# Ja vi elsker dette landet

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Ja, vi elsker dette landet (or: Ja, vi elsker) is the national anthem of Norway. The lyrics were written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson between 1859 and 1868, and the melody was written by his cousin Rikard Nordraak in 1864. It was first performed publicly on May 17, 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the constitution. Usually only the first and the last two verses are sung.
    — Excerpted from Ja, vi elsker dette landet on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.

## Official lyrics

| Original language | English |
| 1. 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 drømmer på vår jord. Og den saganatt som senker drømmer på vår jord. | 1. Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, rocky, weathered, above the sea, with those thousand homes. Loving, loving it and thinking about our father and mother and the saga night that sends dreams to our earth. And the saga night that sends, sends dreams to our earth. |
| 2. Dette landet Harald berget med sin kjemperad, dette landet Håkon verget medens Øyvind kvad; Olav på det landet malte korset med sitt blod, fra dets høye Sverre talte Roma midt imot. | 2. This country Harald saved with his giant fleet, this country Håkon protected whilst Øyvind sung; upon the country Olav painted with his blood a cross, from its heights Sverre spoke up against Rome. |
| 3. Bøndene sine økser brynte hvor en hær dro frem, Tordenskiold langs kysten lynte, så det lystes hjem. Kvinner selv stod opp og strede som de vare menn; andre kunne bare grede, men det kom igjen! | 3. Farmers their axes sharpened as the army came, Tordenskiold around the coastline thundered 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! |
| 4. 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! | 4. Sure, we were not many but we were enough, when they challenged us and it was at stake; we rather let our country burn than be defeated; just remember what happened at Fredrikshald! |
| 5. 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 | 5. Hard times we have coped with, were at last disowned; but in the worst suffer, blue-eyed freedom was to us born. It gave (us) father's strength to carry famine and war, it gave death itself its honour - and it gave compromise. |
| 6. Fienden sitt våpen kastet, opp visiret for, vi med undren mot ham hastet, ti han var vår bror. Drevne frem på stand av skammen gikk vi søderpå; nu vi står tre brødre sammen, og skal sådan stå! | 6. The enemy threw away his weapon, up the visor went, we, in wonder, to him hasted, because he was our brother. Driven onto stand by the shame we went to the south; now we three brothers stand united, and shall stand like that! |
| 7. 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. | 7. Norwegian man in house and cottage, thank your great God! He would protect the country, even though it looked dark. And as the fathers have fought, and the mothers have wept, the Lord has quietly moved so we won our rights. |
| 8. 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 og seir, også vi, når det blir krevet, for dets fred slår leir. | 8. Yes, we love this country as it looms up, rocky and weathered, above the sea, with its thousand homes. And as the fathers' struggle has raised it from poverty to victory, even so will we, when demanded, for its peace to stay. |