According to two letters to Thorvald Aagaard, Nielsen composed the song in 1908. On a later occasion, in 1914, Aagaard mentions that it was he who previously had urged Nielsen to compose it. The song was to be used at the Danish Rifle Club's gymnastics display at the 1908 London Olympic Games. In 1914, the melody was re-used with a new text (CNW 311). See more about this work at The Royal Library