Gelline, which comprise the greater proportion of Bjornson's
poetry, both appeared in 1870. Digte og Sange was republished, in
an enlarged edition, ten years later. It contains the poem "Ja,
vi elsker dette Landet" ("Yes, we love this land of ours"),
which, set to inspiring music by Nordraak, became Norway's most
favourite national song, as well as another of the same nature--
"Fremad! Fremad!" ("Forward! Forward!")--which, sung to music of
Grieg's, ran it hard in popularity. Of "Ja, vi elsker dette
Landet," Bjornson used to say that the greatest tribute he had
ever had to its hold upon his fellow-countrymen's hearts was
when, on one occasion during the poet's years of vigorous
political activity, a crowd of fervid opponents came and broke
his windows with stones; after which, turning to march away
triumphantly, they felt the need (ever present to the Scandinavian
in moments of stress) of singing, and burst out with one accord
into the "Ja, vi elsker dette Landet" of their hated political
adversary. "They couldn't help it; they had to sing it!" the poet
used to relate delightedly.

Of the birth of "Fremad! Fremad!" Grieg has left an account which
gives an amusing picture of the infectious enthusiasm that was
one of Bjornson's strongest characteristics. Grieg had given him,
as a Christmas present, the first series of his "Lyrical Pieces"
for the pianoforte, and had afterwards played some of them to the
poet, who was especially struck with one melody which Grieg had
called "Fadrelandssang" ("Song of the Fatherland"). Bjornson
there and then, to the composer's great gratification, protested
that he must write words to fit the air. (It must be mentioned
that each strophe of the melody starts with a refrain consisting
of two strongly accented notes, which suggest some vigorous