Hans Christian Andersen: 'Den Frivillige' (1848)

 

Den Frivillige

 

Mel. Saa kjæmped de Helte.

 

Jeg kan ikke blive, jeg har ingen Ro,

Jeg maa med de andre til Leiren!

Vor Sag er retfærdig, og Gud tør vi troe

:/: Er med os, han giver os Seiren. :/:

 

Aarhundreder Danmark var mægtigt og stort,

Men saa blev der plukket og plukket.

Nu skal de ei gjøre, hvad før de har gjort,

:/: For længe har Danmark nu sukket. :/:

 

De kan overvælde vort lille Land,

Men rokke ei Mod eller Villie.

Thi nu slaae vi alle til yderste Mand,

:/: Vort Skjold er saa reent som en Lilie. :/:

 

Jeg føler mig stærk, og jeg kan holde ud!

Tak Moder, Du vil, jeg maa stride.

Med mig er din Tanke og med mig er Gud,

:/: Hvad troer du din Søn da kan lide. :/:

 

Farvel Allesammen! Jeg har ingen Ro,

Jeg maa med de Andre til Leiren.

Vor Sag er retfærdig, og Gud tør vi troe

:/: Er med os, han giver os Seiren. :/:

 

 

The Volunteer

 

Mel. Thus fought the heroes.

 

I cannot remain here, to set out I must

And join up with those in the army !

Our cause it is just, in God do we trust,

:/: Our victory’s sure, nought can harm me. :/:

 

For hundreds of years, our Denmark was great,

Since then though by foes it’s been plundered.

They shall not repeat what they’ve done to date,

:/: Too long it for glory has hungered :/:

 

And should they take now what’s left of our land,

Our courage and will shall shall not waver.

This time we shall fight to the very last man,

:/: Our shield and our sword they shall savour. :/:

 

I feel I am strong, that I shall not yield!

Am glad Mother Denmark accepts me.

With you in my thoughts and God as my shield,

:/: I have all I need to protect me. :/:

 

Farewell to you all! To set out I must

And join up with those in the army !

Our cause it is just, in God do we trust,

:/: Our victory’s sure, nought can harm me. :/:

 

 

Andersen responded almost immediately to the outbreak of hostilities with this song. It first appeared in ‘Fædrelandet’ on 21 April 1848. It became quite popular, but was overshadowed by ‘In Denmark I was born’, which has almost become a second national anthem. This song was written at a pivotal time in Denmark’s history, but does not have much literary value.