To the Youth by Nordahl Grieg

'To the Youth'
a poem written in 1936
by Nordahl Grieg.
Also known as
'Encircled by enemies'

Set to music in 1952
by Otto Mortensen


Encircled by enemies,
enter your time
Under a bloody storm,
devote yourself to battle

Perhaps you ask in fear,
uncovered, open,
'what shall I fight with,
what is my weapon'


Here is your shield from violence,
here is your sword,
the faith in our life,
the worth of mankind


For all our future's sake,
seek it and tend it,
die if you must - but:
increase it and strengthen it!


Silently goes the grenades'
gliding band
Stop their drift towards death,
stop them with spirit!


War is contempt of life.
Peace is creating
Throw your forces in,
death shall be beaten



Love and enrich with dreams
all that was great
Go towards the unknown
wring answers from it

Unbuilt powerplants,
unknown stars
Create them, with spared lives'
bold minds!


Noble is mankind,
the earth is rich
Is here poverty and hunger,
it is by deceit.


Crush it, in the name of life
injustice shall fall
Sunshine and bread and mind
belongs to all

Then the weapons drop
powerless down
If we create human worth
we create peace

Those who with their right arm
carries a burden,
precious and inalienable,
can not murder


This is our promise
from brother to brother:
We will be good towards
mankinds earth



We will preserve
the beauty, the warmth
as if we carried a child
tenderly in our arms

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• To
• the
• Youth
• Nordahl
• Grieg
• hymn
• norway
• terror
• 22nd
• july
• 2011
• Encircled
• by
• enemies
• choir