Anthems

Denmark, along with New Zealand, is the only country in the world that has two national anthems: a Royal Anthem (Kongesang) and a National Anthem (Nationalmelodi).

 

Royal Anthem: "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" (English: "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")

Lyrics: Johannes Ewald, 1778

Music: unknown

Adopted: 1780

Kong Christian

1.   Kong Christian stod ved højen mast
i røg og damp;
hans værge hamrede så fast,
at gotens hjelm og hjerte brast.
Da sank hvert fjendtligt spejl og mast
i røg og damp.
Fly, skreg de, fly, hvad flygte kan!
hvo står for Danmarks Christian
hvo står for Danmarks Christian;
i kamp?

2.  Niels Juel gav agt på stormens brag.
Nu er det tid.
Han hejsede det røde flag
og slog på fjenden slag i slag.
Da skreg de højt blandt stormens brag:
Nu er det tid!
Fly, skreg de, hver, som véd et skjul!
hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
i strid?

3.   O, Nordhav! Glimt af Wessel brød
din mørke sky.
Da ty’de kæmper til dit skød;
thi med ham lynte skræk og død.
Fra vallen hørtes vrål, som brød
den tykke sky.
Fra Danmark lyner Tordenskjold;
hver give sig i himlens vold
hver give sig i himlens vold
og fly!

4.   Du danskes vej til ros og magt,
sortladne hav!
Modtag din ven, som uforsagt
tør møde faren med foragt
så stolt som du mod stormens magt,
sortladne hav!
Og rask igennem larm og spil
og kamp og sejer før mig til
og kamp og sejer før mig til
min grav!

English translation (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow):

     1. King Christian stood by the lofty mast
In mist and smoke;
His sword was hammering so fast,
Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;
Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,
In mist and smoke.
"Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can!
Who braves of Denmark's Christian,
Who braves of Denmark's Christian,
The stroke?"

2. Niels Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar,
Now is the hour!
He hoisted his blood-red flag once more,
And smote upon the foe full sore,
And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar,
"Now is the hour!"
"Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly!
Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,
Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,
The power?"

3. North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent
Thy murky sky!
Then champions to thine arms were sent;
Terror and Death glared where he went;
From the waves was heard a wail, that rent
The murky sky!
From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol',
Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
And fly!

4. Path of the Dane to fame and might!
Dark-rolling wave!
Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight,
Goes to meet danger with despite,
Proudly as thou the tempest's might,
Dark-rolling wave!
And 'mid pleasures and alarms,
And war and victory, be thine arms,
And war and victory, be thine arms,
My grave!

 

Anthem: "Der er et yndigt land" (English: "There is a lovely country")

Lyrics: Adam Oehlenschäger, 1819

Music: Hans Ernst Krøyer, 1835

Adopted: 1835

Der er et yndigt land

1. 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: ¦

2. Dér sad i fordums tid
de harniskklædte kæmper,
¦: udhvilede fra strid;: ¦
så drog de frem til fjenders mén
nu hvile deres bene
¦: bag højens bautasten: ¦

3. Det land endnu er skønt,
thi blå sig søen bælter,
¦: og løvet står så grønt;: ¦
og ædle kvinder, skønne mø'r
og mænd og raske svende
¦: bebo de danskes øer: ¦

4. 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: ¦

 

English translation:

1.  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

2.  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

3.  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

4.   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