Does your country have sunlight, too?
Other lands have sunlight, too, and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine
Hi all,
Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Finlandia (This is My Song)”, by Jean Sibelius. If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.
Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics (written in italics). Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.
Other lands have sunlight, too
(394 words)
Finlandia was written by a Finnish composer named Jean Sibelius a long time ago, in 1899. At that time, Finland was struggling to keep its independence. They wanted to be their own country, but they were under the rule of another country called Russia.
Sibelius wanted to create something that would make Finnish people feel proud of their country, even during hard times. So, he composed "Finlandia." It's a beautiful piece of music that captures the spirit of Finland and the hope for freedom.
The song became very popular, especially when Finland was fighting for independence. People felt a strong connection to it because it reminded them of their love for their country and their desire to be free.
In 1917, Finland did become independent, and "Finlandia" became even more meaningful. It's a symbol of Finnish pride and resilience, and it's often played at important events or celebrations in Finland.
So, when you hear "Finlandia - This Is My Song," remember it's more than just a tune. It's a powerful reminder of a country's journey to freedom and the strength of its people.
The Song
This is my song, Oh God of all the nations
A song of peace for lands afar (far away) and mine
This is my home, the country where my heart is
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean
And sunlight beams (shines) on clover leaf and pine
But other lands have sunlight, too, and clover
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine
Oh hear my song, oh God of all the nations
A song of peace for their land and for mine
May truth and freedom come to every nation
may peace abound where strife has raged so long
that each (person) may seek to love and build together
a world united, righting every wrong
a world united in its love for freedom
proclaiming peace together in one song
Why do we tend to think that our country is the best? We are not born with this idea. How do we learn it? How can we unlearn it?
How much do we really know about other cities or regions in our own country? How much do we really know about other countries?
Question:
How can we unlearn the thinking that our country / religion / political system / customs / culture is the best?
Vocabulary
struggle 闘争
resilience 回復力
holy shrine 聖なる神社
beam 降る to beam down (of sunlight)
abound 豊富
strife 闘争
rage 怒り
proclaim 宣言する
