Hymn of the Soviet Union
Hymn of the Soviet Union (Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza) was the national anthem of the Soviet Union. The lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (born 1913) and the music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883-1946). It replaced the Internationale as the national anthem on March 15, 1944 because of the belief that Soviet soldiers would respond more to an anthem that was dedicated only to the Soviet Union rather than to a world wide movement. Stalin was originally mentioned in the lyrics. However, after his death in 1953, the lyrics referring to Stalin were unacceptable. From then on until 1977, the lyrics were not sung to the anthem. In 1977, the lyrics were reused with Stalin's name omitted. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia adopted a new national anthem. In 2000, the old Soviet national anthem was readopted with Mikhalkov writting new lyrics to represent Russia's non-communist nature.
Below is an English translation of the lyrics and the Official English lyrics which could be sung to the music.
In Russian
- Союз нерушимый республик свободных
- Сплотила навеки Великая Русь.
- Да здравствует созданный волей народов
- Единый, могучий Советский Союз!
- Припев:
- Славься, Отечество наше свободное,
- Дружбы народов надежный оплот!
- Партия Ленина - сила народная
- Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведет!
- Сквозь годы сияло нам солнце свободы,
- И Ленин великий нам путь озарил:
- На правое дело он поднял народы,
- На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!
- ПРИПЕВ
- В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма
- Мы видим грядущее нашей страны,
- И Красному знамени славной Отчизны
- Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны!
- ПРИПЕВ
Tranliteration from Russian
- Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh
- Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'!
- Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov
- Velikiy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!
- CHORUS:
- Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
- Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot,
- Partiya Lenina, sila narodnaya
- Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedyot!
- Skvoz tuchi siyalo nam solntse svobodi,
- I Lenin velikiy nam put\' ozaril,
- Na pravoe delo on podnyal narodi,
- Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovIl!
- CHORUS
- V pobede velikikh idey kommunizma
- Mi vidim gryadutshee nashey strani,
- I krasnomu znameni slavnoy otchizni
- Mi budem vsegda bezzavetno verni!
- CHORUS
English translation
- Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics,
- Great Russia has welded forver to stand.
- Created in struggle by will of the people,
- United and mighty, our Soviet land!
- CHORUS:
- Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
- Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
- O Party of Lenin, the srtength of the people,
- To Communism's triumph lead us on!
- Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us,
- Along the new path where great Lenin did lead.
- To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples,
- Inspired them to labour and valourous deed.
- CHORUS
- In the vict'ry of Communism's deathless ideal,
- We see the future of our dear land.
- And to her fluttering scarlet banner,
- Selflessly true we always shall stand!
- CHORUS
Official English lyrics
- 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.
- CHORUS:
- 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.
- Through days dark and stormy where Great Lenin led us
- Our eyes saw the bright sun of freedom above
- and Stalin our Leader with faith in the People,
- Inspired us to build up the land that we love.
- CHORUS
- We fought for the future, destroyed the invader,
- and brought to our homeland the Laurels of Fame.
- Our glory will live in the memory of nations
- and all generations will honour her name.
- CHORUS
See also: National Anthems of the USSR and Union Republics