Kong Christian stod ved højen mast ("King Christian stood by the lofty mast"), commonly shortened to Kong Christian, is the royal anthem of the Kingdom of Denmark. It also has equal status of national anthem together with Der er et yndigt land, though it is almost exclusively used in relation to the Danish royal house and the military. The theme of the song is about the heroics of Danish sailors during the wars against Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Usually only the first verse is sung on official occasions. Adopted in 1780, it is one of the oldest national anthems in the world.
King Christian stood by the lofty mast
In mist and smoke;
His sword was hammering so fast,
Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;
Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,
In mist and smoke.
"Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can!
𝄆 Who braves of Denmark's Christian, 𝄇
The stroke?"
Niels Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar,
Now is the hour!
He hoisted his blood-red flag once more,
And smote upon the foe full sore,
And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar,
"Now is the hour!"
"Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly!
𝄆 Of Denmark's Juel who can defy, 𝄇
The power?"
North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel[b] 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
The murky sky!
From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol',
𝄆 Let each to Heaven commend his soul, 𝄇
And fly!
Path of the Dane to fame and might!
Dark-rolling wave!
Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight,
Goes to meet danger with despite,
Proudly as thou the tempest's might,
Dark-rolling wave!
And 'mid pleasures and alarms,
𝄆 And war and victory, be thine arms, 𝄇
My grave!
In mist and smoke;
His sword was hammering so fast,
Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;
Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,
In mist and smoke.
"Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can!
𝄆 Who braves of Denmark's Christian, 𝄇
The stroke?"
Niels Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar,
Now is the hour!
He hoisted his blood-red flag once more,
And smote upon the foe full sore,
And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar,
"Now is the hour!"
"Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly!
𝄆 Of Denmark's Juel who can defy, 𝄇
The power?"
North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel[b] 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
The murky sky!
From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol',
𝄆 Let each to Heaven commend his soul, 𝄇
And fly!
Path of the Dane to fame and might!
Dark-rolling wave!
Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight,
Goes to meet danger with despite,
Proudly as thou the tempest's might,
Dark-rolling wave!
And 'mid pleasures and alarms,
𝄆 And war and victory, be thine arms, 𝄇
My grave!
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