Du gamla, Du fria

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Du gamla, Du fria

English: Thou ancient, Thou free
National anthem of	Sweden
Lyrics	Richard Dybeck, 1844
Music	Old Swedish Folk music Arranged by Edvin Kallstenius
Adopted	Never officially adopted
Music sample
Du gamla, du fria

Du gamla, Du fria ("Thou ancient, Thou free") is the de facto national anthem of Sweden.

Although the Swedish constitution makes no mention of a national anthem, the song enjoys universal recognition and is used, for example, at sporting events. It first began to be used as a national anthem in the 1890s. Despite a widespread belief that it was adopted as the national anthem in 1866, no such recognition has ever been officially accorded. In 2000 a Riksdag committee rejected, as "unnecessary", a proposal to give the song official status. However, there have since been repeated motions with a similar intent.

The original lyrics were written by Richard Dybeck in 1844. Swedish composer Edvin Kallstenius arranged the traditional melody from Västmanland. The lyrics have sometimes been wrongly thought as beginning with "Du gamla, Du friska" (Thou ancient, Thou hale). However, the original lyrics are "Du gamla, Du fria" (Thou ancient, Thou free). In 1865, the lyrics of the song were published under the title Sång till Norden ("Song to the Nordic"); its incipit was Du gamla, Du fria.

Patriotic sentiment is notably absent from the text of the original two verses, which is because they were written in the spirit of Scandinavism popular at the time (Norden refers to the Nordic countries in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish). After the song started to acquire its informal status as the national anthem, Louise Ahlén wrote verses three and four in 1910. They have, however, very seldomly been published, and have remained largely unknown to the public.

A very common mistake is singing "Jag vet att Du är och förblir vad du var" ("I know that You are and remain what You were") instead of "Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad du var" ("I know that You are and You will be what You were").

Lyrics

Literal translation

Note that verses 3 and 4 are nearly never sung and few actually know that they exist.

See also

• Flag of Sweden
• National Day of Sweden
• Public holidays in Sweden
• Ålänningens sång - the official anthem of Åland

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Du gamla, du fria

• Sound file (mp3)

v • d • e Swedish patriotic songs Du gamla, Du fria  · Gustafs skål  · Kungssången  · Bevare gud vår kung

v • d • e National Symbols of Sweden National Flag · Coat of Arms · National Anthem · Three Crowns · Mother Svea