The lyrics were written byBjørnstjerne Bjørnson between 1859 and 1868, and the melody was written by his cousinRikard Nordraak sometime during the winter of 1863 to 1864. It was first performed publicly on 17 May 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of theconstitution. Usually, only the first and the last two verses are sung, with the first being by far the most common.
Until the mid-1860s, the songs "Sønner av Norge" and "Norges Skaal" were commonly regarded as the Norwegian national anthems, with "Sønner av Norge" being most recognised. "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" gradually came to be recognised as a national anthem from the mid-1860s. Until the early 20th century, however, both "Sønner av Norge" and "Ja, vi elsker" were used, with "Sønner av Norge" preferred in official situations. In 2011, the song "Mitt lille land" featured prominently in the memorial ceremonies following the2011 Norway attacks and was described by the media as "a new national anthem".[2] OnNorwegian Constitution Day in 2012,NRK opened its broadcast with "Mitt lille land".[3]
Norway did not have an official national anthem until 11 December 2019, but over the last 200 years, several songs have been commonly regarded asde facto national anthems. At times, multiple songs have enjoyed this status simultaneously. "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is now most often recognised as the anthem, but until the early 20th century, "Sønner av Norge" occupied this position.
"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" was written byBjørnstjerne Bjørnson and composed byRikard Nordraak between 1859 and 1868, and gradually came to replace "Sønner av Norge" as the most recognised national anthem. Until the early 20th century, "Sønner av Norge" and "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" were used alongside each other, but "Sønner av Norge" was preferred in official settings. Since 2011, the anthem "Mitt lille land" byOle Paus has also been called a "new national anthem" and notably featured in the memorial ceremonies following the 2011 Norway attacks.[7] OnNorwegian Constitution Day in 2012, theNRK broadcast opened with "Mitt lille land."[8]
Bjørnson wrote in a modified version of theDanish language used in Norway at the time. WrittenBokmål has since been altered in a series of orthographic reforms intended to distinguish it from Danish and bring it closer to spoken Norwegian. The text below, commonly used today, is identical to Bjørnson's original in using the same words but with modernised spelling and punctuation. The most sung verses—1, 7 and 8 (which are highlighted and in bold)—have been modernised most and have several variations in existence. For example, Bjørnson originally wrote "drømme på vor jord", which some sources today write as "drømme på vår jord", while others write "drømmer på vår jord".
In each verse, the last two lines are sung twice, and one or two words are repeated an extra time when the lines are sung the second time (for example, "senker" in the first verse). These words are written initalics in the Norwegian lyrics below. The first verse is written down in full as an example.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet, som det stiger frem, furet, værbitt over vannet, med de tusen hjem, — elsker, elsker det og tenker på vår far og mor 𝄆 og den saganatt somsenker drømmer[b] på vår jord. 𝄇
Dette landet Harald berget med sin kjemperad, dette landet Håkon verget, medens Øyvind kvad; Olav på det landet malet[c] korset med sitt blod, 𝄆 fra dets høye Sverretalet[d] Roma midt imot. 𝄇
Bønder sine økser brynte hvor en hær dro frem; Tordenskjold langs kysten lynte, så den lystes hjem. Kvinner selv stod opp og strede som de vare menn; 𝄆 andre kunne bare grede, mendet kom igjen! 𝄇
Visstnok var vi ikke mange, men vi strakk dog til, da vi prøvdes noen gange, og det stod på spill; ti vi heller landet brente enn det kom til fall; 𝄆 husker bare hva somhendte ned på Fredrikshald! 𝄇
Hårde tider har vi døyet, ble til sist forstøtt; men i verste[e] nød blåøyet frihet ble oss født. Det gav faderkraft å bære hungersnød og krig, 𝄆 det gav døden selv sin ære — ogdet gav forlik. 𝄇
Fienden sitt våpen kastet, opp visiret fór, vi med undren mot ham hastet, ti han var vår bror. Drevne frem på stand av skammen, gikk vi søderpå; 𝄆 nå står vi tre brødre sammen,[f] og skalsådan stå! 𝄇
Norske mann i hus og hytte, takk din store Gud! Landet ville han beskytte, skjønt det mørkt så ut. Alt, hva fedrene har kjempet, mødrene har grett, 𝄆 har den Herre stille lempet, såvi vant vår rett. 𝄇
Ja, vi elsker dette landet, som det stiger frem, furet, værbitt over vannet, med de tusen hjem. Og som fedres kamp har hevet det av nød til seir, 𝄆 også vi, når det blir krevet, fordets fred slår leir. 𝄇
Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, rugged, weathered, over the water, with the thousands of homes, — love, love it and think of our father and mother 𝄆 and the saga-night that lays dreams upon our earth. 𝄇
This countryHarald united with his army of heroes, this countryHåkon protected whilstØyvind sung; upon the countryOlav painted with his blood the cross, 𝄆 from its heightsSverre spoke up againstRome. 𝄇
Farmers their axes sharpened wherever an army advanced, Tordenskjold along the coastline thundered so that we could see it back home. Even women stood up and fought as if they were men; 𝄆 others could only cry but that soon would end! 𝄇
Sure, we were not many but we were enough, when we were tested sometimes, and it was at stake; we would rather burn our land than to declare defeat; 𝄆 just remember what happened down atFredrikshald! 𝄇
Hard times we have coped with, were at last disowned; but in the worst distress, blue-eyed[g] freedom was to us born. It gave us father's strength to carry famine and war, 𝄆 it gave death itself its honour – and it gave reconciliation. 𝄇
The enemy threw away his weapon, up the visor went, we, in wonder, to him hastened, because he was our brother. Driven forth to a stand by shame we went to the south; 𝄆 now we three brothers stand united, and shall stand like that! 𝄇
Norwegian man in house and cabin, thank your great God! The country he wanted to protect, although things looked dark. All the fights fathers have fought, and the mothers have wept, 𝄆 the Lord has quietly eased so we won our rights. 𝄇
Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, rugged, weathered, above the sea, with those thousand homes. And as the fathers' struggle has raised it from need to victory, 𝄆 even we, when it is demanded, for its peace will encamp. 𝄇
I Norway, thine is our devotion, Land of hearth and home, Rising storm-scarr'd from the ocean, Where the breakers foam. Oft to thee our thoughts are wending, Land that gave us birth, And to saga nights still sending Dreams upon our earth, And to saga nights still sending Dreams upon us on our earth
VII Men of Norway, be your dwelling Cottage, house or farm, Praise the Lord who all compelling Sav'd our land from harm. Not the valour of a father On the battlefield Nor a mother's tears, but rather God our vict'ry sealed, Nor a mother's tears, but rather God for us our vict'ry sealed.
VIII Norway, thine is our devotion, Land of hearth and home, Rising storm-scarr'd from the ocean, Where the breakers foam. As our fathers' vict'ry gave it Peace for one and all, We shall rally, too, to save it When we hear the call, We shall rally, too, to save it When we hear, we hear the call.
I Yes, we love this land arising Stormbeat o'er the sea With its thousand homes, enticing, Rugged though it be. Love it, love it, not forgetting Those we owe our birth, Nor that night of saga letting Down its dreams to earth, Nor that night of saga letting Down its dreams, its dreams, to earth.
VII Norseman, where thou dwellest, render Praise and thanks to Him, Who has been this land's defender, When its hopes looked dim. Wars our fathers' aims unfolded, Tears our mothers shed, Roads of them for us He molded, To our rights they led. Roads of them for us He molded, To our rights, our rights, they led.
VIII Yes, we love this land arising Stormbeat o'er the sea With its thousand homes, enticing, Rugged though it be. Like our fathers who succeeded, Warring for release, So will we, whenever needed, Rally for its peace. So will we, whenever needed, Rally for its peace, its peace.
The original version of "Ja, vi elsker" included a verse hailingCharles IV, who succeeded his father as king of Norway in July 1859. However, after the divisive international events of the spring of 1864, including theSecond Schleswig War, when theideal of a unified Scandinavia became shattered, Bjørnson went from monarchist to republican, and the tribute to the reigning sovereign was stricken from the song.
The lyrics that were removed were:
Kongen selv står stærk og åpen
som vår Grænsevagt
og hans allerbedste Våpen
er vår Broderpagt.
In English, this reads:
The King himself stands strong and open
As our border guard
and his most powerful weapon
is our brethren pact.
The "brethren pact" the text refers to was a military treaty between Norway, Sweden and Denmark to assist one another should any of them come under military assault. But when German troopsinvadedSouth Jutland in February 1864, none of the alliance partners came to Denmark's rescue. This perceived treason of the "brethren pact" once and for all shattered dreams of unification of the three countries.[14]
In 1905, theUnion between Sweden and Norway wasdissolved after many years of Norwegian struggle for equality between the two states, as stipulated in the 1815 Act of Union. The unilateral declaration by the NorwegianStorting of the union's dissolution on 7 June provoked strong Swedish reactions, bringing the two nations to the brink of war in the autumn. In Sweden, pro-war conservatives were opposed by the Social Democrats, whose leaders,Hjalmar Branting andZeth Höglund, spoke out for reconciliation and a peaceful settlement with Norway. Swedish socialists sang "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" to support the Norwegian people's right to secede from the union.
DuringWorld War II, the anthem was used both by the Norwegian resistance and theNazi collaborators, the latter mainly for propaganda reasons. Eventually, the German occupiers officially forbade any use of the anthem.
In May 2006, the multicultural newspaperUtrop proposed that the national anthem be translated intoUrdu, the native language ofone of the most numerous groups of recent immigrants to Norway.[15] The editor's idea was that people from other ethnic groups should be able to honour their adopted country with devotion, even if they were not fluent in Norwegian. This proposal was referred to by other more widely read papers, and a member of theStorting called the proposal "integration in reverse".[16] One proponent of translating the anthem received batches of hate mail calling her a traitor and threatening her with decapitation.[17]
