Ja, vi elsker dette landet

"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (say: YAH vee EL-sker DET-tə LAHN-nə, meaning "Yes, we love this country") is the national anthem of Norway. Before it became the country's anthem, it was a patriotic song written in 1859 by a Norwegian writer named Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.^[1] His cousin Rikard Nordraak set his lyrics to music in 1863. Until 2017, it had been an unofficial anthem of Norway, alongside "Sønner av Norge" and "Norges Skaal".^[2]

Ja, vi elsker dette landet

English: 'Yes, we love this country'
National anthem of  Norway
Lyrics	Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Music	Rikard Nordraak
Adopted	1864 (de facto) 2019 (de jure)

Lyrics

This song has eight verses in total. However, only the first, seventh and eighth verses (highlighted in bold) are used for the national anthem.

Norwegian original

Words of the song in Norwegian	Words of the song when it was first printed	Pronunciation of these words using the IPA	Meaning of the song in Simple English
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 som senker drømme på vår jord. 𝄇 Norske mann i hus og hytte, takk din store Gud! Landet ville han beskytte, skjønt det mørkt så ud. Alt hvad fedrene har kjempet, mødrene har grett, 𝄆 har den Herre stille lempet, så vi 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, for dets fred slår leir. 𝄇 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 som hendte ned på Fredrikshald! 𝄇 Hårde tider har vi døyet, ble til sist forstøtt; men i verste nød blåøyet frihet ble oss født. Det gav faderkraft å bære hungersnød og krig, 𝄆 det gav døden selv sin ære — og det 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, og skal sådan 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, så vi 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, for dets fred slår leir. 𝄇[3]	Ja, vi elsker dette Landet, som det stiger frem furet, vejrbidt over Vandet med de tusind Hjem. Elsker, elsker det og tænker paa vor Far og Mor 𝄆 og den Saganat, som sænker Drømme paa vor Jord. 𝄇 Norske Mand i Hus og Hytte, tak din store Gud! landet vilde han beskytte, skønt det mørkt saa ud. Alt, hvad Fædrene har kjæmpet, Mødrene har grædt, 𝄆 har den Herre stille læmpet, saa vi vant vor Ret. 𝄇 Ja, vi elsker dette Landet, som det stiger frem furet, vejrbidt over Vandet med de tusind Hjem. Og som Fædres Kamp har hævet det af Nød til Sejr, 𝄆 ogsaa vi, naar det blir krævet, for dets Fred slaar Lejr. 𝄇 Vistnok var vi ikke mange; men vi strak dog til, da vi prøvdes nogle Gange, og det stod paa Spil; thi vi heller Landet brændte, end det kom til Fald; 𝄆 husker bare, hvad som hændte ned paa Fredrikshald! 𝄇 Haarde Tider har vi døjet, blev tilsidst forstødt; men i værste Nød blaaøjet Frihed blev os født. Det gav Faderkraft at bære Hungersnød og Krig 𝄆 det gav Døden selv sin Ære – og det gav Forlig. 𝄇 Fienden sit Vaaben kasted, op Visiret foer, vi med Undren mod ham hasted; thi han var vor Bror. Drevne frem paastand af Skammen gik vi søderpaa; 𝄆 nu vi staar tre Brødre sammen og skal saadan staa! 𝄇 Norske Mand i Hus og Hytte, tak din store Gud! landet vilde han beskytte, skønt det mørkt saa ud. Alt, hvad Fædrene har kjæmpet, Mødrene har grædt, 𝄆 har den Herre stille læmpet, saa vi vant vor Ret. 𝄇 Ja, vi elsker dette Landet, som det stiger frem furet, vejrbidt over Vandet med de tusind Hjem. Og som Fædres Kamp har hævet det af Nød til Sejr, 𝄆 ogsaa vi, naar det blir krævet, for dets Fred slaar Lejr. 𝄇[4]	[jɑː ʋiː ˈɛ̂l.skɛ̠r ˈdɛ̂t.tə ˈlɑ̂n.nə] [sɔm deː ˈstîː.ɡɛ̠r frɛm] [ˈfʉ̂ː.rɛt ˈʋæːr.bɪtː ˈoː.ʋɛ̠r ˈʋɑ̂n.nə] [meː diː ˈtʉː.sən jɛm] [ˈɛ̂l.skɛ̠r ˈɛ̂l.skɛ̠r deː ɔ ˈtɛ̂ŋ.kɛ̠r] [poː ʋoːr fɑːr ɔ muːr] 𝄆 [ɔ dɛn ˈsɑː.ɡɑ.nɑtː sɔm ˈsɛ̂ŋ.kɛ̠r] [ˈdrœm.mə(r) poː ʋoːr juːr] 𝄇 [ˈdɛ̂t.tə ˈlɑ̂n.nə ˈhɑː.rɑld ˈbæ̂ɾ.ɡɛ̠t] [meː sɪn ˈçɛm.pə.rɑːd] [ˈdɛ̂t.tə ˈlɑ̂n.nə ˈhoː.kʊn 'ʋæ̂ɾ.ɡɛ̠t] [ˈmeː.dɛ̠ns ˈœʏ̯.ʋɪn(d) kʋɑːd] [ˈuː.lɑʋ poː deː ˈlɑ̂n.nə ˈmɑː.lət] [ˈkɔ.ʂə meː sɪtː bluː] 𝄆 [frɑː dɛts ˈhœ.jə ˈsʋæ.rə ˈtɑː.lət] [ˈruː.mɑ mɪtː ɪ.ˈmuːd] 𝄇 [ˈbœ̀n.nər ˈsiː.nə ˈœk.sər ˈbryn.tə] [vur eːn hæːr druː frɛm] [ˈtur.dən.ʂɔl lɑŋs ˈçys.tən ˈlyn.tə] [sɔː dɛn ˈlys.təs jɛm] [ˈkʋɪn.nər sɛl stuː ɔpː ɔ ˈstreː.də] [sɔm diː ˈʋɑː.rə mɛnː] 𝄆 [ˈɑn.dre ˈkʉn.nə ˈbɑː.rə ˈgreː.də] [mɛn deː kɔm ɪ.ˈjɛn] 𝄇 [ˈʋɪst.nɔk ʋɑːr ʋiː ˈɪ̂k.kə ˈmɑŋ.ə] [mɛn ʋiː strɑk doːɡ tɪl] [dɑː ʋiː ˈprœʋ.dəs ˈnuː.ən ˈgɑŋ.ə] [ɔ deː stuː poː spɪl] [tiː ʋiː ˈhɛl.lər ˈlɑ̂n.nə ˈbrɛn.tə] [ɛnː deː kɔm tɪl fɑlː] 𝄆 [ˈhʉs.kɛ̠r ˈbɑː.rə ʋɑː sɔm ˈhɛn.tə] [neː(d) poː ˈfrɛd.rɪks.hɑld] 𝄇 [ˈhoːr.də ˈtiː.dər hɑːr ʋiː ˈdœʏ̯.ət] [bleː tɪl sɪst ˈfɔʂ.tœt] [mɛn iː ˈʋæ̂ʂː.tə nœːd ˈbloː.œʏ̯.ət] [ˈfriː.heːt bleː ɔsː fœtː] [deː ɡɑːʋ ˈfɑ̂ː.dɛ̠r.krɑft ɔː ˈbæː.rə] [ˈhuŋ.əʂ.nœːd ɔ kriːɡ] 𝄆 [deː ɡɑːʋ dœː.dən sɛl sɪn ˈæː.rə] [ɔ deː ɡɑːʋ fɔrː.ˈliːk] 𝄇 [ˈfîː.ɛn.dən sɪtː ˈʋoː.pən ˈkɑs.tət] [ɔpː ʋɪ.ˈsiː.rə fuːr] [ʋiː meː ˈʉnd.reːn muːt hɑm ˈhɑs.tət] [tiː hɑn ʋɑːr ʋoːr bruːr] [ˈdreːʋ.nə frɛm poː stɑnː ɑːʋ ˈskɑm.mən] [gɪk ʋiː sœː.dər.poː] 𝄆 [noː stoːr ʋiː treː ˈbrœd.rə ˈsɑm.mən] [ɔ skal ˈsɔː.dɑn stoː] 𝄇 [ˈnɔʂ.kɛ̠ mɑnː iː hʉːs ɔ ˈhŷt.tə] [tɑk dɪn stuː.rə ɡʉːd] [ˈlɑ̂n.nə ˈʋɪl.lə hɑnː bɛ.ˈʂyt.tə] [ʂœnːt deː mœrkt sɔː ʉːt] [ɑlt ʋɑː ˈfeːd.rə.nə hɑːr ˈçɛm.pət] [mœd.rə.nə hɑːr ɡrɛtː] 𝄆 [hɑːr dɛn ˈhæ.rə ˈstɪ̂l.lə ˈlɛm.pət] [sɔː ʋiː ʋɑnt ʋoːr rɛtː] 𝄇 [jɑː ʋiː ˈɛ̂l.skɛ̠r ˈdɛ̂t.tə ˈlɑ̂n.nə] [sɔm deː ˈstîː.ɡɛ̠r frɛm] [ˈfʉ̂ː.rɛt ˈʋæːr.bɪtː ˈoː.ʋɛ̠r ˈʋɑ̂n.nə] [meː diː ˈtʉː.sən jɛm] [ɔ sɔm ˈfeːd.rɛ̠s kɑmp hɑːr ˈheː.ʋət] [deː ɑːʋ nœːd tɪl sæɪ̯r] 𝄆 [ɔ.sɔː ʋiː nor deː blɪr ˈkreː.ʋət] [fɔrː dɛts freːd ʂloːr læɪ̯r] 𝄇	Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, hilly, worn by weather, over the water, with the thousands of homes, — love, love it and think of our father and mother 𝄆 and the night of the saga that lays dreams upon our earth. 𝄇 This country Harald united with his army of heroes, this country Håkon protected while Øyvind sung; upon the country that Olav painted with his blood the cross, 𝄆 from its heights Sverre spoke against Rome. 𝄇 Farmers made their axes sharper wherever an army came forward, Tordenskjold moved roughly along the coast 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 risky; we would rather burn our land than to be defeated; 𝄆 just remember what happened down at Fredrikshald! 𝄇 We have dealt with hard times, were at last no longer acknowledged; but in the worst pain, blue-eyed freedom was born to us. It gave us our father's strength to carry starvation and war, 𝄆 it gave death itself its honour – and it gave us peace. 𝄇 The enemy threw away his weapon, a part of his helmet went up, we, in wonder, to him stepped up, because he was our brother. Driven 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! He wanted to protect the country, although things looked dark. All the fights that our fathers have fought, and the mothers have cried, 𝄆 the Lord has quietly eased so we won our rights. 𝄇 Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, hilly, worn by weather, over the water, with the thousands of homes. And as the fathers' struggle has raised it from need to victory, 𝄆 even we, when it's demanded, will make a camp for its peace. 𝄇

English version

An English recording of the song, based on the first, seventh and eighth stanzas, was popular among Norwegian Americans sometime in the 1900s.

Yes, we love with fond devotion
This our land that looms
Rugged, storm-scarred o'er the ocean
With her thousand homes.
Love her, in our love recalling
Those who gave us birth.
𝄆 And old tales which night, in falling,
Brings as dreams to earth. 𝄇

Norseman, whatsoe'er thy station,
Thank thy God whose power
willed and wrought the land's salvation
In her darkest hour.
All our mothers sought with weeping
And our sires in fight,
𝄆 God has fashioned in His keeping
Till we gained our right. 𝄇

Yes, we love with fond devotion
This our land that looms
Rugged, storm-scarred o'er the ocean
With her thousand homes.
And, as warrior sires have made her
Wealth and fame increase,
𝄆 At the call we too will aid her
Armed to guard her peace. 𝄇^[5]

Controversies

Norwegian independence

In 1905, the Union between Sweden and Norway was broken apart after many years of Norwegian struggle for equality between the two states. The declaration of independence by Norway made Sweden really angry, bringing both of them to the brink of war. In Sweden, pro-war conservatives were opposed by the Social Democrats, whose leaders Hjalmar Branting and Zeth Höglund spoke out for a peaceful settlement with Norway. Swedish socialists sang "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" to show their support for Norway leaving the Union.

Nazi occupation

During the Second World War, the anthem was used both by the Norwegian resistance and the Nazi collaborators. When the Nazis took control of Norway, they did not let anyone play this anthem.

Urdu translation

In May 2006, a newspaper proposed that the national anthem be translated into Urdu, since there are a lot of Pakistani immigrants in Norway.^[6] The editor's idea was that people from other ethnic groups should be able to honour their adopted country with devotion, even if they're not fluent in Norwegian. This was, however, met with criticism.^[7] Someone even sent a bunch of hate mail to the editor, calling her a traitor and threatening her with decapitation.^[8]