The lyrics were written by between 1859 and 1868, and the melody was written by his cousin sometime during the winter of 1863-1864. It was first performed publicly on 17 May 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the. Usually only the first and the last two verses are sung. Ja, vi elsker English: Yes, we love National anthem of Lyrics , 1859-1868 Music , 1864 Adopted 1864 Audio sample Main article: Until the mid-1860s, the older anthems and were commonly regarded as the Norwegian national anthems, with Sønner av Norge being most recognised. Ja, vi elsker dette landet gradually came to be recognised as a national anthem from the mid-1860s. Until the early 20th century, however, both Sønner av Norge and Ja, vi elsker were used alongside, with Sønner av Norge being preferred in official situations. Written has since then been altered in a series of orthographic reforms intended to distinguish it from Danish and bring it closer to spoken Norwegian. The text below, and commonly in use today, is identical to Bjørnson's original in using the same words, but with modernised spelling and punctuation. The most sung verses, 1, 7 and 8, have been modernised most and have several variations in existence. For example, Bjørnson originally wrote «drømme på vor jord», which some sources today write as «drømme på v år jord», while others write «drømme r på v år jord». These words are written in italics in the Norwegian lyrics below. The first verse is written down in full as an example. Ja, vi elsker dette landet The three commonly used stanzas of Ja, vi elsker were translated into English long ago. The name of the translator is seldom mentioned in printed versions of the English text. It has so far not been possible to identify the person responsible or to ascertain when it was translated. But the following versions of stanzas 1, 7, and 8 are well known and often sung by descendants of Norwegian immigrants to the. Its popularity and familiarity among Norwegian-Americans seems to indicate that it has been around for a long time, certainly since before the middle of the 20th century, and possibly much earlier. 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. Metrical versions Two alternative metrical version are also in existence. The second version follows the original closely, and was learnt by heart by a Norwegian who did not know the name of the translator. Two small changes in this text has been done in the version, which is presented here. Verse 2, which is seldom sung, has been omitted, and the last two lines in each verse are repeated, in the same way as we sing it in Norwegian. Norway, thine is our devotion, Land of hearth and home, Rising storm-scarr'd from the ocean, Where the breakers foam. Oft to thee our thoughts are wending, Land that gave us birth, And to saga nights still sending Dreams upon our earth, And to saga nights still sending Dreams upon us on our earth Men of Norway, be your dwelling Cottage, house or farm, Praise the Lord who all compelling Sav'd our land from harm. Not the valour of a father On the battlefield Nor a mother's tears, but rather God our vict'ry sealed, Nor a mother's tears, but rather God for us our vict'ry sealed. Norway, thine is our devotion, Land of hearth and home, Rising storm-scarr'd from the ocean, Where the breakers foam. As our fathers' vict'ry gave it Peace for one and all, We shall rally, too, to save it When we hear the call, We shall rally, too, to save it When we hear, we hear the call. Yes, we love this land arising Stormbeat o'er the sea With its thousand homes, enticing, Rugged though it be. Love it, love it, not forgetting Those we owe our birth, Nor that night of saga letting Down its dreams to earth, Nor that night of saga letting Down its dreams, its dreams, to earth. Norseman, where thou dwellest, render Praise and thanks to Him, Who has been this land's defender, When its hopes looked dim. Wars our fathers' aims unfolded, Tears our mothers shed, Roads of them for us He molded, To our rights they led. Roads of them for us He molded, To our rights, our rights, they led. Yes, we love this land arising Stormbeat o'er the sea With its thousand homes, enticing, Rugged though it be. Like our fathers who succeeded, Warring for release, So will we, whenever needed, Rally for its peace. So will we, whenever needed, Rally for its peace, its peace. However, following the divisive international events of the spring of 1864 where the was coldly shattered, Bjørnson went from being a monarchist to republicanism, and the tribute to the reigning sovereign was stricken from the song. The lyrics that were taken out were: Kongen selv står stærk og åpen som vår Grænsevagt og hans allerbedste Våpen er vår Broderpagt. In English this reads: The King himself stands strong and open As our border guard and his most powerful weapon is our brethren pact. This happened when German troops in February 1864. None of the alliance partners came to the rescue of Denmark. A postcard from around the time of the. In 1905 the was after many years of Norwegian struggle for equality between the two states, as stipulated in the 1815 Act of Union. The unilateral declaration by the Norwegian of the union's dissolution 7 June provoked strong Swedish reactions, bringing the two nations to the brink of war in the autumn. In Sweden, pro-war conservatives were opposed by the Social Democrats, whose leaders and spoke out for reconciliation and a peaceful settlement with Norway. During , the anthem was used both by the Norwegian resistance and the collaborators, the latter group mainly for propaganda reasons. Eventually, the German occupiers officially forbade any use of the anthem. In May 2006, the multicultural newspaper proposed that the national anthem be translated into , the native language of the most numerous group of recent immigrants to Norway. The editor's idea was that people from other ethnic groups should be able to honour their adopted country with devotion, even if they were not fluent in Norwegian. One proponent of translating the anthem received batches of hate-mail calling her a traitor and threatening her with decapitation. Sange og digte paa dansk og engelsk.
