There is a festive parade going throughout the country
(A free translation by Don Berg)

1. There is a festive parade going throughout the country!
In city and valley, by mountains and fjords.
We wave the flag proudly for Norway,
with cries of hurrah from south to north.
Chorus:
We are marching and we are singing songs in red, white, and blue.
We feel the rhythm of freedom in the body, filled with joy for our country.

2. That great day we will celebrate.
Now the melody of thanks is heard,
which soars rhythmically up from the people,
From us who desire a democracy.
Chorus:

3. Seventeenth of May.  Now spring rejoices!
The nation decorates itself for the fest.
Walk together!  Cherish forth the values so that all may prosper.
Then we have it best.
Chorus:

4. There is a festive parade through time
where generations have set down deep roots.
By their own choice, they gave us a future.
See, our roots sprout and grow.
Chorus:

The Great White Flock
Norwegian folk tune, 17th century
Arranged by Edvard Grieg

The great white flock we see
Like thousands of mountains full of snow
with forests around of swinging palm trees
before the throne.  Who are they?

They are the host of heroes,
Who from the great tribulation came
And who have washed themselves
In the Lamb’s blood for heaven’s holiness.

They keep on church-going,
With unceasing song of jubilation
In the high choir where God dwells
In the midst of all the angels’ song.

Halfdan Kjerulf

Hark! the vesper hymn is stealing
o’er the waters soft and clear;
nearer yet and nearer pealing
and now bursts upon the ear:
Jubilate amen!
Farther now, now farther stealing
soft it fades upon the ear:
Jubilate amen!

Now like moonlight waves retreating
to the shore, it dies along;
now like angry surges meeting
breaks the mingled tide of song:
Jubilate amen!
Hush! again, like waves retreating
to the shore, it dies along:
Jubilate amen!

Hail to Thee, Norway
Peer Sivle

Hail to Thee, Norway!  Norway, our father’s land.
They glory is ours, thy justice is ours today.
Hail to Thee Norway!  Norway, our father’s land.
Honored, Thou shall be seated in the people’s council.
Hail to Thee Norway!  Norway, our father’s land.

Out to the Sea
Edvard Fliflet Braein

She stands there on shore, now lifts her hand,
and waves and smiles as I go out.
And my boat sails along the beach,
and she stands alone with sadness and longing.

I know that I have longings in my heart
but the boat pulls me away, so I must leave.
For now that I head toward rocks and islets
my thoughts are of home and the one I love.

I sure can have my sad moments
in loneliness here on an endless sea,
but the days go by, yes they are like a miracle,
when my wandering thoughts go to my dear.

If the days are gray and the nights are black,
I am here and humming a song in my heart,
to her at home my thoughts are drawn
to the one who smiles the day I return.

(translated by David Judisch and Kari Grønningsæter)

We Want a Nation for Ourselves

We want for ourselves a nation that is saved and free,
(we) must not take its freedom for granted.
We want for ourselves a nation that is mine and yours,
and this our nation is called Norway.
And if we do not have this land yet,
then we shall win it, you and I.
We want for ourselves a nation that is mine and yours,
and this our nation is called Norway.

(Per Sivle wrote this in 1894 as a battle-poem for the campaign by the
Venstre party for the universal right to vote. Sinding composed the music
and it was first performed in 1897 in Christiania. It was much used during
the years leading up to the dissolution of the Union with Sweden in 1905.)

Beautiful Cloud
C.A.Brolén

Beautiful cloud, which processes across the wide blue (sky),
Where shall you, I ask, where shall you get peace and rest?
Beautiful cloud, which processes across the wide blue (sky).
Where? Where? Where shall you find peace and rest?

Beautiful mirage of the air, shall you entirely perish?
Shall nothing of our beauty remain?
Beautiful mirage, shall nothing, nothing, nothing of your beauty remain?
Beautiful cloud, beautiful cloud.

Sons of Norway
Christian Blom
The Previous National Anthem of Norway

1. Sons of Norway, the ancient kingdom, sing to the harps the festive sounds!
Manly and full of solemnity let the music rise!
Our song consecrates the ancestral land.
Memories of ancestors gloriously come back every time we mention our ancestral roots.
Hearts swelling with pride and glowing cheeks hail the beloved, the sacred name.

2. Ancient past, you disappeared but your holy flame blazes still in the Northman’s heart.
One is by family and by power the same. One stands for freedom and the memory of its fame.
And whenever he chants Norway’s glory, his heart swells with pride and desire.
Even the most lovely places of the South are nothing to him in contrast with Norway’s snow covered coast.

Edvard Grieg

Solo: The Norwegian people will travel, they will bring power to others!
The battle’s sword casts a reflection. The people’s labor increases the glory.
When we came from the Jorsal parade, all the song’s beacon lights were lit
and our youth stood around the fire and it illuminated far on the land.

I. Norrønafolket (The Norwegian People of the Viking Period)
Choir: The Norwegian people will travel; they will bring power to others!
The battle’s sword casts a reflection. The people’s labor increases the glory.
The people’s work increases the glory.

II. Kongekvadet (The King Ballad)
Choir: Hail to thee, heirs of Harald’s tribe, hail to thee, bold brothers of the king,
one with the beautiful advantage of peace, one with the victor’s crown of battle.
Norway’s past, Norway’s future are joined in the handshake of the two.
Hail to thee, bold brothers of the king. Hail to thee! Hail to thee! Hail to thee! Hail!

Solo: From noble deeds that are not revived (kept alive)
rust is brought on the will of the people;
the glory must be eternally young, the glory must be eternally young.
Only in struggle is it brought forth (born).

Therefore, on dragon-wings again the Norwegian heroes go over the ocean,
over the doubt, toward the great goals (greatness) in the distance.

Norwegian Folktune
arr. Trond Dahlen

Per Fiddler, he had but the one only cow,
He traded his cow for a fiddle right now,
“My good, old, tuneful violin, my violin, my violin!”

Per Fiddler then on with his fidd’ling he kept
The boys kept on dancing, the girls they just wept
“My good, old, tuneful violin, my violin, my violin!”

And if I get as old as the moss on the tree
No swapping of fiddle and cattle for me
“My good, old tuneful violin, my violin, my violin!”

(Translation from the “Sons of Norway Song Book”)

Halfdan Kjerulf

Norway’s oldest Forts and boldest
Are its mountains high
Dismal death there burrows
Deep in rocky furrows.
Beacons shining, Tops defining,
Day and night espy.
And no fighting He is sighting
Put the gun away.
You who went bear hunting
Deck your hut with bunting
Valiant hunstman
Lift your cup to Hills and Liberty.

(English by Torgeir Edland)

Alfred Paulsen

Norway, my Norway, securely asleep,
In winter’s bright halls now reposing.
Your dreams are so pleasant, your slumber so sweet,
When rivers and streamlets are closing,
And no one can rest so serenely in peace.
When songs birds are silent, And even the trees,
In wint’ry garments in wint’ry garments are dozing.

Norway, my Norway! Let springtime appear
With sunshine and warmth for the meadows;
But hear me, oh, hear me: when evening draws near
With coolness and lengthening shadows.
Oh Norway! Then teach me to wither and die,
And grant in your hallowed ground I may lie,
When summer and life are departing.

(Translation by O.T. Arneson)