State Anthem of the Soviet Union

Hymn of the Soviet Union (Гимн Советского Союза, 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 worldwide 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, and other changes were made (see below). 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 writing new lyrics to represent Russia's new non-communist nature. See Hymn of the Russian Federation

Below is an English translation of the lyrics and the Official English lyrics which could be sung to the music.

Note: The lyrics bellow (i.e: Cyrillic version and the transliteration) are related to the revised 1977 version. However, the official translation resembles the original text of 1943. For the original 1943 verses, see below 'Removed and edited verses of the 1943 text'

1977 text in Russian

1.

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!

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!

ПРИПЕВ

3.

В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма

Мы видим грядущее нашей страны,

И Красному знамени славной Отчизны

Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны!

ПРИПЕВ

Transliteration of 1977 text from Russian

1.

Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh

Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'!

Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov

Yediniy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!

CHORUS:

Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,

Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot,

Partiya Lenina, sila narodnaya

Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedyot!

2.

Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobodi,

I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril,

Na pravoe delo on podnyal narodi,

Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!

CHORUS

3.

V pobede bessmertnikh idey kommunizma

My vidim gryadushchee nashey strany,

I krasnomu znameni slavnoy otchizny

My budem vsegda bezzavetno verni!

CHORUS

English translation

(Revised 1977 Lyrics)

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics,

Great Russia has welded forever 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 strength 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

(Based on the original text of 1943)

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

Original text of 1943

The 1943 text had three different refrains following three different stanzas. In all refrains, the last two lines used to make reference to the Soviet flag. In 1977, they were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas and mentioning the Party of Lenin and communism.

Russian	Romanized Russian
The first stanza remained unchanged:
Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!	Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'! Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov Yediniy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!
Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
The third line of the second stanza used to mention Stalin's name. That line was changed in 1977:
Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: Нас вырастил Сталин - на верность народу, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил!	Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobodi, I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril, Nas vyrastil Stalin -- na vernost' narodi, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!
Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Schast'ya narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
Finally, the third stanza was completely replaced in the 1977 version. Here is how the 1943 wartime version used to be:
Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметем! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведем!	My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yax, Zaxvatchikov podlyx s dorogi smetëm! My v bitvax reshaem sud'bu pokolenij, My k slave Otchiznu svoyu povedëm!
Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надежный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведет!	Refrain: Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Slavy narodov nadyozhniy oplot, Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!

External link

• Extensive set of downloadable recordings