Swedish National Anthem in Old Norse // Du gamla, du fria på fornnordiska | The Skaldic Bard

[@SkaldBard]

Here’s my translation and performance (joined by my wife in the second half) of the Swedish National Anthem, “Du gamla, du fria”, in Old Norse. While attempting to use as many related words to the original Swedish as possible, it’s not an exact word-for-word translation as I wanted to preserve the ABAB rhyming signature where possible in the translation - but the meaning of the original should be preserved. I compiled some videos to play with the music which hopefully show some of Sweden’s beauty and culture. It’s a glorious anthem with very beautiful lyrics, fitting for such a beautiful country. I’m very fond of Swedes and Sweden itself, which is a special place for me. I’ve spent quite a lot of time there over the years - and it’s where I proposed to my wife! Quite a few of my followers are Swedish, so this one's for you, mainly. I hope I’ve done it justice. Please leave a comment and like the video if you enjoyed it! You can also support me at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskaldicbard if you’d like. Many thanks. Lyrics: Þú gamla, þú frjálsa norðr fjallháva! Þú þǫgla, þú prýði gleðiríkja! Ek kveð þik, land it vænsta jǫrðu á, sól þína, himin þinn ok grǿnu engjar! Þú sitr á gjafstóli forndýrðardaga, þá er manngi gleymði mannorði þínu. Ek veit þat, at þú ert ok verðr þat, er þú varst, Já, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu! Já, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu! Ey skal ek þjóna kærum þínum lǫndum. Eið skal ek þér allt til dauðdags sverja. Rétt þinn skal ek verja, huga ok hǫndum, Fána þinn bragðríkja hátt skal ek bera. Fána þinn bragðríkja hátt skal ek bera. Með Guði veg ek fyr sakir óðala, Svíþjóðar, fóstrjarðar innar fǫgru! Í móti þér vil ek gjafir engar fá! Nei, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu! Nei, ek vil lifa ok deyja í Norðrinu!

[@JessicaJohnson-vp9mt]

I am swedish as well and yes you did the anthem song justice its very good

[@Jürgen_von_Schumacher]

Whenever I hear the swedish national anthem, I only hear Så rider jag mig. To me, Swedish is the most beautiful and enchanting of the Scandinavian languages. Sverige is a beautiful country with an angelic tongue and it breaks my heart to see it in its state. May God bless Sweden

[@RAEJDER]

Gott mit uns, meine freund. Gud är med oss, min vän.

[@nocturne7371]

Asa native Swede, thank you for liking the sound of my language.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@affe8529]

As a swede, us and germans are brothers

[@nocturne7371]

When Richard Dybeck wrote the Swedish anthem in 1844, he basically just changed the lyrics to Så Rider Jag Mig.

[@kalebthehistorian5928]

My blood boils with yearning to see the land of my ancestors. It is truly a beautiful piece you have put together. God bless, from Canada.

[@codyj.braunva5406]

Agreed. From America

[@lyrianmaximus4561]

Go there. Sweden is beautiful. You would be quite welcome.

[@zephyriic]

canada is just sweden but bigger

[@orten896]

Hey man, I'm Swedish and during a hockey match between Finland and Sweden, my dad is Fin and mom Swe, they asked me who I cheered on. I said Canada. You're more than welcome here!

[@GolAcheron-fc4ug]

Your blood boils? You’re angry?

[@anthemsofeurope2408]

Wow epic! I am of swedish heritage and it goes to my heart to see this history of Sweden with this beautiful song.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@SwedenMappingYT]

@@Fristads1337shut up

[@Fulkvidr]

I am Swedish. I just recently subscribed to your channel, and you drop this banger. Mycket bra min vän!

[@SkaldBard]

Kul att ha dig med! :-D

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@elsakristina2689]

This is beautiful. I’m not even Swedish but it’s really close to my heart, so this makes me smile and feel so proud. You even used the correct pronunciations for the Old Norse and I’m so glad that’s getting to be more understood and known about.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@SwedenMappingYT]

I am Swedish, and this brought a tear to my eye. Good job preforming, bro 🙂

[@SkaldBard]

@@SwedenMappingYT That's wholesome stuff, my friend - glad you enjoyed it

[@Gongar]

I love my country. Thank you for making this.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@nicholasjuhlin2181]

@@Fristads1337 varför så där då? tror du man bara säger skit på nätet så går man sen på riktigt skaffa ett liv utan att skiva massa skit

[@grandmarshallsteve]

God bless Sweden and may God protect it! Beautiful rendition

[@holytemplar5585]

Lucifer praise Sweden!

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Battlefang]

@@holytemplar5585 ironic coming from a user called "holy templar". but sure, Lucifer praise Sweden! (im no Luciferian, just writing it to show support)

[@kristiangg4263]

Bro thats so beutiful! I said it many times and I will say it again your voice is amazing!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you, brother

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Budda2020]

Beautiful. We need more Swedish songs sung in Old Norse.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Budda2020]

@@Fristads1337 sug min röv horunge

[@JessicaJohnson-vp9mt]

@@Fristads1337skaffa dig ett liv

[@MrOceMcCool]

@@Fristads1337 Vad är ditt problem???

[@chjc2001chjc]

Though i'm a dane, i love our swedish brothers. And this was so beautiful

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@robinlundqvist2565]

Much love to Denmark from a fellow Swede 🙏

[@napoleonicfrance1863]

Literally the best version I've ever heard 🇸🇪

[@edge6441]

Skaldic this is just so beautiful man amazing work! i love the swedish anthem it is a very melodic anthem/hymn and feels like as if i am standing at the top of a mountain everytime i hear it. Old norse version makes it feel even more original and awesome!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you for this!

[@timothymorehouse1255]

Well done this is an amazing piece and its amazing to hear it in the language we actually used to speak during viking times, love from sweden

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@jamesbatesibusquets7617]

Oh this is great. Thanks again Skaldic Bard!

[@sebastiansuteu1829]

One of the best anthems. Definetely one of my fav 3, greetings brothers from the north

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Rix.67]

​@@Fristads1337....i Fristadsbyxor eller?

[@sebastiansuteu1829]

Nigga what?​@@Fristads1337

[@icytruth6785]

WOW! This is incredible! I would really like it if you also did the anthem of Norway in Old Norse!

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Northy777.]

So true

[@Northy777.]

​@@Fristads1337🇳🇴🇳🇴😂

[@YusifTheBaldEagle]

i love this, keep your content up!

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@Gleb-Gudleifr_rus_orthodox]

How amazing! You've got a beautiful video with an alluring view in the background. The translation into Old Norse adds exceptional charm and arouses genuine interest as in all your works)

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@leornendeealdenglisc]

Absolutely amazing. Wow!

[@SkaldBard]

Many thanks, my friend :-)

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

This sounds so... Wholesome. Not in the trendy cutesy internetty sense, I mean genuinely wholesome.

[@Fristads1337]

Skit ner dig.

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

@@Fristads1337 Varför??

[@MrOceMcCool]

@@robinrehlinghaus1944 Förmodligen ett troll.

[@uberfeel]

As a Spaniard, i love this national anthem. The lyrics sounds like something out of The Lord of The Rings.

[@shar3066]

Lord of the rings took a lot of inspiration from scandinavian , swedish pagan viking culture and Beowolf take place in sweden according to some experts appaerantly.😊

[@uberfeel]

@@shar3066 you are half right.

[@lopakacooper1668]

@@uberfeel Sneaking of Tolkien, I recently learned that the word “interpretar” in Swedish is “tolk”. Is this a coincidence? Perhaps.

[@issyd2366]

Yes, but at the same time he actually had Welsh and Finnish as inspiration for the Elven languages. And Beowulf takes place in Denmark ;)@@shar3066

[@carcharoclesmegalodon6904]

Definitely more epic than the actual country.

[@AnTirKP]

I am not Swedish, and Jag har lärt mig lite Svenska. I have had the pleasure of visiting Sweden 5 times in the past couple of years, and count the weeks until I can get back there. I have learned (the first two verses) of Du Gamla du Fria, and managed to impress two members of a "certain Swedish band" I follow. Now I must learn this version! Tack så mycket, från Kanada.

[@Gleb-Gudleifr_rus_orthodox]

You are very cool at what you do, I extraordinary liked your songs. Remembering the Latin voiceover of Jorsalanam, I also remembered about the Greek language. You would do great again) Strength and joy to you)

[@Fristads1337]

Vill du suga din bot? min är fet.

[@timothymorehouse1255]

This is sung in true Swedish like how we used to talk during the Viking times

[@eh1641]

This is Old West Norse which would be what the Norwegians sounded like. Swedes and Danes spoke Old East Norse

[@SkaldBard]

There is practically no difference between them during the early/mid Old Norse period

[@orten896]

@@SkaldBard You always have these in the comments. No point in arguing with them, they'll cough up a text from nowhere which made past all the other experts on the subject.

[@francisdec1615]

Even English and German at the time were mere dialects of the same language. Someone from Sweden in the 800s could easily speak Old Norse with an Englishman or German and still be understood.

[@jandaly-ou3wf]

Truly wonderful

[@Fristads1337]

Kåt

[@viktoria.j.a.1066]

Heja Sverige!!! Heja Sveariket !!!!😍😍😍 Heja Du gamla, du fria !!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@Fristads1337]

Du hejar på en bot idiot.

[@MatthewWilliams-jj3ue]

Honestly this anthem is the most beautiful I ever heard

[@Fristads1337]

It is bullshit. It has nothing to do with Norse.

[@sebbosh]

Va nice den här var! ❤️ Går till grunden!

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

So romantic and beautiful brother 😊 your such a good lad and husband for being so considerate to your spouse 😮 Hail! Even me as a heathen/pagan I know your roots are powerful and true!

[@SkaldBard]

Hah, thank you for the kind words and support, friend

[@haroldgōdwinessunu]

Just a question, how did you come to adopt the older ways of the North, I'm just wondering.

[@Fristads1337]

Why are you commenting a bot?

[@richardbitencourt2325]

Very good this song.

[@Fristads1337]

Very good horney

[@sammuhho8632]

Glad Nationaldagen till mina Svensk vänner!!!

[@Fristads1337]

Ännu en kuksugare till bot.

[@Statix-]

Question. How did you learn fornnordiska and yngre fornsvenska? It is really cool that you can speak it! Greatly performed!

[@AnulaibazIV]

This is Old West Norse.

[@Statix-]

@@AnulaibazIV this is old west norse, correct, but he has another song in yngre fornsvenska

[@SkaldBard]

Hey there, thanks. It's been years of reading and study, including 4 years of university, living in Iceland, and working with both modern and mediaeval Norse in my job :-)

[@sturlamolden]

The translation is to Old West Norse (Old Icelandic) but the language spoken in Sweden was Old East Norse.

[@Fristads1337]

Du är ute och cyklar.

[@foroyskkt]

Great!

[@jack_themansv4944]

Vad vackert!!

[@Fristads1337]

Jag är kåt.

[@jack_themansv4944]

@@Fristads1337 Vad är en kåt?

[@Trotsky.-.83_years_ago_-_and]

I only got a B in my course, but this makes me feel better. thanks

[@ambianceghosthunting1073]

This will be play when i die! Absolutely beautiful❤

[@AHHR9]

Wow. I got goosebumps in the end. Tack från Sverige! On a sidenote. Do you have some books you would recommend for a Swedish speaker to learn more about Old Norse and Old Swedish languages?

[@Fristads1337]

Jaha va bra idiot.

[@ArgaAnders]

Takk fyr Góðar kveðjur!

[@hhattonaom9729]

so good

[@NamelessMF1658]

Hel unnebar å hôrre på, Sô himmle vakkert Mä vänlíe hälsningar ifrå Bohuslän

[@Gongar]

My man skriver på bohuslänska, based and West-Swede pilled.

[@NamelessMF1658]

@@Gongar Sô sanne ol Väst Sverige = Bäst Sverige

[@Fristads1337]

Visst jag kan knulla dig på bohusländska om du vill.

[@LAC03098]

God bless

[@haroldgōdwinessunu]

bros a unionist 💀

[@Northy777.]

Beutiful

[@hhattonaom9729]

badass

[@George-c2s7e]

Jättebra

[@SkaldBard]

谢谢你，朋友

[@Bufkey]

Speaking of swedes, is there a chance to see a song about Rurik, the founder of the mighty Rurikid dynasty?

[@SkaldBard]

Yep, definitely on the cards, hopefully before the end of the year

[@Bufkey]

@@SkaldBard Awesome. As a little suggestion the song could have a transition towards east slavic near the end, to symbolise the dynasty's assimlation into eastern slavic culture. Just an idea tho, do your thing how you know best, and keep up the good work 💪

[@servantofaeie1569]

Can you do the Star Spangled Banner in Eald Ænglisc?

[@Fristads1337]

You are talking to a bot.

[@ThatRandomGiy]

Jag är svensk

[@goliatoco]

God bless sweden mins bröder 🇸🇪

[@vikinglife3983]

Hvornår for vi "Der Er Et Yndigt Land"?

[@Fristads1337]

Är du dum eller? Danskjävel?

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

Som regel må du lage "Ja vi elsker dette landet" på gammel Norsk.

[@SkaldBard]

Ja, det må jeg! ;-)

[@АлександрСмолин-ч2ъ]

I am Russian and i respect Swedish history and culture. Vacker sång

[@rhaut_emuzier1355]

Ska vara ärlig. Detta fällde några tårar

[@BansaiiBerserker]

The best part of our Swedish national anthem is that it says "I want to live, I want to die in the north/nordic region" and most of us feel that way, As we do like our nordic neighbours more than any other countries (Even arvsfienden "the inherited enemy" Denmark, Just don't tell them that we actually like them -Joke) And if we had to pick another country to live in, Most of us would pick one of our nordic neighbours , As it does still feel sort of like home in weird way, As culturally we are not that different.

[@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105]

That's not what the lyrics mean. "I want to live, I want to die in the North" means that Sweden is the symbol of the North. Not that all Nordic countries are the same or equal.

[@BansaiiBerserker]

​@@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105 It came to you in a dream.

[@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105]

@@BansaiiBerserker Try going to a football game and ask Danish or Finnish fans to sing about "living in the North" and see how that works out for you.

[@reboxtherapy]

Þhor would be proud

[@jeryndavelauan2453]

congratulations to Sweden, you're now the 32nd member of Nato 🇸🇪 För Oden, För kungen och För Sverige - i tiden!

[@frankschmidt2303]

Sweden the land of Frej

[@JustLooking]

@@frankschmidt2303 : Yngve-Frej vare hedrad och lovad, världens och Svithjods gud, som leder mig till sin forna boning och låter mig vistas i sitt land. 🧝‍♀🐗☀🇸🇪

[@MonsieurWeevil]

I'd love to hear "It Heitelân" in Old Frisian.

[@zjoberg]

Nästan isländska.

[@juniorezequielduranreynoso946]

Deyja ok síðan ata í Valhøll

[@Fristads1337]

pfff...

[@MagnussonWilliams]

Primero

[@vincentL.7]

This is old west norse, so not what was spoken in sweden, but still cool though

[@TheMarcusnordberg]

First verse is ay okay but the rest is not our national anthem. We never speak of God, fatherland, serve the land or defend it. Nor do we love the falg or swear to defend it. We would exchange it for treasure! Proven over and over again. But with that said "nay, I will live and I will die in The North!

[@Fristads1337]

Is this an AI trying to simulate old norse? Maybe take a few lessons from Icelandic people?? They speak the closest of norse.

[@renanschimuneck9369]

The anthem of Sweden is beauty on its simple verses. Unfortunately for christianity Sweden only contributed for the worst with nasty figures such as Gustavus Adolphus and other protestant kings that troubled Russia and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

[@Gunnlaug-ormstungu]

But let's not forget great figures like Binger Jarl, Saint Éric and Saint Brigid!

[@2121gul]

Vatniks

[@Fristads1337]

@@Gunnlaug-ormstungu How about swedish-suck-alot?

[@MrOceMcCool]

Won't somebody think of the poor Russians... 😐

[@theman0534]

swedistan caliphate anthem?

[@JessicaJohnson-vp9mt]

Shut up

[@niklassvensson1566]

idjit

[@Hacker12333]

Nice one. Greetings from Ukraine, yeah.