Classic Poem

On with the hosts that toil, and on with the young and strong
Under our banner of red, if your heart will bear you along.
Would you feel you are young, and would you fight to be free,
These are the ranks of freedom, and young, ever young, are we.
While with song we march on and while we rush to the strife,
Eager our eyes behold the dawn of a fairer life.
We go forth like the Spring, which nothing can stop or stay,
We have sunlight and song, and faith in the triumph-day.

We go on to the fray, onward for freedom and right,
What is too much for one, for many shoulders is light;
Though the fortress of Wrong stands like a rock on its base,
We set levers beneath and cast it down from its place.
Down it shall in the dust, the gray-walled Castle of Guilt,
Over it ploughs shall pass and poor men's homes be built;
Down it must in the fight, and when the battle is o'er,
Then will freedom be ours, and Sweden be free once more.
We go forth to redeem our folk and our fathers' land,
Loosing Oppression's chain that binds them with many a band,
Kindling for them a torch, that Truth may be clear to view,
Seeking to shield their life from tyrant and savage too.
This land here is our own, where idly other men sprawl,
This is the land we cleared, we settled and ploughed it all.
On to strive for our rights! As sure as we're Swedish men,
If they have filched our land, we 'll conquer it back again.