Gustafs skål

Gustafs skål (English: Gustav's Toast), is a song written by Carl Michael Bellman as a salutation to Gustav III of Sweden, following the coup d'état of 1772, which made himself an autocrat and ended the parliamentary age of liberty. The king very much liked the song and informally it came to function as his royal anthem.^[1]

Lyrics[edit]

Swedish lyrics	English translation
I 𝄆 Gustafs skål! Den bäste Kung, som Norden äger Han ej tål! At vigtskåln ojämt väger. 𝄇 𝄆 God och glad! Han Ilskans röst föraktar Samt afvaktar och betraktar Dårskap i sin grad. 𝄇 II 𝄆 Sådan Kung! Är värd att styra Sveriges öden Rask och ung! Ej rådlös uti nöden. 𝄇 𝄆 Vasa Ätt! Har aldrig lärt att svika, Aldrig tvika, men at fika Till at göra rätt. 𝄇	I 𝄆 Gustav's Toast! The greatest king of the north: He can't rest, While injustice rules. 𝄇 𝄆 Decent and cheerful, He detests anger and waits, and studies foolishness in progress 𝄇 II 𝄆 A king like he Is worthy of steering Sweden's destiny Bold and young Never irresolute in need 𝄇 𝄆 Of Vasa dynasty Has never learnt deceit Never hesitate but rather do What is just and fair. 𝄇