Til Ungdommen

"Til Ungdommen" is a poem by Norwegian poet and writer Nordahl Grieg (a distant cousin of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg). The poem was written in 1936; it is often referred to by its first line, "Kringsatt av Fiender" ("Surrounded by Enemies"). The poem was written after a request by the politician Trond Hegna, for use in the Norwegian Student's union.

It was set to music by Otto Mortensen in 1952; in 2000 it was orchestrated and sung by Norwegian actress and singer Herborg Kråkevik, in her CD titled Kråkeviks Songbok. Kråkevik's version excludes paragraphs 7-10.

Song is also recorded by Kim Larsen, first on his album 231045-0637, which were released in 1979, however it was called "682 A" on this album rather than "Til Ungdommen". Kim Larsen included the same song in his album Kim in Cirkus, which is a live album from 1985. Here the song was called "Kringsat af Fjender", which is Danish for the first line in the poem: "Kringsat av Fiender".

The song has also been recorded by Norwegian experimental band The Soundbyte.

Til Ungdommen was sung by Torhild Ostad November 23rd 2003 in Potzdam in Berlin, Germany, as the memorial stone was unveiled. The exact spot where the poet Nordahl Grieg died when his Lancaster plane hit the ground 1943.

Text of the poem

Til Ungdommen
av Nordahl Grieg

Kringsatt av Fiender,
gå inn i din tid!
Under en blodig storm -
vi deg til strid!

Kanskje du spør i angst,
udekket, åpen:
hva skal jeg kjempe med
hva er mitt våpen?

Her er ditt vern mot vold,
her er ditt sverd:
troen på livet vårt,
menneskets verd.

For all vår fremtids skyld,
søk det og dyrk det,
dø om du må - men:
øk det og styrk det!

Stilt går granatenes
glidende bånd
Stans deres drift mot død
stans dem med ånd!

Krig er forakt for liv.
Fred er å skape.
Kast dine krefter inn:
døden skal tape!

Elsk og berik med drøm
alt stort som var!
Gå mot det ukjente
fravrist der svar.

Ubygde kraftverk,
ukjente stjerner.
Skap dem, med skånet livs
dristige hjerner!

Edelt er mennesket,
jorden er rik!
Finnes her nød og sult
skyldes det svik.

Knus det! I livets navn
skal urett falle.
Solskinn og brød og ånd
eies av alle.

Da synker våpnene
maktesløs ned!
Skaper vi menneskeverd
skaper vi fred.

Den som med høyre arm
bærer en byrde,
dyr og umistelig,
kan ikke myrde.

Dette er løftet vårt
fra bror til bror:
vi vil bli gode mot
menskenes jord.

Vi vil ta vare på
skjønnheten, varmen
som om vi bar et barn
varsomt på armen!

English translation

By Rod Sinclair (2004)

Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand

Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
Where is my weapon?

Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal

For all our children’s sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it

Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know

War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death’s march is halted
By determination

We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed

Don’t turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers

Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants’ hand

Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.

In popular culture

* The instrumental song "Closing the Circle" by Danish progressive metal band Beyond Twilight (on their 2001 album "The Devil's Hall of Fame") contains melody snippets taken from "Til Ungdommen".