View source for Du gamla, du fria

{{Short description|National anthem of Sweden}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = {{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du fria}}
| english_title = 'You ancient, you free' <ref>{{Citation |last=Gustafson |first=Anita Olson |title=Chapter 5. Swedish Nationalism in a New Land |date=2018-12-14 |work=Swedish Chicago: The Shaping of an Immigrant Community, 1880–1920 |pages=119–152 |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781501757624-007/html?lang=en |access-date=2025-03-30 |publisher=Cornell University Press |language=en |doi=10.1515/9781501757624-007 |isbn=978-1-5017-5762-4|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Du gamla du fria (1 of 2) - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AJEPHA3X5LLCZP8C |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=search.library.wisc.edu}}</ref>
| image         = TalochTon8.jpg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = A [[shellac record]] of "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du fria}}" published by {{ill|Tal och ton|sv}}, dated 1930
| alt_title     = {{lang|sv|italic=no|Sång till Norden}}
| en_alt_title  = 'Song to the North'
| prefix        = National
| country       = Sweden
| composer      = Based on a Swedish folk tune<ref>{{cite web|author1=Eva Danielson|author2=Märta Ramsten|title=Du gamla, du friska – från folkvisa till nationalsång|url=http://musikverket.se/svensktvisarkiv/artikel/du-gamla-du-friska/|website=musikverket.se|date=30 May 2013|publisher=Svenskt visarkiv / Musikverket|access-date=3 June 2017|language=sv|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226021906/https://musikverket.se/svensktvisarkiv/artikel/du-gamla-du-friska/|url-status=live}}</ref> (arranged for orchestra by [[Edvin Kallstenius]], 1933)<ref name="Holm">{{cite web|last1=Holm|first1=Anna Lena|title=Edvin Kallstenius|url=http://musikverket.se/musikochteaterbiblioteket/arkivregistret/edvin-kallstenius-1881-1967/|website=musikverket.se|publisher=Musik- och teaterbiblioteket / Musikverket|access-date=3 June 2017|language=sv|date=August 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020064144/http://musikverket.se/musikochteaterbiblioteket/arkivregistret/edvin-kallstenius-1881-1967/|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| author        = [[Richard Dybeck]]
| lyrics_date   = 1844
| until         = 
| sound         = United States Navy Band - Sweden.ogg
| sound_title   = [[U.S. Navy Band]] instrumental version (two verses)
}}
{{Music of Sweden}}

'''{{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du fria}}'''{{efn|{{IPA|sv|dʉː ˈɡâmːla dʉː ˈfrîːa|-|}}}} ({{Lit|You ancient, you free}}),<ref>{{Citation |last=Gustafson |first=Anita Olson |title=Chapter 5. Swedish Nationalism in a New Land |date=2018-12-14 |work=Swedish Chicago: The Shaping of an Immigrant Community, 1880–1920 |pages=119–152 |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781501757624-007/html?lang=en |access-date=2025-03-30 |publisher=Cornell University Press |language=en |doi=10.1515/9781501757624-007 |isbn=978-1-5017-5762-4|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Du gamla du fria (1 of 2) - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AJEPHA3X5LLCZP8C |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=search.library.wisc.edu}}</ref> is the ''[[de facto]]'' [[national anthem]] of [[Sweden]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Sweden's national anthem |url=https://sharingsweden.se/materials/swedens-national-anthem |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Sharing Sweden |language=en-GB}}</ref> Originally titled '''{{lang|sv|Sång till Norden|italic=no}}'''{{efn|{{IPA|sv|ˈsɔŋː tɪl ˈnǔːɖɛn|pron|}}}} ({{Lit|Song to the North}}), its lyrics were written in 1844 by Swedish antiquarian [[Richard Dybeck]], who set them to a variation of the old [[Swedish folk music|folk melody]] ''Kärestans död'' ({{Lit|Death of a loved one}})''.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=This is why Sweden doesn't have an official national anthem |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/national-anthems/sweden-lyrics-english-official-song/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Classic FM |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629230856/https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/national-anthems/sweden-lyrics-english-official-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Begravningen (Kärestans död) |url=https://www.isof.se/folkminnen/kunskapsbanker-och-webbutstallningar/kunskapsbanker-folkminnen/lar-dig-mer-om-folklig-sang-och-musik/musiksalen/musikarkiv/2021-02-22-begravningen-karestans-dod |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.isof.se |language=sv}}</ref>

The song has been widely recognised as the national anthem since the late 19th century, gaining prominence after [[Oscar II|King Oscar II]], attending a dinner in 1893, stood in acknowledgement upon hearing the song.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=swed20chamb19admin |date=2021-06-07 |title=Sweden National Day – a June 6 digital celebration |url=https://swedchamtw.org/sweden-national-day-a-june-6-digital-celebration-2/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It gained further recognition in 1938, when [[Sveriges Radio]], the national public broadcaster, began playing it at the conclusion of its daily programming.<ref name=":0" />  In 2000, the [[Riksdag]] (Swedish Parliament) declined a proposal to officially recognise ''Du gamla, du fria'' as the national anthem, stating that its established status through tradition rendered formal adoption unnecessary.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://data.riksdagen.se/fil/6EFBD7E0-9C03-426E-8AD7-43C96A5B386A |title=Allmänna helgdagar, symboler m.m. Sammanfattning |date=2000 |publisher=Committee on Constitutional Affairs |language=sv |trans-title=Public holidays, symbols, etc. Summary}}</ref>

Dybeck's original lyrics consist of two verses, reflecting the ideals of [[Scandinavism|Scandinavianism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierre-Robert Cloet, Bénédicte Legué, Kerstin Martel |date=2013-12-03 |title=United in diversity: Anthems and flags of the European Union - Sweden |url=https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/flag-anthem-sweden.pdf |website=Jacques Delors Institute}}</ref> It references the [[Nordic countries|Nordic region]] ({{Langx|sv|Norden}}) but not Sweden itself, making the [[Poland Is Not Yet Lost|Polish national anthem]] the only national anthem to reference Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |title=Därför sjunger Polen om Sverige i sin nationalsång |url=https://www.gp.se/sport/fotboll/darfor-sjunger-polen-om-sverige-i-sin-nationalsang.b1d76f67-4a94-4b29-878b-bc65c7d6c8a2 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=gp.se |publisher=[[Göteborgsposten]]}}</ref> Various attempts have been made to introduce additional verses that explicitly mention Sweden, but none have been popularly adopted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Katie Barclay, François Soyer |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/mono/10.4324/9781003175537-37/richard-dybeck-1811%E2%80%931877-thou-ancient-thou-free-katie-barclay-fran%C3%A7ois-soyer |title=Emotions in Europe, 1517-1914 |date=2021 |chapter=Richard Dybeck (1811–1877) |doi=10.4324/9781003175537-37 |archive-date=2021-06-09 |access-date=2025-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609060926/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/mono/10.4324/9781003175537-37/richard-dybeck-1811%E2%80%931877-thou-ancient-thou-free-katie-barclay-fran%C3%A7ois-soyer |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to the national anthem, Sweden has a [[royal anthem]], [[Kungssången]] ({{Lit|The King's Song}})'','' which holds official ''[[de jure]]'' status.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-02 |title=Historik - Sveriges Kungahus |url=http://www.kungahuset.se/monarkin/kungligasymboler/musik/kungssangen/historik.4.19fe5e61065eb9aeea800029008.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |archive-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302150445/http://www.kungahuset.se/monarkin/kungligasymboler/musik/kungssangen/historik.4.19fe5e61065eb9aeea800029008.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HM The King opens the new Parliamentary Session |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2021-09-14-hm-the-king-opens-the-new-parliamentary-session |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.kungahuset.se |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The original lyrics were written by [[Richard Dybeck]] in 1844, to the melody of a variant of the ballad "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Kärestans död}}" ({{Lit|Death of a loved one}}). The ballad type is classified as D&nbsp;280 in [[The Types of the Scandinavian Medieval Ballad]]; the variant from [[Västmanland]] that Dybeck reproduced is classified as [[Sveriges Medeltida Ballader|SMB]]&nbsp;133&nbsp;G.<ref>''[[Sveriges Medeltida Ballader]]'', vol. 4:1, pp. 16–17</ref> It was recorded by Rosa Wretman at the beginning of the 1840s. Dybeck published the traditional text in ''Folk-lore I'', and the melody in 1845 in his ''Runa'', where he also published his new text "Sång till Norden" (Song for/to the North).

Dybeck himself originally wrote the beginning as "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du friska}}" ({{lit|You ancient, you healthy}}), but in the late 1850s, he changed the lyrics to "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du fria}}". The song was already published in several song books and sung with "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Du gamla, du friska}}", but a priest who had known Dybeck took the opportunity to inform the singer most associated with the song, opera singer {{ill|Carl Fredrik Lundqvist|sv}}, about the change in the year 1900. From that point on, printings of the "{{lang|sv|italic=no|friska}}" version ceased to be seen in song books, but a recording from 1905 where it is sung with "friska" still exists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=Arvid+Asplund&num=1&start=2&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia|title=Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project|last=Collections.|first=University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Department of Special|date=2005-11-16|website=cylinders.library.ucsb.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-06-03|archive-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020063904/http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=Arvid+Asplund&num=1&start=2&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia|url-status=live}}</ref> The Swedish composer [[Edvin Kallstenius]] made an orchestral arrangement of the song in 1933.<ref name="Holm" />

By the early 20th century, many{{who|date=August 2024}} regarded the song unsuitable as a national anthem. From the 1890s, it was included in the "patriotic songs" section of song books, but up to the 1920s it was occasionally published just as "folk music". In 1899, a contest to produce a national anthem was held. It led to [[Verner von Heidenstam]] writing "Sverige", but did not lead to a new national anthem.{{Sfn|Reinhammar|2013|p=152}}

Patriotic sentiment is notably absent from the text of the original two verses, due to their being written in the spirit of [[Scandinavism]] popular at the time.{{efn|{{lang|sv|Norden}} in general refers to the [[Nordic countries]] in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish}} After the song started to acquire its informal status as the national anthem, various people wrote additional verses to increase the "Swedish-ness" of the song. The aforementioned Lundqvist wrote his own third verse beginning with "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Jag älskar dig Sverige}}" ({{lit|Thee I Adore, Sweden}}); {{ill|Frans Österblom|sv}} wrote four verses beginning with "{{lang|sv|italic=no|Jag älskar min hembygd}}" ({{lit|I Adore My Homestead}}); and [[Louise Ahlén (songwriter)|Louise Ahlén]] with two verses. However, these are not accepted as part of the anthem, and are not normally published or sung.

== Status ==
Similarly to the national anthems of [[Maamme|Finland]] and the [[God Save the King|United Kingdom]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kungahusets symboler |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/sveriges-monarki/kungahusets-symboler |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.kungahuset.se |language=sv |archive-date=2023-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220508/https://www.kungahuset.se/sveriges-monarki/kungahusets-symboler |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Du gamla, du fria'' is not defined in Sweden's constitutional [[Basic Laws of Sweden|Basic Laws]], nor has it been formally recognised by other legislation, unlike Sweden's [[Flag of Sweden|flag]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act (1982:269) on the Flag of Sweden |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1982269-om-sveriges-flagga_sfs-1982-269/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv |archive-date=2025-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118152824/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1982269-om-sveriges-flagga_sfs-1982-269/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Coat of arms of Sweden|coat of arms]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act (1970:498) on the protection of the coat of arms and certain other official designations |url=https://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst?bet=1970:498 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=rkrattsbaser.gov.se |archive-date=2024-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207215615/http://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst?bet=1970%3A498 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, the song enjoys universal recognition, and is used at official events such as [[State visit|state visits]] and the [[Opening of the Riksdag]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HM The King opens the Parliamentary Session |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-09-27-hm-the-king-opens-the-parliamentary-session |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.kungahuset.se |language=en |archive-date=2025-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118042132/https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-09-27-hm-the-king-opens-the-parliamentary-session |url-status=live }}</ref> at sporting events, and at the [[Nobel Prize]] Award Ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nobel Prize Ceremony 2023 |url=https://www.konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2023/nobel-prize-ceremony-2023/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412215501/https://www.konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2023/nobel-prize-ceremony-2023/ |archive-date=2024-04-12 |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song gained status as the national anthem from the late 19th century, becoming predominant in 1893 after [[Oscar II|King Oscar II]] stood up in acknowledgement of the song at a dinner at [[Lund University]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> In 1938, [[Sveriges Radio]], the national public radio broadcasting service, began playing it at the conclusion of its daily programming, gaining it further recognition.<ref name=":0" /> By the end of the 1930s, the song's status had effectively been established.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sweden: Du gamla, Du fria |url=http://nationalanthems.me/sweden-du-gamla-du-fria |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326125652/http://www.nationalanthems.me/sweden-du-gamla-du-fria/ |archive-date=2012-03-26 |access-date=2011-08-08 |publisher=NationalAnthems.me}}</ref>

The song's status has been the subject of multiple motions in the [[Riksdag]]. In 1986, a motion proposed granting the song legal recognition, but it was not passed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Den svenska nationalsången (Motion 1986/87:K803 Alexander Chrisopoulos (vpk)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/den-svenska-nationalsangen_ga02k803/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> Further motions from [[Member of Parliament (Sweden)|MPs]] of various [[List of political parties in Sweden|political parties]] in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationaldagen och nationalsången (Motion 2000/01:K245 av Magnus Jacobsson (kd)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationaldagen-och-nationalsangen_go02k245/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationalsången (Motion 2007/08:K327 av Betty Malmberg (m)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationalsangen_gv02k327/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> 2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationalsången (Motion 2019/20:781 av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt (SD)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationalsangen_h702781/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> and 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=En officiell nationalsång (Motion 2024/25:304 av Erik Hellsborn (SD)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/en-officiell-nationalsang_hc02304/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv |archive-date=2024-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010004006/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/en-officiell-nationalsang_hc02304/ |url-status=live }}</ref> have also sought official status for the anthem. However, none of these proposals have never been accepted by the Riksdag.<ref name=":2" />

In 2000, a Riksdag committee concluded that, as ''Du gamla, du fria'' had already become de facto the national anthem, formal recognition was unnecessary. The committee argued that no official confirmation was required, as the anthem's status was already entrenched in Swedish society.<ref name=":2" />

== Melody ==
<score sound="1">
\new Staff <<
\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
\override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t
\clef treble \key bes \major \tempo 4=76
\relative c'' {
  \key bes \major
  \partial 8 d8 |
  d4 bes8 bes bes4 c8 d |
  d4 c8 bes a4 r8 c8 | \break
  c4 a8 bes c a d8. bes16 |
  g2 f4 r8 f8 | \break
  bes4 bes8 c a4 a8 bes |
  g8. f16 g8 a f4 r8
  \repeat volta 2 { f8 | \break % \repeat unfold 2 { f8 | \break
  bes8. a16 bes8 c d bes es d |
  c2 bes4 r8
  } \bar ":|."
}
\addlyrics {
  Du gam -- la, Du fri -- a, Du fjäll -- hö -- ga nord
  Du tys -- ta, Du gläd -- je -- ri -- ka skö -- na!
  Jag häl -- sar Dig, vä -- nas -- te land __ _ up -- på jord,
  Din sol, Din him -- mel, Di -- na äng -- der grö -- na.
  Din sol, Din him -- mel, Di -- na äng -- der grö -- na.
}
\addlyrics {
  Du tro -- nar på min -- nen från forn -- sto -- ra da'r,
  då ä -- rat Ditt namn flög ö -- ver jor -- den.
  Jag vet att Du är och Du blir __ _ vad Du var.
  Ja, jag vill le -- va jag vill dö i Nor -- den!
  Ja, jag vill le -- va jag vill dö i Nor -- den!
}
>>
</score>

== Lyrics ==
=== Swedish ===
{{Listen
| type         = music
| filename     = Du gamla du fria (1938).ogg
| title        = 1938 orchestral and vocal recording (verses one and two)
| description  = Performed by John Hilmer Borgeling (1903–1969).
}}

==== Modern version ====
''Du gamla, du fria'' contains two verses, both of which are sung.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tegnér |first=Alice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPvsEAAAQBAJ |title=Nu ska vi sjunga |date=2024 |publisher=Modernista |isbn=978-91-8063-922-4 |language=sv}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="6"
|+<big>Du gamla, du fria</big>
! Swedish original<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riksdagsförvaltningen |title=Sveriges nationalsång Motion 2009/10:K263 av Lennart Sacrédeus (kd) - Riksdagen |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/motion/sveriges-nationalsang_GX02K263 |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv |archive-date=2022-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317121552/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/motion/sveriges-nationalsang_GX02K263 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kungahuset.se/monarkinhovstaterna/kungligasymboler/musik/nationalsangen.4.19ae4931022afdcff3800017853.html|website=Sveriges Kungahus|title=Nationalsången|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114023420/https://www.kungahuset.se/monarkinhovstaterna/kungligasymboler/musik/nationalsangen.4.19ae4931022afdcff3800017853.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sweden national anthem lyrics in English |url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/swedens-national-anthem-lyrics/ |website=Classical Music.com |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425123536/https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/swedens-national-anthem-lyrics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcription{{efn|See [[Help:IPA/Swedish]] and [[Swedish phonology]].}}
! English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem lang|sv|italic="no">Du gamla, Du fria, Du fjällhöga nord
Du tysta, Du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar Dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
𝄆 Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna. 𝄇

Du tronar på minnen från fornstora da'r,
då ärat Ditt namn flög över jorden.
Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad Du var.{{efn|name=förblir|Often sung as {{lang|sv|Jag vet att Du är och förblir vad Du var}} {{IPA|sv|jɑː(ɡ) věːt atː dʉː æːr ɔ(kː) fœr.ˈbliːr vɑː(d) dʉː vɑːr|}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=This is why Sweden doesn't have an official national anthem |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/national-anthems/sweden-lyrics-english-official-song/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Classic FM |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629230856/https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/national-anthems/sweden-lyrics-english-official-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Byström |first=Jakob Jakobsson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OuW2AAAAIAAJ&q=%22Jag+vet+att+Du+%C3%A4r+och+f%C3%B6rblir%22 |title=Sånger och sångare |date=1950 |publisher=B[aptist]-m[issionen]s bokförlag |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Du gamla du fria - Lyrics, låttext, låttexter - Felsjunget.se |url=https://felsjunget.se/alla-latar/du-gamla-du-fria-4/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516113109/https://felsjunget.se/alla-latar/du-gamla-du-fria-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Nilsson">{{Cite web|last=Jonathan Nilsson|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIUE4u4JWc|title=Svenska Nationalsången - Du Gamla Du Fria [Med Text]|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317121553/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIUE4u4JWc|archive-date=2022-03-17|date=2010-02-11|access-date=2022-03-17|website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="MindGarage">{{Cite web|last=PsychedelicMindGarage|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ula7cdSFU|title=Du Gamla Du Fria (Alla 4 verserna Ultima Thule)|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317121553/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ula7cdSFU|archive-date=2022-03-17|date=2010-06-06|access-date=2022-03-17|website=YouTube}}</ref>}}
𝄆 Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden. 𝄇
</poem>

|<poem lang|ipa|italic="no">[dʉː ˈɡâmː.la dʉː ˈfrîː.a dʉː ˈfjɛ̂lː.ˌhøː.ɡa nǔːɖ {{!}}]
[dʉː ˈtʏ̂sː.ta dʉː ˈɡlɛ̂ːd.jɛ̠.ˌriː.ka ˈɧø̂ː.na ‖]
[jɑː(ɡ) ˈhɛ̂lː.sa‿ɖɛj ˈvɛ̂ː.nas.tɛ̠ lanːd ˈɵ̌p.poː juːɖ {{!}}]
𝄆 [dɪnː suːl dɪnː ˈhɪ̂m.mɛ̠l ˈdîː.na ˈɛ̂ŋː.dɛ̠r ˈɡrø̂ː.na ‖] 𝄇

[dʉː ˈtrûː.nar poː ˈmɪ̂n.nɛ̠n froːn ˈfûːɳ.ˌʂtuː.ra dɑːr {{!}}]
[dǒː ˈæ̂ː.rat dɪtː namːn fløːɡ ˈøː.vɛ̠r ˈjǔː.ɖɛ̠n ‖]
[jɑː(ɡ) věːt atː dʉː æːr ɔ(kː) dʉː bliːr vɑː(d) dʉː vɑːr {{!}}]{{efn|name=förblir}}
𝄆 [jɑː jɑː(ɡ) vɪlː ˈlêː.va jɑː(ɡ) vɪlː døː iː ˈnǔː.ɖɛ̠n ‖] 𝄇
</poem>

|<poem lang|en|italic="no">You ancient, you free, you mountainous North
You quiet, you joyous beauty!
I greet you, loveliest land upon Earth,
𝄆 Your sun, your sky, your countryside{{efn|name=Ängd|The word ''ängd''<ref>[https://svenska.se/tre/?sok=%C3%A4ngd&pz=1 Svenska Akademiens ordböcker. Accessed 2 July 2025]</ref> is nowadays often interpreted as synonymous with 'äng' (meadow).}} green. 𝄇

You are enthroned upon memories of ancient days,
When honoured your name flew across Earth,
I know that you are, and you will be, what you were,
𝄆 Yes, I want to live, I want to die in the North. 𝄇
</poem>
|}

==== Original lyrics ====
Richard Dybeck originally wrote these lyrics, but revised them in the late 1850s to the version used today.<ref>{{cite book |title=Normal-sångbok för Svenska skolor tusendet |edition=38-39 thousandth |page=105}}</ref> The lyrics presented here also follow  archaic spelling conventions that were in use before the [[Swedish orthography#1906 spelling reform|1906 Swedish spelling reform]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mats |first=Thelander |date=2011 |title=Standardisation and Standard Language in Sweden |url=https://lanchart.hum.ku.dk/research/slice/publications-and-news-letters/publications/standard_languages/Thelander_-_Standardisation_and_Standard_Language_in_Sweden_-_p_127-133.pdf |website=University of Uppsala |access-date=2025-03-30 |archive-date=2024-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915122442/https://lanchart.hum.ku.dk/research/slice/publications-and-news-letters/publications/standard_languages/Thelander_-_Standardisation_and_Standard_Language_in_Sweden_-_p_127-133.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="6"
|+<big>Du gamla, du friska</big>
! Swedish original
!English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem lang|sv|italic="no">Du gamla, du friska, du fjellhöga Nord,
Du tysta, du glädjerika sköna!
Jag helsar dig, vänsta land uppå jord,
𝄆 Din sol, din himmel, dina ängder gröna. 𝄇

Du tronar på minnen från fornstora da'r,
Då äradt ditt namn flög öfver jorden;
Jag vet att du är och blir hvad du var,
𝄆 Ack, jag vill lefva, jag vill dö i Norden! 𝄇
</poem>
|<poem lang|en|italic="no">You ancient, you healthy, you mountainous North
You quiet, you joyous beauty!
I greet you, loveliest land upon Earth,
𝄆 Your sun, your sky, your countryside{{efn|name=Ängd}} green. 𝄇

You are enthroned upon memories of ancient days,
When honoured your name flew across Earth,
I know that you are, and you will be, what you were,
𝄆 Oh! I want to live, I want to die in the North. 𝄇
</poem>
|}

=== National minority languages ===
''Du gamla, du fria'' is sung in Swedish in official contexts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minoriteterna på Skansen |url=https://www.minoritet.se/7507 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Minoritet.se |language=sv |archive-date=2022-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703212323/https://minoritet.se/7507 |url-status=live }}</ref> however translations of the lyrics into some of Sweden's national minority languages exist.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":3" />

==== Finnish ====
''Pohjolanmaa'' ({{Lit|Nordic land}}) is the ''de facto'' [[Finnish language|Finnish]] version of the song. Originally translated by Finnish writer {{ILL|Alpo Noponen|fi}} (1862–1927),<ref name="Pohjolanmaa">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOea9DnEI2U |title="Pohjolanmaa" - National anthem of Sweden in Finnish [Sanat] + [Lyrics] |date=2024-08-25 |language=fi |access-date=2025-01-19 |via=[[YouTube]] |work=SgtMattson (translation), Alpo Noponen (original text), Ville Pirnes (performance)}}</ref> it has been used in textbooks produced by the [[National Agency for Education (Sweden)|Swedish National Agency for Education]].<ref name=":6">{{cite book |last1=Kangassalo |first1=Raija |url=https://www.skolverket.se/download/18.6bfaca41169863e6a658ea9/1553962477744/pdf2453.pdf |title=HEIPPA! 3 : Tekstikirja – Textbok (Svensk-finsk lärobok 3) |date=2010 |publisher=[[National Agency for Education (Sweden)]] (Skolverket) |isbn=9789186529079 |location=Stockholm |page=76 |language=fi |access-date=2025-01-18}}</ref> Finnish is an official [[Languages of Sweden#Recognised minority languages|''national'' ''minority language'']] in Sweden.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=National minorities and national minority languages |url=https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/english/society/social-sustainability/national-minorities-and-national-minority-languages.html#:~:text=The%20five%20national%20minorities%20in,,%20Sami,%20Me%C3%A4nkieli%20and%20Finnish. |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.lansstyrelsen.se |language=en |archive-date=2025-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115185219/https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/english/society/social-sustainability/national-minorities-and-national-minority-languages.html#:~:text=The%20five%20national%20minorities%20in,,%20Sami,%20Me%C3%A4nkieli%20and%20Finnish. |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="6"
|+<big>Pohjolanmaa</big>
! Finnish version<ref name="Otava">{{cite book |title=Työväenopiston laulukirja: nuottipainos |date=1928 |publisher=Otava |location=Helsinki}}</ref>
! English translation<ref name="Pohjolanmaa" />
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem lang|fi|italics="no">Sä jylhä ja ponteva pohjolanmaa,
sä hiljainen riemun kehto parhain,
sä armahin seutu, min kohdata saa,
𝄆 maa kukkanurmein, koskein, tähtitarhain. 𝄇

Sun muistosi suuret, sun uljahat työs
ei hukkua saata ajanvuolla;
mit’ ennen voit olla, voit vastakin myös –
𝄆 mä pohjolassa tahdon elää, kuolla. 𝄇
</poem>

|<poem lang|en|italic="no">You majestic and vigourous North,
you quiet cradle of joy, the best of them all,
you most beloved country, that one can ever meet.
𝄆 Land of flower fields, brooks, starry heavens. 𝄇

Your great memories, your grand works,
may not drown in the passage of time;
what you once were, you can be once more –
𝄆 In the North I want to live, to die. 𝄇
</poem>
|}

==== Southern Sámi ====
In 1938, [[Sveriges Radio]] recorded a [[Southern Sámi]] version of ''Du gamla, du fria'', performed by students from Skarvsjöby [[nomad school]] in [[Västerbotten]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |author1=Skarvsjöby nomadskola |date=1938 |title=Hör nationalsången på samiska! |url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/6176465 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=sverigesradio.se |publisher=[[Sveriges radio]]}}</ref> The lyrics were taken from the 1911 songbook ''Sami laulotasah – Liten lappsk och svensk sångbok'' ({{Lit|Little Lapp and Swedish songbook}}),<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://libris.kb.se/bib/3109465 |title=Liten lappsk och svensk sångbok : - Sami laulotasah |date=1911}}</ref> though the author is unknown.<ref name=":3" /> The Sámi languages have official [[Languages of Sweden#Recognised minority languages|''national'' ''minority language'']] status in Sweden.<ref name=":5" />

{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="6"
! Southern Sámi version<ref name="SMA 38 CC">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3PI8D_SAP0 |title=Sweden anthem - Saami version [CC] |date=2021-07-12 |language=sma |publisher=youtube.com |access-date=2022-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030080106/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3PI8D_SAP0 |archive-date=2022-10-30 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]] |work=TheFlagandAnthemGuy}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem lang|se|italics="no">Tån aiteki lanta tu all vari kum,
tån tjappa tån avost tievas ätnam.
Mån ätsav tu fapmokis ruodnis mietsi kum
𝄆 tu almev, tu jaurit, tu änoit. 𝄇

Tu namma li allak tu fapmo vil aj,
tu kudne kitt alme radjai kulloi.
Mån tietav att nåu tat kalka sjaddat aj.
𝄆 Mån sitav viessot, japmet ietjat lunne. 𝄇
</poem>
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Sweden}}
* [[Flag of Sweden]]
* [[National Day of Sweden]]
* [[Public holidays in Sweden]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
*{{cite journal |url=http://gustavadolfsakademien.se/files/download/documents/SvLm_2013.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://gustavadolfsakademien.se/files/download/documents/SvLm_2013.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Swedish Dialects and Folk Traditions 2013 |last=Reinhammar |first=Maj |journal=Swedish Dialects and Folk Traditions |publisher=[[Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy]] |date=2013 |access-date=31 July 2020 |issue=339 |issn=0347-1837}}

== External links ==
* {{Wikisource-inline|Du gamla, du fria}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Swedish patriotic songs}}
{{National Symbols of Sweden}}
{{Sweden topics}}
{{Anthems of Europe}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1844 songs]]
[[Category:European anthems]]
[[Category:National symbols of Sweden]]
[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Songs in Swedish]]
[[Category:Swedish patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat major]]