finlandia

this is my song, oh God of all the nations,

a song of peace for lands afar and mine.

this is my home, the country where my heart is;

here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.

but other hearts in other lands are beating,

with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

beautiful words, i sometimes tell myself, perhaps too pretty for the childish melody. today i hear the orchestral version and admit i have been deaf. it's the chords. they flesh out the simple uncatchy tune and make it soar and then plumb the depths and make you want to be nobler.