Der er et yndigt land - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Der er et yndigt land ("There is a lovely land") is the (civil) national anthem

National anthem

A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

of Denmark

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

. On royal occasions, the royal anthem Kong Christian stod ved højen mast is performed together with Der er et yndigt land.

In common use, only the first verse (or stanza

Stanza

In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...

) 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.

The lyrics were written in 1819 by Adam Oehlenschläger

Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger

Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger was a Danish poet and playwright. He introduced romanticism into Danish literature.-Biography:He was born in Vesterbro, then a suburb of Copenhagen, on 14 November 1779...

and bore the motto in (Horace

Horace

Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...

: "This corner of the earth smiles for me more than any other"). When first published, the anthem had 12 verses, but this was shortened to the first, third, fifth, and last verse in later editions. The music was composed in 1835 by Hans Ernst Krøyer

Hans Ernst Krøyer

Hans Ernst Krøyer was a Danish composer.Krøyer was born in Copenhagen and the son of Bernt Anker Krøyer and Johanne Margrethe , as well as the brother of Henrik Nikolai Krøyer.He is best remembered as the composer of today's Danish national anthem Der er et yndigt land Hans Ernst (sometimes...

. Later, Thomas Laub

Thomas Laub

Thomas Linnemann Laub was a Danish organist and composer.-Notable works:*1888 80 rytmiske Koraler, en enstemmig samling*1889–1891 Kirkemelodier, tre hæfter med firstemmige udsættelser...

and Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen

Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...

each composed alternative melodies, but neither of them has gained widespread adoption, and today they are mostly unknown to the general population.

Danish lyrics

Short version

The lines sung at sporting events etc. are normally confined to:

Free metrical translation

There is a lovely land

with spreading, shady beech

Beech

Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...

Near salty eastern beach :|

Its hills and valleys gently fall,

its ancient name is Denmark,

And it is Freya

Freya

In Norse mythology, Freyja is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death. Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot driven by two cats, owns the boar Hildisvíni, possesses a cloak of falcon feathers, and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother...

'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 :|

Literal translation

There is a lovely country

it stands with broad beeches

near the salty eastern beach

It winds itself in hill, valley,

it is called old Denmark

and it is Freja's hall

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

Tumulus

A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...

menhir

Menhir

A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top...

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 reflects

its top in the blue wave

Original Danish lyrics

English Translation

There is a lovely land

it stands with broad beeches

near the salty eastern strand

It winds itself in hill, valley,

it is called old Denmark

and it is Freja's hall

There sat in former times,

the armour-suited warriors,

rested from conflict

Then they set out to slay the foe,

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 morale is in dead.

And each a Danish is just free,

Each reads believe his reign,

But slavery is over.

A friendly South of North

Is the green river empire,

Your clad ax-clad Earth.

And Snekken walks his proud way.

How Ploug and Kiølen furrows

The failure of hope not.

Our Danish flag is beautiful

The fans along the Sea

With Flag Red Bay.

And always has his white Colour

Your Holy Cross in blood,

O Flag of Denmark in battle.

Cress the Danes's Spirit

It hates Prejudice fetters,

And enthusiasm ribbon.

For Friendship open, cold for Spot

Smites Jutes honest heart,

For Girl, Country and Queen.

I swap Denmark not,

For Russia's winter deserts,

For Southern May Flowers.

With Plague and Serpents are we served

In North Country melancholy

In Eastern rage.

Our time in stands in reek,

It has raised his voice

Of Science and Arts.

In around Bragi

Bragi

Bragi is the skaldic god of poetry in Norse mythology.-Etymology:Bragi is generally associated with bragr, the Norse word for poetry. The name of the god may have been derived from bragr, or the term bragr may have been formed to describe 'what Bragi does'...

's and Mímir

Mímir

Mímir or Mim is a figure in Norse mythology renowned for his knowledge and wisdom who is beheaded during the Æsir-Vanir War...

's cry

Aroused in straight stretch

A better hope for the future.

In great, our native soil,

However soars among cities

Your proud Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...

For better City in sea came

Yes no river in the valley;

From Trondhiem and to Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

With holy remand

Preserve you, All-father!

Our old dynasty.

King Fredrik similar Fredegod;

Where is a better prince

For better hero blood?