Hans Christian Andersen: 'Kjøbenhavn, Du livsglade By'

 

A smash hit from Hans Christian Lumbye in 1845

Kjøbenhavn, Du livsglade By

1875

 

Kjøbenhavn, Du livsglade By,

Gammel og dog saa ung og saa ny!

Ingen kan bedre end Du vise frem

Mangt et velsignet, hyggeligt Hjem.

Holbergs Scene Du reiste igjen,

Du har en Guldskat i Thorvaldsen;

Du giver læsning fra Kæmpegraven,

Oldtid ristet i Runestaven.

 

Midt i Vinteren ruller Du op

Karneval med Champagne-Galop! 

Damer og Herrer i Vinter-Svøb; 

Fryde sig ude ved Skøjteløb;

Træernes Grene, med Sne belagt,

Ligne Koraller fra Havdybet bragt. B

jælderne klinge, og Kanetoget

Flyver forbi, saa lystigt og broget.

 

Lærke, Skovmærke forkynder os Vaar;

Da Du det dejligste Skue faar:

Ude i Øresund glide forbi

Hundredvis Skibe, et helt Trylleri.

Og i Sommeren, brændende tør,

Har Du en kølig Park ved din Dør,

Tivoli, der kan Du rigtig more

Unge og Gamle, de Smaa og de Store.

 

Kjøbenhavn med det glade Humeur,

Gud holde ved, at det aldrig døer!

Kongestad, Danmarks Hjerte og Skjold,

Alt, hvad Dansk er, være din Vold!

Sammenhold, Snille og Dygtighed

Være dit Mærke, være dit Meed;

Kjøbenhavn, ved Vinter og Sommer,

Hjerteby for alt Godt, hvad kommer!

 

 

Copenhagen, you city so gay

1875

 

Copenhagen, you city so gay,

So old, yet so young and new today!

No one can better than you put on show

Many a cosy warm home, row on row.

Holberg’s plays you’ve revived once again,

You have a treasure in Thorvaldsen;

You offer reading from ancient graves,

Written in runes on Viking staves. 

 

While it’s still winter you bring us non-stop

Your Carnival – champagne gallop’s loud pop!

Ladies and gents, clad in furs in a trice

Like to go skating while there is still ice.

All the trees’ branches, covered in snow

Look just like corals brought up from below.

Bells are a-jingle, processions of sleighs

Keep flying past us, in motley arrays.

 

Small larks and woodruff announce spring is near;

Now a fine spectacle’s sure to appear:

You can see gliding out there on the Sound

Hundreds of ships, it will leave you spell-bound.

And when it’s summer, and scorchingly dry,

You have when at home a cool park just nearby.

Tivoli’s where there’s amusement galore

For both young and old there is plenty in store.

 

Dear Copenhagen, so gay and so spry,

May God ensure that you never will die!

Royal city, you are Denmark’s heart and shield,

All that’s most Danish may you ne’er yield!

May unity, skill and dexterity

Be your hallmarks and personality;

Copenhagen in winter and summer,

Heart’s city for each and every newcomer!

 

 

The champagne gallop is as popular in Denmark as Land of Hope and Glory at the last night of the proms in England.  Here's a live recording