Ateenalaisten Laulu [Swedish Poem] [English and Finnish lyrics]

Written by: Viktor Rydberg

Composed by: Jean Sibelius
A Finnish version of the Swedish poem by Viktor Rydberg translated by Yrjö Veijola. The song was very popular during the russification of Finland during the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Lyrics:

Finnish:

1. Kaunis on kuolla, kun joukkosi eessä urhona kaadut,
Taistellen puolesta maas, puolesta heimosikin.
Hehkuvin mielin puoltaan nouse syntymämaatas,
Riemuiten lastesi vuoks uhriksi henkesi suo!
Eespäin voittohon siis, te sankarit vahvat ja nuoret!
Väistymys mielestä pois! Pelvosta tunnetta ei.

2. Joukon maine mustuvi aina, kun vimmassa taiston
Nuorien eessä sä vaan vanhuksen kuolevan näät.
Nuorukaiselle kuolla kuuluu, kun hällä vielä
Kutrissa tuoksuavat nuorteat kukkaset on.
Naisista kaunis, miehistä rohkea aina hän olkoon,
Taistossa kaatuen hän kaunis on kuolossa myös.

English:

1. Oh, how fair it is to fall before your men,
Bravely struggling for your land, for your tribe, too.
Arise with the passion of your soul, to defend this land you were born in,
Rejoice on sacrificing your life for your children!
Forth towards victories you shall march, you heroes so young and tenacious!
No thoughts on standing back! No feelings of fear.

2. The glory of our men shall always fade, when in the middle of a battle
You see a senior die before the young.
It is for the young to die when
You can still smell the youthful flowers in their hair.
The beautiful woman, the brave man, may they always be the one,
When they fall in the battle, they shall be beautiful in their death too.

Видео Ateenalaisten Laulu [Swedish Poem] [English and Finnish lyrics] канала Carolus