Soviet Anthem Information
The National Anthem of the Soviet Union or the State Anthem of the USSR (or Hymn, Russian: Государственный гимн СССР, Gosudarstvenniy Gimn SSSR) was introduced during World War II on March 15, 1944, replacing The Internationale as the official national anthem. The lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with Gabriel El-Registan (1899–1945) and the music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). It was believed that Soviet soldiers would respond more to an anthem that was dedicated only to the Soviet Union rather than to a worldwide movement. The song was originally written as the Anthem of the Bolshevik Party with lyrics in the Alexandrine meter by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach in 1939.
Joseph Stalin was originally mentioned in the lyrics; however, after his death in 1953 and the process of Destalinization, the lyrics referring to Stalin were unacceptable. From that time until 1977, the anthem was played without lyrics. Revised lyrics without the references to Stalin and World War II were approved in 1977.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia adopted a new national anthem called Patriotic Song without any lyrics. In 2000, the Soviet national anthem (tune) was restored with Mikhalkov writing new lyrics. See National Anthem of Russia.
Also, the same music was used for a proposal of the anthem of the State Union of Russia and Belarus entitled Derzhavny Soyuz Narodov (Union of Sovereign Nations). Although never officially adopted, the lyrics of that piece were not tied to any specific nationality, and could be adopted for a broader union. However, there appears to be no plans to utilize that piece in any official role.
Below are the Russian and the English versions of the lyrics; both can be sung to the music. The anthem also had official versions in the languages of every Soviet republic and in several other Soviet languages.
| Wikisource has lyrics in other languages at: National Anthem of the Soviet Union |
Contents |
1977 version
Lyrics
1.
2. Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: На правое дело он поднял народы, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!
3. В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма Мы видим грядущее нашей страны, И Красному знамени славной Отчизны Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны!
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1. Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'! Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny volley narodov Yediny, moguchy Sovetsky Soyuz! PRIPEV:
2. Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin veliky nam put' ozaril, Na pravoye delo on podnyal narody, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!
3. V pobede bessmertnykh idey kommunizma My vidim gryadushcheye nashey strany, I krasnomu znameni slavnoy otchizny My budem vsegda bezzavetno verny!
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1.
An unbreakable union of free republics, Great Rus' has united forever! Long live the created-by-the-will-of-the-peoples, The united, the mighty Soviet Union. CHORUS
2. Through tempests the sun of freedom shone to us, And the great Lenin lighted us the way. He raised peoples to the righteous cause, Inspired us to labour and to acts of heroism.
3. In the victory of the immortal ideas of Communism We see the future of our country, And to the Red banner of our glorious Fatherland We shall always be selflessly true.
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1. sɐˈjus nʲɪ.ruˈʂɨ.mɨj rʲɪsˈpub.lʲɪk svɐˈbod.nɨx| splɐˈtʲi.lə nɐˈvʲe.kʲɪ vʲɪˈlʲi.kə.jɪ ˈrusʲ də‿ˈzdra.stvu.jɪt ˈsoz.də.nɨj ˈvo.lʲɪj nɐˈro.dəf| ɪˈdʲi.nɨj | mɐˈɡu.t͡ɕɪj | sɐˈvʲɛt͡s.kʲɪj sɐˈjus]
2. [skvəzʲ‿ˈɡro.zɨ sʲɪˈja.lɐ nam ˈson.t͡sɪ svɐˈbo.dɨ| i‿ˈlʲe.nʲɪn vʲɪˈlʲi.kʲɪj nɐm‿ˈputʲ ə.zɐˈrʲil| nɐ‿ˈpra.və.jɪ ˈdʲɛ.lə on ˈpod.nʲɪl naˈro.dɨ| nɐ‿ˈtrud i‿nɐ‿ˈpod.vʲɪ.ɡʲɪ ˈnas vdəx.nɐ.vʲɪl]
3. [f‿pɐˈbʲe.dʲɪ bʲɪˈsmʲɛrt.nɨx ɪˈdʲej kə.muˈnʲiz.mə mɨ‿ˈvʲi.dʲɪm ɡrʲɪˈdu.ɕːiə ˈna.ʂɨj stra.nɨ i ˈkras.nə.mu ˈzna.mʲɪ.nʲɪ ˈslav.nəj ɐˈt͡ɕiz.nɨ mɨ ˈbu.dʲɪm fsʲɪɡˈda bɪ.zːɐˈvʲɛt.nə vʲɪrˈnɨ]
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1943 English Version
The 1943 English version, as recorded by Paul Robeson goes as follows:
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- United forever in friendship and labor
- Our mighty republics will ever endure
- The great Soviet Union will live through the ages;
- The dream of a people, their fortress secure
REFRAIN:
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- Long live our Soviet motherland
- Built by the people's mighty hand
- Long live our people, united and free
- Strong in our friendship, tried by fire
- Long may our crimson flag inspire
- Shining in glory, for all men to see
(refrain)
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- We fought for the future, destroyed the invader
- And brought to our homeland the laurels of fame
- A glory will live in the memory of nations
- And all generations will honor her name
(refrain)
1944 version
The 1944 text had three different refrains following three different stanzas; in each refrain, the second line was consequently modified with references to friendship, then happiness and finally the glory. In 1977, these refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas.
Official lyrics of 1944 version
| Russian | Transliteration | English translation | |
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An unbreakable union of free republics, Great Rus' joined together forever. Long live the creation of the will of the peoples, The united, the mighty Soviet Union! Chorus:
Through storms the sun of freedom has shined upon us, And the great Lenin has lighted the way Stalin has taught us faithfulness to the people, To labour, and inspired us to great feats! Chorus:
We brought our army to the battles. We shall brave the despicable invaders from the street! In battles we shall decide the fate of generations, We shall lead to the glory of the Motherland! Chorus:
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| Russian | English translation | ||
Anthem of the Bolshevik Party
Official version
Гимн партии большевиков
| Russian | Transliteration | Literal English translation |
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National anthems of Russia and the Soviet Union
- 1791–1833: unofficially Grom pobedy, razdavajsya! ("Let the thunder of victory sound!") and Molitva russkikh
- 1833–1917: God Save the Tsar!
- 1917: Worker's Marseillaise, Russian version of La Marseillaise
- 1922–1943: The Internationale, adopted as the first national anthem of the Soviet Union
- 1944–1992: National Anthem of the Soviet Union, the "Hymn"; sung without lyrics from 1955 until 1977, when a new version of the lyrics removed any mention of Joseph Stalin and World War II
- 1991–2000: Prior to Russian independence the Patriotic Song (Patrioticheskaya Pesnya) became the national anthem of Russia. It has no lyrics; in 1999 there was a contest to add lyrics to the anthem, but the new text did not become official, since the new president Vladimir Putin changed the anthem again (ostensibly on popular demand).
- 2001–: National Anthem of Russia is in fact the old anthem of the Soviet Union, but the text was again rewritten by Sergei Mikhalkov (who also wrote the lyrics for the Soviet hymn).
See also: National Anthems of the USSR and Union Republics
Media
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Vocal (Anthem of the Bolshevik Party, 1939)
By the Red Army Chorus
Vocal (1944 lyrics) By the Red Army Ensemble Vocal (1977 lyrics) By the choir and orchestra of Bolshoi Theater Instrumental By the United States Navy Band Zhit' stalo luchche (1936) Vocal recording of "Life Has Become Better," by the Red Army Chorus, conducted by Alexander Alexandrov |
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See also
- Anthem
- Patrioticheskaya Pesnya
- National Anthem of Russia
- Shche ne vmerla Ukraina
- Anthem of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Aegukka
- Aegukga
- Russia
- Soviet Union
- The Internationale
References
External links
- Russian Anthems museum - extensive set of downloadable recordings and official sheet music.
- 20 Most popular Soviet songs
- The author of Russian national anthem: sources of the USSR's anthem in Russian. by K.Kovalev - Eng. Bortniansky's anthem "Kol slaven" - Eng.
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Categories: Anthems of the Soviet Republics | National anthems | National symbols of the Soviet Union | Russian songs | Soviet state | Soviet songs | 1939 songs
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