Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm

English: My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy
National anthem of Estonia
Lyrics	Johann Voldemar Jannsen
Music	Fredrik (Friedrich) Pacius, 1848
Adopted	1920
Audio sample
Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm (Instrumental) file help

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm ("My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy") was adopted as the national anthem (Estonian: (riigi)hümn) of the Republic of Estonia in 1920, and again in 1990.

The lyrics were written by Johann Voldemar Jannsen and are set to a melody composed in 1848 by Fredrik (Friedrich) Pacius which is also that of the national anthem of Finland: Maamme ("Vårt Land" in Swedish). It is also considered to be national anthem for Livonian people with text Min izāmō, min sindimō, My Fatherland, my native land.

History

The song was first presented to the public as a choral work in the Grand Song Festival of Estonia in 1869 and quickly became a symbol of the Estonian National Awakening.

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm was officially adopted as the national anthem of Estonia in 1920, after the Estonian War of Independence.

During the Soviet occupation since 1944, Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm was banned. Between 1956 and 1990 the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic had a different anthem. Yet, the people of Estonia could often hear the melody, as Finland's state broadcaster YLE, whose radio and television broadcasts were received in Northern Estonia, played an instrumental version of the Finnish national anthem, identical to this song (except for an additional repetition of the last verse in the Finnish version), at closedown every night.

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm,
kui kaunis oled sa!
Ei leia mina iial teal
see suure, laia ilma peal,
mis mul nii armas oleks ka,
kui sa, mu isamaa!

Sa oled mind ju sünnitand
ja üles kasvatand;
sind tänan mina alati
ja jään sull' truuiks surmani,
mul kõige armsam oled sa,
mu kallis isamaa!

Su üle Jumal valvaku
mu armas isamaa!
Ta olgu sinu kaitseja
ja võtku rohkest õnnista,
mis iial ette võtad sa,
mu kallis isamaa!

English version (non-literal)

My native land, my joy and delight,
How fair thou art and bright!
And nowhere in the world all round
Can ever such a place be found
So well beloved as I love thee,
My native country dear!

My little cradle stood on ground soil,
Whose blessings ease my toil.
With my last breath my thanks to thee,
For true to death I'll ever be,
O worthy, most beloved and fine,
Thou, dearest country mine!

May God in Heaven thee gave birth to me,
My best, my dearest land!
May He be guard, may He be shield,
For ever may He bless and wield
O graciously all deeds of thine,
Thou dearest country mine!

Literal translation into English

My fatherland, my joy and happiness,
How beautiful you are!
I shall not find such ever
In this huge wide world
Which would be so dear to me
As you, my fatherland!

You have given me birth
And raised me up;
I shall thank you always
And remain faithful to you 'til death,
To me most beloved are you,
My precious fatherland!

May God watch over you,
My precious fatherland!
Let Him be your defender
And provide bountiful blessings
For whatever you undertake,
My precious fatherland!

Võro translation

Mu esämaa, mu õnn ja rõõm,

ku illos olõt sa!

Ei lövväq ma joht ilman tääl
taa suurõ,
laja ilma pääl,

miä mul nii armsa olnuq ka,

ku saq, mu esämaa!



Su pääl ma olõ sündünüq
ja üles kasunuq;

ma tennä sinno alasi
ja jää sull' truvvis surmani,

mul kõgõ armsamb olõt sa,

mu kallis esämaa!



Su perrä Jummal kaegu,
mu armsa esämaa!

Tä olku sino kaitsja
ja võtku heldele õnnista',

miä ilman ette võtat sa,
mu kallis esämaa!

Note

In English language media, the title is often spelt without the diacritical signs, so "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" becomes "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room". Although Estonians can mostly recognize the incorrect form, it is usually considered humorous since it severely changes the meaning: while "õnn ja rõõm" means "happiness and joy", "onn ja room" can roughly be translated as "(small) hut and crawl".

External links

• The website of the President of the Republic of Estonia has a page on National symbols, including the anthem. The Estonian language version of this page also includes an instrumental version.
• The Estonian national anthem - web page of the State Chancellery, played by The Defence Forces Orchestra, vocals by the National Male Choir.