Til Ungdommen
Encyclopedia
Til Ungdommen also known by the words of the first line Kringsatt av Fiender ("Surrounded by Enemies"), is a poem from 1936 by Norwegian poet and writer Nordahl Grieg. It was set to music in 1952 by the Danish composer Otto Mortensen
. The song has been recorded by various artists and has been sung at meetings held by various organizations. After the terror attacks of 22 July 2011
, it was used in many memorial gatherings and services.
, after a request by the politician Trond Hegna
, for use in the Norwegian Students' Society. The poem is directly inspired by the Spanish civil war, which broke out the same summer. It was set to music by the danish composer Otto Mortensen
in 1952, some nine years after Grieg's death.
In 1988 it was recorded by Grex Vocalis
, one Norway's most applauded choirs. In 2000 it was orchestrated by Tormod Tvete Vik, and sung by Norwegian actress and singer Herborg Kråkevik
, in her CD titled Kråkeviks Songbok. Kråkevik's version excludes verses 7-10.
The song is also recorded by Danish rock musician Kim Larsen
, first on his album 231045-0637
from 1979. However, on this album it was called 682 A rather than Til Ungdommen, this a reference to the song's listing in the Danish folk high school
songbook. Kim Larsen also included the song on his live album Kim i Cirkus (1985), and on the live CD and DVD En Lille Pose Støj (2007), on these two occasions titling it by the first line in the Danish version of the poem, Kringsat af Fjender.
The song has also been recorded by Norwegian experimental band The Soundbyte. Til Ungdommen was sung by Norwegian singer Torhild Ostad on 23 November 2003 in Potsdam
in Berlin, Germany, as the memorial stone was unveiled at the site where the poet Nordahl Grieg died when the Lancaster
bomber in which he was flying hit the ground on 2 December 1943.
On 24 July 2011, under enormous worldwide media coverage, the song was sung by the congregation of the Oslo Cathedral
memorial service in relation to the 2011 Norway attacks
. It was also sung at Denmark's official Memorial Service at Vor Frue Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark on 27 July 2011.
Herborg Kråkevik
's 2000 version of the song was rereleased in 2011 immediately after the attacks, reaching #1 on VG-lista
, the official Norwegian Singles Chart on its first week of release.
Sissel Kyrkjebø
sang the song as the concluding performer during the Norwegian National Memorial Ceremony on 21 August 2011 in the Oslo Spektrum arena, which was held to remember those killed in the terrorist attacks. The program was broadcast on all TV channels across Norway.
Note: Where English translations are provided below without citations, this should be taken as an indication that they are provided directly by the Wikipedian authors of the article, rather than from an external source.
>
Norwegian:
Til Ungdommen
Kringsatt av fiender,
gå inn i din tid!
Under en blodig storm -
vi deg til strid!
Kanskje du spør i angst,
udekket, åpen:
hva skal jeg kjempe med
hva er mitt våpen?
Her er ditt vern mot vold,
her er ditt sverd:
troen på livet vårt,
menneskets verd.
For all vår fremtids skyld,
søk det og dyrk det,
dø om du må - men:
øk det og styrk det!
Stilt går granatenes
glidende bånd
Stans deres drift mot død
stans dem med ånd!
Krig er forakt for liv.
Fred er å skape.
Kast dine krefter inn:
døden skal tape!
Elsk og berik med drøm
alt stort som var!
Gå mot det ukjente
fravrist det svar.
Ubygde kraftverker
,
ukjente stjerner.
Skap dem, med skånet livs
dristige hjerner!
Edelt er mennesket,
jorden er rik!
Finnes her nød og sult
skyldes det svik.
Knus det! I livets navn
skal urett falle.
Solskinn og brød og ånd
eies av alle.
Da synker våpnene
maktesløs ned!
Skaper vi menneskeverd
skaper vi fred.
Den som med høyre arm
bærer en byrde,
dyr og umistelig,
kan ikke myrde.
Dette er løftet vårt
fra bror til bror:
vi vil bli gode mot
menskenes jord.
Vi vil ta vare på
skjønnheten, varmen
som om vi bar et barn
varsomt på armen!
Literary translation A
Face the Foe
By Rod Sinclair (2004)
Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand
Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
What is my weapon?
Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal
For all our children’s sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it
Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know
War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death’s march is halted
By determination
We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed
Don’t turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers
Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants’ hand
Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.
English literal
translation
(2011)
Surrounded by enemies,
go into your time!
Within a bloody storm -
devote yourself to fight!
Maybe you ask in fear,
uncovered, open:
with what shall I fight
what is my weapon?
Here is your defense against violence
here is your sword:
the belief in our life,
the worth of mankind.
For all our future's sake,
seek it and cultivate it,
die if you must - but:
increase it and strengthen it!
Silently rolls the grenades'
conveyor belts
Stop their drift towards death
Stop them with spirit!
War is contempt for life.
Peace is to create.
Throw your strength into it:
Death shall lose!
Love and enrich with dreams
all that was great!
Go towards the unknown
wring answers out of it.
Unbuilt powerplants,
unknown stars.
Create them, with spared lives'
bold minds!
Noble is mankind,
the earth is rich!
If there is need and hunger
it is by deceit.
Crush it! In the name of life
injustice shall fall.
Sunshine and bread and spirit
belongs to all.
Then the weapons sink
powerless to the ground!
By creating human worth
we create peace.
Those who with their right arm
carry a burden,
precious and inalienable,
cannot murder.
This is our promise
from brother to brother:
We will be good to
humanity's earth.
We will take care of
the beauty, the warmth
as if we carried a child
carefully in our arms!
Alternative translation
To our Youth
by Joe Gorman (July 2011)
Encircled by enemies,
your time has come!
With blood all around -
prepare to resist.
Anxiously you ask,
defenceless, innocent:
with what shall I fight,
what is my weapon?
Here is your shield,
here is your sword:
faith in our life,
and human dignity.
Our common future:
shape it, define it;
even though the price be death,
you must strengthen mankind!
The weapons of evil
spread silently around us.
Their deathly advances
your spirit must stop!
War despises life,
Peace is its creator.
Give your whole self:
and death loses its sting.
Make greatness and love
grow stronger in your dreams!
So you face the unknown
with quiet understanding.
Great achievements,
distant dreams.
Bring them forth,
through the lives you protect.
Noble is mankind,
bountiful is the earth.
Where there is hunger and suffering,
it is our failing.
In the name of all that is good in life,
injustice must be crushed!
Light, nourishment and free thought
are our common inheritance.
Then the weapons will fall,
sink down, useless!
Create respect for humanity
and we create peace.
He whose right arm
carries a burden,
priceless and precious,
can never murder.
This we promise
from brother to brother:
we will respect
this planet we share.
We will take care of
beauty and warmth
as if bearing an infant
gently in our arms!
Literary translation B
To Youth
By Translator unknown
Enemies near and by,
threatening your right!
Under a storm of blood
You have to fight!
Might you then ask in fear,
unarmed and open:
how shall I combat them,
what is my weapon?
Here is your shelter strong,
here is your sword:
faith in mankind,
and in everyone's worth.
For all the future holds,
seek this and tend it.
Die, if you have to, but:
deepen, extend it!
Silent the bullets glide
all through the night.
Use all your strength and love,
stop deadly flight!
War is contempt for life.
Peace is creating.
Add forces to the strife:
death shall be beaten!
Love and enrich with dreams
greatness of old!
Challenge unknown terrain
truth will be told.
Works not yet being built,
stars never seen
reveal them through rescued lives,
able and keen!
Noble is everyone,
earth, rich and sweet!
Hunger and suffering,
caused by deceit.
Crush it! In life's own name
injustice shall fall.
Light, bread and love and hope,
birth right of all.
Forcing all weapons down,
warfare shall cease!
Shielding man's dignity
creating true peace.
Who by his right hand's side
carries a burden,
precious and dear to him,
can never murder.
This is our promise,
from kin to kin:
cherish our fragile Earth,
it's ours to win.
We will protect and keep
beauty and grace -
as if we held a child
in tender embrace!
Otto Mortensen
Otto Hübertz Mortensen was a Danish composer and conductor. He also played the organ and piano. For a number of years he worked at the Royal Danish Theatre as a rehearser for the opera, and later worked at Aarhus University....
. The song has been recorded by various artists and has been sung at meetings held by various organizations. After the terror attacks of 22 July 2011
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
, it was used in many memorial gatherings and services.
History
The poem was written in 1936 by Nordal Grieg when he was in Ny-Hellesund in SøgneSøgne
Søgne is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Søgne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Greipstad was separated from Søgne on 1 July 1913....
, after a request by the politician Trond Hegna
Trond Hegna
Trond Hegna was a Norwegian journalist and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party and the Communist Party of Norway....
, for use in the Norwegian Students' Society. The poem is directly inspired by the Spanish civil war, which broke out the same summer. It was set to music by the danish composer Otto Mortensen
Otto Mortensen
Otto Hübertz Mortensen was a Danish composer and conductor. He also played the organ and piano. For a number of years he worked at the Royal Danish Theatre as a rehearser for the opera, and later worked at Aarhus University....
in 1952, some nine years after Grieg's death.
In 1988 it was recorded by Grex Vocalis
Grex Vocalis
Grex Vocalis is a Norwegian chamber choir, formed in 1971 by Carl Høgset, who remains its conductor. The repertoire spans from the renaissance to music by contemporary composers...
, one Norway's most applauded choirs. In 2000 it was orchestrated by Tormod Tvete Vik, and sung by Norwegian actress and singer Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik is a Norwegian singer and actress, known for her works with Norwegian folksongs and some stage works and many movies...
, in her CD titled Kråkeviks Songbok. Kråkevik's version excludes verses 7-10.
The song is also recorded by Danish rock musician Kim Larsen
Kim Larsen
thumb|250px|Kim Larsen, Nibe Festival 2009.Kim Melius Flyvholm Larsen is a Danish rock musician.Inspired by The Beatles and rock and roll, Larsen began as a songwriter and guitarist...
, first on his album 231045-0637
231045-0637
231045-0637 is a rock album released in 1979 by Kim Larsen, a Danish rock musician.While Kim Larsen was a member of Gasolin' he released three solo albums, Værsgo, Kim Larsen og Yankee drengene and Starfuckers: Vogt dem for efterligninger...
from 1979. However, on this album it was called 682 A rather than Til Ungdommen, this a reference to the song's listing in the Danish folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
songbook. Kim Larsen also included the song on his live album Kim i Cirkus (1985), and on the live CD and DVD En Lille Pose Støj (2007), on these two occasions titling it by the first line in the Danish version of the poem, Kringsat af Fjender.
The song has also been recorded by Norwegian experimental band The Soundbyte. Til Ungdommen was sung by Norwegian singer Torhild Ostad on 23 November 2003 in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
in Berlin, Germany, as the memorial stone was unveiled at the site where the poet Nordahl Grieg died when the Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bomber in which he was flying hit the ground on 2 December 1943.
On 24 July 2011, under enormous worldwide media coverage, the song was sung by the congregation of the Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral — formerly Our Savior's Church — is the main church for the Oslo bishopric of the Church of Norway, as well as the parish church for downtown Oslo. The present building dates from 1694-1697....
memorial service in relation to the 2011 Norway attacks
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
. It was also sung at Denmark's official Memorial Service at Vor Frue Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark on 27 July 2011.
Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik
Herborg Kråkevik is a Norwegian singer and actress, known for her works with Norwegian folksongs and some stage works and many movies...
's 2000 version of the song was rereleased in 2011 immediately after the attacks, reaching #1 on VG-lista
VG-lista
VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by...
, the official Norwegian Singles Chart on its first week of release.
Sissel Kyrkjebø
Sissel Kyrkjebø
Sissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
sang the song as the concluding performer during the Norwegian National Memorial Ceremony on 21 August 2011 in the Oslo Spektrum arena, which was held to remember those killed in the terrorist attacks. The program was broadcast on all TV channels across Norway.
Text of the poem
>
Norwegian:
Til Ungdommen
Kringsatt av fiender,
gå inn i din tid!
Under en blodig storm -
vi deg til strid!
Kanskje du spør i angst,
udekket, åpen:
hva skal jeg kjempe med
hva er mitt våpen?
Her er ditt vern mot vold,
her er ditt sverd:
troen på livet vårt,
menneskets verd.
For all vår fremtids skyld,
søk det og dyrk det,
dø om du må - men:
øk det og styrk det!
Stilt går granatenes
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
glidende bånd
Stans deres drift mot død
stans dem med ånd!
Krig er forakt for liv.
Fred er å skape.
Kast dine krefter inn:
døden skal tape!
Elsk og berik med drøm
alt stort som var!
Gå mot det ukjente
fravrist det svar.
Ubygde kraftverker
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
,
ukjente stjerner.
Skap dem, med skånet livs
dristige hjerner!
Edelt er mennesket,
jorden er rik!
Finnes her nød og sult
skyldes det svik.
Knus det! I livets navn
skal urett falle.
Solskinn og brød og ånd
eies av alle.
Da synker våpnene
maktesløs ned!
Skaper vi menneskeverd
skaper vi fred.
Den som med høyre arm
bærer en byrde,
dyr og umistelig,
kan ikke myrde.
Dette er løftet vårt
fra bror til bror:
vi vil bli gode mot
menskenes jord.
Vi vil ta vare på
skjønnheten, varmen
som om vi bar et barn
varsomt på armen!
Literary translation A
Face the Foe
By Rod Sinclair (2004)
Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand
Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
What is my weapon?
Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal
Public weal
Public weal may refer to:*Commonwealth, a form of government without a monarch in which people have governmental influence*Common good, the notion of high quality of life for people in general-See also:...
For all our children’s sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it
Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know
War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death’s march is halted
By determination
We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed
Don’t turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers
Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants’ hand
Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.
English literal
Literal
Literal may refer to:*Literal and figurative language, taken in a non-figurative sense*Literal translation, the close adherence to the forms of a source language text...
translation
(2011)
Surrounded by enemies,
go into your time!
Within a bloody storm -
devote yourself to fight!
Maybe you ask in fear,
uncovered, open:
with what shall I fight
what is my weapon?
Here is your defense against violence
here is your sword:
the belief in our life,
the worth of mankind.
For all our future's sake,
seek it and cultivate it,
die if you must - but:
increase it and strengthen it!
Silently rolls the grenades'
conveyor belts
Stop their drift towards death
Stop them with spirit!
War is contempt for life.
Peace is to create.
Throw your strength into it:
Death shall lose!
Love and enrich with dreams
all that was great!
Go towards the unknown
wring answers out of it.
Unbuilt powerplants,
unknown stars.
Create them, with spared lives'
bold minds!
Noble is mankind,
the earth is rich!
If there is need and hunger
it is by deceit.
Crush it! In the name of life
injustice shall fall.
Sunshine and bread and spirit
belongs to all.
Then the weapons sink
powerless to the ground!
By creating human worth
we create peace.
Those who with their right arm
carry a burden,
precious and inalienable,
cannot murder.
This is our promise
from brother to brother:
We will be good to
humanity's earth.
We will take care of
the beauty, the warmth
as if we carried a child
carefully in our arms!
Alternative translation
To our Youth
by Joe Gorman (July 2011)
Encircled by enemies,
your time has come!
With blood all around -
prepare to resist.
Anxiously you ask,
defenceless, innocent:
with what shall I fight,
what is my weapon?
Here is your shield,
here is your sword:
faith in our life,
and human dignity.
Our common future:
shape it, define it;
even though the price be death,
you must strengthen mankind!
The weapons of evil
spread silently around us.
Their deathly advances
your spirit must stop!
War despises life,
Peace is its creator.
Give your whole self:
and death loses its sting.
Make greatness and love
grow stronger in your dreams!
So you face the unknown
with quiet understanding.
Great achievements,
distant dreams.
Bring them forth,
through the lives you protect.
Noble is mankind,
bountiful is the earth.
Where there is hunger and suffering,
it is our failing.
In the name of all that is good in life,
injustice must be crushed!
Light, nourishment and free thought
are our common inheritance.
Then the weapons will fall,
sink down, useless!
Create respect for humanity
and we create peace.
He whose right arm
carries a burden,
priceless and precious,
can never murder.
This we promise
from brother to brother:
we will respect
this planet we share.
We will take care of
beauty and warmth
as if bearing an infant
gently in our arms!
Literary translation B
To Youth
By Translator unknown
Enemies near and by,
threatening your right!
Under a storm of blood
You have to fight!
Might you then ask in fear,
unarmed and open:
how shall I combat them,
what is my weapon?
Here is your shelter strong,
here is your sword:
faith in mankind,
and in everyone's worth.
For all the future holds,
seek this and tend it.
Die, if you have to, but:
deepen, extend it!
Silent the bullets glide
all through the night.
Use all your strength and love,
stop deadly flight!
War is contempt for life.
Peace is creating.
Add forces to the strife:
death shall be beaten!
Love and enrich with dreams
greatness of old!
Challenge unknown terrain
truth will be told.
Works not yet being built,
stars never seen
reveal them through rescued lives,
able and keen!
Noble is everyone,
earth, rich and sweet!
Hunger and suffering,
caused by deceit.
Crush it! In life's own name
injustice shall fall.
Light, bread and love and hope,
birth right of all.
Forcing all weapons down,
warfare shall cease!
Shielding man's dignity
creating true peace.
Who by his right hand's side
carries a burden,
precious and dear to him,
can never murder.
This is our promise,
from kin to kin:
cherish our fragile Earth,
it's ours to win.
We will protect and keep
beauty and grace -
as if we held a child
in tender embrace!
Song recordings
- Kim LarsenKim Larsenthumb|250px|Kim Larsen, Nibe Festival 2009.Kim Melius Flyvholm Larsen is a Danish rock musician.Inspired by The Beatles and rock and roll, Larsen began as a songwriter and guitarist...
's version (in 1979) of the song is titled "682A" — a reference to its place in Højskolesangbogen, the Danish Folk High School songbook
In popular culture
- The instrumental song Closing the Circle by Danish progressive metalProgressive metalProgressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Beyond TwilightBeyond TwilightBeyond Twilight is a progressive metal band from Denmark with symphonic elements to their sound such as keyboards and harmonic vocals. The vocals are high-pitched as is typical for power metal bands, another possible classification of their style. The band was originally formed by Finn Zierler in...
(on their 2001 album The Devil's Hall of FameThe Devil's Hall of FameThe Devil's Hall of Fame is a 2001 album by Danish progressive metal band Beyond Twilight. It's the only album to feature Jørn Lande as their lead vocalist.- Track listing :All songs written by Finn Zierler & Jørn Lande, except where noted....
) contains melody snippets taken from Til Ungdommen. - The song Songen Åt Fangen by Norwegian black metalBlack metalBlack metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band VreidVreidVreid is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 2004 after the break up of Windir following the death of lead singer and founder Valfar. The remaining members along with new guitarist Ese formed Vreid...
(on their debut album KraftKraftKraft has more than one meaning:* Kraft Foods, the world's third largest food and beverage company by revenue* Kraft process, a paper pulp production method* Kraft paper, paper produced by the Kraft process* Kraft , a video game character...
) uses Til Ungdommen as its primary melody.
Other sources
- Andreassen, Jostein (1992) Nordahl Grieg på Sørlandet: Et studieheft om forfatterskap og miljø (J. Andreassen) ISBN 978-8291188010
- Nag, Martin (1989) Ung må Nordahl Grieg ennå være (Solum) ISBN 978-8256006557
- Hoem, Edvard (1989) Til ungdommen : Nordahl Griegs liv (Oslo: Gyldendal) ISBN 82-05-29946-3