Royal Anthem of Denmark - Kong Christian (Instrumental)

Danmarks Nationalsang - Kong Kristian Stod ved Højen Mast

(Danish Lyrics / Danske Sangtekster)
Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast
i røg og damp;
hans værge hamrede så fast,
at gotens hjelm og hjerte brast.
Da sank hvert fjendtligt spejl og mast
i røg og damp.
Fly, skreg de, fly, hvad flygte kan!
hvo står for Danmarks Kristian
hvo står for Danmarks Kristian
i kamp?

Niels Juel gav agt på stormens brag.
Nu er det tid.
Han hejsede det røde flag
og slog på fjenden slag i slag.
Da skreg de højt blandt stormens brag:
Nu er det tid!
Fly, skreg de, hver, som véd et skjul!
hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
i strid?

O, Nordhav! Glimt af Wessel brød
din mørke sky.
Da ty’de kæmper til dit skød;
thi med ham lynte skræk og død.
Fra vallen hørtes vrål, som brød
den tykke sky.
Fra Danmark lyner Tordenskjold;
hver give sig i himlens vold
hver give sig i himlens vold
og fly!

Du danskes vej til ros og magt,
sortladne hav!
Modtag din ven, som uforsagt
tør møde faren med foragt
så stolt som du mod stormens magt,
sortladne hav!
Og rask igennem larm og spil
og kamp og sejer før mig til
og kamp og sejer før mig til, min grav!

(English Translate / Lyrics)
King Christian stood by tow’ring mast,
In mist and smoke.
His sword was hammering so fast,
Through Gothic helm and brain it passed
Then sank each hostile stern and mast
In mist and smoke
“Fly!” shouted they, “fly, he who can,
Who stands ‘gainst Denmark’s Christian
Who stands ‘gainst Denmark’s Christian
in fray?”

Niels Juel observ’d the tempest’s blow:
“Now ! For your life!”
Aloft he bade the red flag go,
And stroke on stroke he dealt the foe.
They cried then tro’ the tempest’s blow:
“Now! For your life!
Fly!” cried they all, “for shelter fly!
For who can Denmark’s Juel defy
For who can Denmark’s Juel defy in strife?”

North Sea, a glimpse of Wessel rent
Thy murky sky!
Then champions to thine arms were sent;
Terror and Death glared where he went;
From the waves was heard a wail that rent
Thy murky sky:
From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol’,
“Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
“Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
And fly!”

Thou path of Danes to praise and might,
Black-surging sea!
Receive thy friend, who feels no fright,
But faces danger with despite,
As proud as thou the tempest’s might,
Black-surging sea!
And lead me brisk thro’ din and rave,
And fright and vict’ry to my grave
And fright and vict’ry to my grave in thee.

Denmark is one of a handful of nations which have a separate “royal” anthem from the people’s “national” anthem. The royal anthem is one of the oldest in the world; adopted in 1780. Special events for the royal house are marked with the royal anthem.

The lyrics first appear in Johannes Ewald’s historical drama “The Fishermen” and specifically names heroes in the wars against Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries. The composer of the music is unknown; originally the composer of the music for the play, Johann Hartmann, was thought to be the composer, It has been pointed out that the melody significantly precedes Ewald’s lyrics, and it could have been based on an existing tune.

Officially, “Kong Christian” is both the national and royal anthem and has equal status with “Der er et yndigt land”, the national anthem.