Gustafs skål

"Gustafs skål", literally "Toast to Gustaf", is a song written by Carl Michael Bellman as a salutation to King Gustaf III of Sweden, following the coup d'etat in 1772, which made himself an autocrat and ended the parliamentary Age of Liberty. The king very much liked the song and informally it came to function as his royal anthem. [http://www.dagensvisa.com/minata/dav/gustafs_skal.mid MIDI music file]

:Gustafs skål!:Den bäste Kung, som Norden äger::Han ej tål,:At vigtskåln ojämt väger. :||::God och glad,:Han Ilskans röst föraktar:Samt afvaktar:Och betraktar:Dårskap i sin grad. :||:

:Sådan Kung:Är värd att styra Sveriges öden::Rask och ung,:Ej rådlös uti nöden. :||::Wasa Ätt:Har aldrig lärt att svika,:Aldrig tvika,:Men at fika:Till at göra rätt. :||:

Translation (Highly unofficial)

:Gustafs Toast!:The greatest king of the north::He can't rest,:While injustice rules. :||::Decent and cheerful,:He detests anger:and waits:and studies:lunacy in progress :||:

:A king like he:Is worthy to govern Swedens destiny:Bold and young:Never in hopeless need :||::Of Vasa dynasty:Is taught to never fail:Never hesitate:But rather do:What is just and fair. :||:

links

[http://www.bolund.com/lyssna.php Bo Lund - "Gustafs skål" MP3]

"See also:
*"Kungssången"