Der er et yndigt land

Der er et yndigt land

English: There is a Lovely Country
Adam Oehlenschläger, author
Civil anthem of  Denmark
Lyrics	Adam Oehlenschläger, 1819
Music	Hans Ernst Krøyer, 1835
Adopted	1835
Music sample
Der er et yndigt land (Instrumental)

Denmark's broad beeches, as referenced in the anthem.

Der er et yndigt land (Danish pronunciation: [d̥æɐ̯ ˈæɐ̯ ed̥ ˈønd̥id̥ ˈlanˀ]) or [d̥ɑ ˈæɐ̯ ed̥ ˈønd̥id̥ ˈlanˀ], commonly translated into English as There is a lovely country, is one of the national anthems of Denmark.

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 anthem had 12 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. 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 royal anthem; it has equal status with Der er et yndigt land, which is treated as the civil national anthem.^[1] On royal and military occasions, Kong Christian is performed alone or the two national anthems are played together.^[2]

Music

	Der er et yndigt land Instrumental version on a piano
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Song lyrics

Danish lyrics Der er et yndigt land, det står med brede bøge nær salten østerstrand :| Det bugter sig i bakke, dal, det hedder gamle Danmark og det er Frejas sal :| Der sad i fordums tid de harniskklædte kæmper, 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 ædle kvinder, skønne møer og mænd og raske svende bebo de danskes øer :| Hil drot og fædreland! Hil hver en danneborger, som virker, hvad han kan! :| Vort gamle Danmark skal bestå, så længe bøgen spejler sin top i bølgen blå :| Short version The lines sung at sporting events etc. are normally confined to: Der er et yndigt land, det står med brede bøge nær salten østerstrand :| Det bugter sig i bakke, dal, det hedder gamle Danmark og det er Frejas sal :| Vort gamle Danmark skal bestå, så længe bøgen spejler sin top i bølgen blå :|

Free metrical translation There is a lovely land with spreading, shady beech-trees, Near salty eastern shore :| Its hills and valleys gently fall, its name is old Denmark, And it is Freya's hall :| There in the ancient days sat armoured Vikings rested Between their bloody frays :| Then they went forth the foe to face, now found in stone-set barrows, Their final resting place :| This land is still as fair, the sea is blue around it, And peace is cherished there :| Strong men and noble women still uphold their country's honour With faithfulness and skill :| Hail king and fatherland! Hail every Danish citizen, who is doing the best he can :| Our old Denmark shall endure, as long as the beech trees reflect its top in the blue wave  :|

Literal translation There is a lovely country it stands with broad beech-trees, near the salty eastern shore It bends itself in hill, valley, its name is ancient Denmark and it is the hall of Freya There sat in former times, the armour-suited warriors, rested from conflict Then they went forward to the enemies' injury, now their bones are resting behind the mound's menhir That country is still lovely, because the sea waves so blue frolic, and the foliage stands so green And noble women, beautiful maidens, and men and brisk swains inhabit the Danes' islands Hail king and fatherland! Hail every a Dane-citizen, who works, what he can Our old Denmark shall endure, as long as the beech-tree reflects its top in the blue wave

Original lyrics

The version today is significantly shortened. The original published version had twelve verses:

Original Danish lyrics Der er et yndigt Land, Det staaer med brede Bøge Nær salten Østerstrand; Det bugter sig i Bakke, Dal, Det hedder gamle Danmark, Og det er Freias Sal. Der sad i fordums Tid De harniskklædte Kæmper, Udhvilede fra Strid; Saa drog de frem til Fienders Meen, Nu hvile deres Bene Bag Høiens Bautasteen. Det Land endnu er skiønt, Thi blaa sig Søen belter, Og Løvet staaer saa grønt; Og ædle Qvinder, skiønne Møer, Og Mænd og raske Svende Beboe de Danskes Øer. Vort Sprog er stærkt og blødt, Vor Tro er reen og luttret Og Modet er ei dødt. Og hver en Dansk er lige fri, Hver lyder tro sin Konge, Men Trældom er forbi. Et venligt Syd i Nord Er, grønne Danarige, Din axbeklædte Jord. Og Snekken gaaer sin stolte Vei. Hvor Ploug og Kiølen furer, Der svigter Haabet ei. Vort Dannebrog er smukt, Det vifter hen ad Havet Med Flagets røde Bugt. Og stedse har sin Farve hvid Dit hellige Kors i Blodet, O Dannebrog, i Strid. Karsk er den Danskes Aand, Den hader Fordoms Lænker, Og Sværmeriets Baand. For Venskab aaben, kold for Spot, Slaaer ærlig Jydes Hierte, For Pige, Land og Drot. Jeg bytter Danmark ei, For Ruslands Vinterørkner, For Sydens Blomstermai. Ei Pest og Slanger kiende vi, Ei Vesterlandets Tungsind, Ei Østens Raseri. Vor Tid ei staaer i Dunst, Den hævet har sin Stemme For Videnskab og Kunst. Ei Bragis og ei Mimers Raab Har vakt i lige Strækning Et bedre Fremtids Haab. Ei stor, vor Fødestavn, Dog hæver sig blandt Stæder Dit stolte Kiøbenhavn. Til bedre By ei Havet kom, Ja ingen Flod i Dalen, Fra Trondhiem og til Rom. Med hellig Varetægt Bevare du, Alfader! Vor gamle Kongeslægt. Kong Fredrik ligner Fredegod; Hvor er en bedre Fyrste, Af bedre Helteblod? Hil Drot og Fædreland! Hil hver en Danneborger, Som virker hvad han kan. Vort gamle Danmark skal bestaae, Saalænge Bøgen speiler Sin Top i Bølgen blaa.

English Translation There is a lovely land it stands with broad beeches near the salty eastern beach It winds itself in hill, valley, it is called old Denmark and it is Freyja's hall There sat in former times, the armour-suited warriors, rested from conflict Then they set out to inflict damage on enemies, now their bones are resting behind the mound's menhir That country is still lovely, because the sea waves so blue frolic, and the foliage stands so green And noble women, beautiful maidens, and men and brisk swains inhabit the Danes' islands Our language is strong and soft, Our faith is pure and purified And courage is not dead. And each a Dane is equally free, Each faithfully obeys his/her king, But slavery is over. A friendly South in the North Is the green Dane-realm, Your ax-clad Earth. And the ship walks its proud way. Where the plow and the keel furrows There, hope does not fail. Our Dannebrog is beautiful It fans along the sea With the red bay of the flag. And always has its white colour Your holy cross in blood, O flag of Denmark in battle. Pure is the Danes' Spirit It hates Prejudice's fetters, And fascination's ties. For friendship open, cold for mockery Beats the Jutlander's honest heart, For girl, country and king. I would not swap Denmark, For Russia's winter deserts, For the flower-May of the south. We do not know plague and serpents Nor the melancholy of the west Nor the rage of the east. Our time does not stand in reek, It has raised its voice For science and arts. Not Bragi's and not Mímir's cry Aroused in equal stretch A better hope for the future. Not large, our birth-place, However, among cities does soar Your proud Copenhagen. To better City did the sea not come Indeed, no river in the valley; From Trondhiem and to Rome. With holy custody You will preserve, All-father! Our old dynasty. King Frederick resembles Fredegod; Where is a better prince Of better hero blood? Hail king and fatherland! Hail every a Dane-citizen, who works what he can Our old Denmark shall endure, as long as the beech reflects its top in the blue wave

References

1. "Not one but two national anthems". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
2. Udenrigsministeriet (6 August 2001). "Instruks for Udenrigstjenesten". Retsinformation. Retrieved 30 June 2013.

External links

• Denmark: Der er et yndigt land - Audio of the national anthem of Denmark, with information and lyrics
• MP3 file (instrumental) - by the U.S. Navy Band
• Jørgen Ebert has a page that includes the lyrics plus a MIDI file of the anthem
• Aarhus Universitet - original lyrics by Oehlenschläger