This page is about the anthem. For the graphic novel, see La Borinqueña (graphic novel). For the Roselyn Sanchez album, see Borinqueña (album).
Quick facts for kids
La Borinqueña
| anthem of |
Puerto Rico |
| Lyrics |
Manuel Fernández Juncos, 1901 |
| Music |
Félix Astol Artés, 1867 (original version)
Luis Miranda, 1922 (current version) |
| Adopted |
1952 (as instrumental) |
La Borinqueña is the official anthem of Puerto Rico. Its name comes from Borinquen, which is the native name for Puerto Rico.
In 1952, Puerto Rico became known as "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico." At that time, the first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, signed a law. This law made a special version of the music known as "La Borinqueña" the official anthem. Later, on July 27, 1977, Governor Carlos Romero Barceló approved the words that go with the music.
Puerto Rico's Official Anthem
Manuel Fernandez Juncos wrote the official lyrics.
The official lyrics of "La Borinqueña" were written by Manuel Fernández Juncos in 1901. These words describe the beauty of Puerto Rico, calling it a "flowery garden" with a clear sky and peaceful waves. They also mention Christopher Columbus arriving and being amazed by the island's beauty.
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- La tierra de Borinquen
- donde he nacido yo
- es un jardín florido
- de mágico primor.
- Un cielo siempre nítido
- le sirve de dosel.
- Y dan arrullos plácidos
- las olas a sus pies.
- Cuando a sus playas llegó Colón;
- exclamó lleno de admiración:
- "¡Oh! ¡Oh! ¡Oh!
- Esta es la linda tierra
- que busco yo."
- Es Borinquen la hija,
- la hija del mar y el sol,
- Del mar y el sol,
- Del mar y el sol,
- Del mar y el sol,
- Del mar y el sol.
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- The land of Borinquen
- where I was born
- is a flowery garden
- of magical beauty.
- A constantly clear sky
- serves as its canopy.
- And placid lullabies are sung
- by the waves at its feet.
- When at her beaches Columbus arrived;
- he exclaimed full of admiration
- "Oh! Oh! Oh!
- This is the beautiful land
- that I seek."
- Borinquen is the daughter,
- the daughter of the sea and the sun.
- Of the sea and the sun,
- Of the sea and the sun,
- Of the sea and the sun,
- Of the sea and the sun.
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The Original Revolutionary Version
Lola Rodríguez de Tió wrote the original, revolutionary lyrics.
Before the official version, there was an earlier version of "La Borinqueña" with different lyrics. These words were written in 1868 by Lola Rodríguez de Tió. This version was a revolutionary song, meaning it was used to inspire people to fight for freedom and independence for Puerto Rico. It talks about waking up and fighting for liberty, mentioning the "Cry of Lares" (a famous uprising) and the desire to be free.
- ¡Despierta, borinqueño
- que han dado la señal!
- ¡Despierta de ese sueño
- que es hora de luchar!
- A ese llamar patriótico
- ¿no arde tu corazón?
- ¡Ven! Nos será simpático
- el ruido del cañón.
- Mira, ya el cubano
- libre será;
- le dará el machete
- su libertad...
- le dará el machete
- su libertad.
- Ya el tambor guerrero
- dice en su son,
- que es la manigua el sitio,
- el sitio de la reunión,
- de la reunión...
- de la reunión.
- El Grito de Lares
- se ha de repetir,
- y entonces sabremos
- vencer o morir.
- Bellísima Borinquén,
- a Cuba hay que seguir;
- tú tienes bravos hijos
- que quieren combatir.
- ya por más tiempo impávido
- no podemos estar,
- ya no queremos, tímidos
- dejarnos subyugar.
- Nosotros queremos
- ser libre ya,
- y nuestro machete
- afilado está.
- y nuestro machete
- afilado está.
- ¿Por qué, entonces, nosotros
- hemos de estar,
- tan dormidos y sordos
- y sordos a esa señal?
- a esa señal, a esa señal?
- No hay que temer, riqueños
- al ruido del cañón,
- que salvar a la patria
- es deber del corazón!
- ya no queremos déspotas,
- caiga el tirano ya,
- las mujeres indómitas
- también sabrán luchar.
- Nosotros queremos
- la libertad,
- y nuestros machetes
- nos la darán...
- y nuestro machete
- nos la dará...
- Vámonos, borinqueños,
- vámonos ya,
- que nos espera ansiosa,
- ansiosa la libertad.
- ¡La libertad, la libertad!
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- Arise, boricua!
- The call to arms has sounded!
- Awake from the slumber,
- it is time to fight!
- Doesn't this patriotic
- call set your heart alight?
- Come! We are in tune with
- the roar of the cannon.
- Come, Come, the Cuban will
- soon be freed;
- the machete will give him
- his justice,
- the machete will give him
- his liberty.
- Now the drums of war
- speak with their music,
- that the jungle is the place,
- the meeting place.
- The meeting...
- The meeting...
- The Cry of Lares
- must be repeated,
- and then we will know:
- victory or death.
- Beautiful Borinquén
- must follow Cuba;
- you have brave sons
- who wish to fight.
- Now, no longer can
- we be unmoved;
- now we do not want timidly
- to let them subjugate us.
- We want to be free now,
- and our machete
- has been sharpened.
- We want to be free now,
- and our machete
- has been sharpened.
- Why, then,
- have we been
- so sleepy and deaf
- to the call?
- To the call, to the call?
- There is no need to fear,
- Ricans, the roar of the cannon;
- saving the nation is
- the duty of the heart.
- We no longer want despots,
- tyranny shall fall now;
- the unconquerable women also will
- know how to fight.
- We want freedom,
- and our machetes
- will give it to us.
- We want freedom,
- and our machetes
- will give it to us.
- Come, Boricuas,
- come now,
- since freedom
- awaits us anxiously,
- freedom, freedom!
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See also
In Spanish: La Borinqueña para niños
