Ålänningens sång

"Ålänningens sång" (Finnish: "Ahvenanmaalaisten laulu"; English: "Song of the Ålander") is the official anthem of the Åland Islands, an autonomous Swedish-speaking province of Finland. Adopted in 1922, the anthem's words are by John Grandell and the music was composed by Johan Fridolf Hagfors. The song was first performed during the song festival in Mariehamn 1922. In Åland the song is mostly sung on Midsummer's Eve and on the National day of Åland in June 9. The song originally had four verses, but the third verse is omitted for a long time when the song is sung and often when it appears in print.

Ålänningens sång
English: Song of the Ålander
Regional anthem of  Åland Islands
LyricsJohn Grandell
MusicJohan Fridolf Hagfors
Adopted1922

Lyrics
Original lyrics
Verse 1
Landet med tusende öar och skär,
danat ur havsvågors sköte.
Åland, vårt Åland, vår hembygd det är.
Dig går vår längtan till möte!
Forngravars kummel i hängbjörkars skygd
tälja din tusenårs saga.
Aldrig förgäta vi fädernas bygd,
vart vi i fjärrled än draga
vart vi i fjärrled än draga
Verse 2
Skönt är vårt Åland när fjärdar och sund
blåna i vårljusa dagar,
ljuvt är att vandra i skog och i lund,
i strändernas blommande hagar.
Midsommarstången mot aftonröd sky
reses av villiga händer,
ytterst i utskärens fiskareby
ungdomen vårdkasar tänder
ungdomen vårdkasar tänder
Verse 3
Skönt är vårt Åland när vågsvallet yr
högt mot de mäktiga stupen
när under stjärnhimlen kyrkfolket styr
över de islagda djupen.
Ryter än stormen, i stugornas ro
spinnrocken sjunger sin visa
minnet av barndomens hägnande bo
sönerna lyckligast prisa
sönerna lyckligast prisa.
Verse 4
Aldrig har åländska kvinnor och män
svikit sin stam och dess ära;
ofärd oss hotat, men segervisst än
frihetens arvsrätt vi bära.
Högt skall det klinga, vårt svenska språk,
tala med manande stämma,
lysa vår väg som en flammande båk,
visa var vi äro hemma
visa var vi äro hemma
English translation
Verse 1
The land of thousand islands and skerries,
Born from deep beneath the waves
Åland, our Åland, our home it is
Thee we long to meet
Ancient graves beneath the birches
Tells of our thousand year history
We will never forget the land of our Fathers
No matter where we will go
No matter where we will go
Verse 2
Lovely is our Åland when bays and straits
Become blue in the bright days of spring
It's delightful to wander in forest and grove
In the flowered fields of our shores.
Midsummer pole to evening red sky
Is raised by willing hands
Farthest out in the skerry fisher village
Beacons are lit by the young
Beacons are lit by the young
Verse 3
Lovely is our Åland when the froth of waves
is whirling against the mighty precipice
When the church folks steer beneath the stars
Over the icy depths of the sea
Even when storm roars, in the cottages' peace
The song of the spinning wheel is sung
The memory of loving childhood is
Happily praised by the sons
Happily praised by the sons
Verse 4
Never have Ålandian women and men
Let the honour of their tribe down
Warfare threatened us, but victoriously yet
We carry the heritage of freedom
Loudly shall it sound, our Swedish language
Spoken with an urging voice
Enlighten our path like a sea mark of flames
Show us where we belong
Show us where we belong

See also
  • Mariehamns Town Library, Government of the Åland Islands. "Ålänningens sång" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2006-04-20. Retrieved 2006-04-15.
  • Aland Islands, Nationalanthems.info. "Aland Islands". Archived from the original on 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2006-04-15.
  • Ålänningens sång MP3
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