Mu isamaa on minu arm

Mu isamaa on minu arm ("My Fatherland is My Love") is an Estonian poem by Lydia Koidula. The poem was first set to music for the first Estonian Song Festival in 1869 by Aleksander Kunileid.

Mu isamaa on minu arm became a very popular patriotic song when a new melody was written by Gustav Ernesaks in 1944^[1]. Since 1947, it is always performed at the ending of the Song Festival. The song may be confused with the Estonian national anthem because of the similar title and opening notes. During the Soviet Occupation "My Fatherland is My Love" became something of an unofficial national anthem ^[2].

English version (non-literal)

My Fatherland is My Love,
to whom I´ve given My Heart.
To You I sing, my greatest happiness,
My flowering Estonia!
Your pain boils in My Heart,
Your Pride and Joy makes me happy,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!

My Fatherland is My Love,
I shall never leave Him,
even if I must die hundred deaths
because of Him!
Does the foreign envy slander,
You still live in my Heart,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!

My Fatherland is My Love,
and I want to rest,
to lay down into Your Arms,
My sacred Estonia!
Your Birds will sing Sleep to Me,
flowers will bloom from My Ashes,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!

Estonian version

Mu isamaa on minu arm,
kel südant annud ma.
Sull' laulan ma, mu ülem õnn,
mu õitsev Eestimaa!
Su valu südames mul keeb,
su õnn ja rõõm mind rõõmsaks teeb,
mu isamaa, mu isamaa!

Mu isamaa on minu arm,
ei teda jäta ma,
ja peaksin sada surma ma
see pärast surema!
Kas laimab võõra kadedus,
sa siiski elad südames,
mu isamaa, mu isamaa!

Mu isamaa on minu arm,
ja tahan puhata,
su rüppe heidan unele,
mu püha Eestimaa!
Su linnud und mull' laulavad,
mu põrmust lilled õitsetad,
mu isamaa, mu isamaa!

See also

• Põhjamaa

Notes and references

1. ^ Gustav Ernesaks
2. ^ The historical overview of Estonian Song Celebrations

• Paul Rummo, "Ühe laulu lugu" – Looming 1961, nr 1, lk 111–128 ja Paul Rummo raamatus "Mitme laulu lood" (uurimusi, kõnesid mälestusi), ER 1969, lk 25–53

External links

• Performance of the song at the XXIV Song Festival in 2004