú varst,
Já, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu!
Já, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu!

Ey skal ek þjóna kærum þínum lǫndum.
Eið skal ek þér allt til dauðdags sverja.
Rétt þinn skal ek verja, huga ok hǫndum,
Fána þinn bragðríkja hátt skal ek bera.
Fána þinn bragðríkja hátt skal ek bera.

Með Guði veg ek fyr sakir óðala,
Svíþjóðar, fóstrjarðar innar fǫgru!
Í móti þér vil ek gjafir engar fá!
Nei, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu!
Nei, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu!