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English: Our Fatherland
Mer Hayrenik
Flag of Armenia in Yerevan.JPG
National anthem of Armenia
Lyrics Mikael Nalbandian, 1861
Music Barsegh Kanachyan
Adopted 1918 (re-adopted in 1991)

Mer Hayrenik (which means 'Our Fatherland' in Armenian) is the national anthem of Armenia. It was written by Mikael Nalbandian in 1861 and the music was composed by Barsegh Kanachyan.

This song was first chosen as Armenia's anthem in 1918. This was when Armenia became the First Republic of Armenia. However, when Armenia joined the Soviet Union in 1922, Mer Hayrenik was no longer allowed. A different song became the anthem for the Armenian part of the Soviet Union.

In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart. Armenia became an independent country again. At this time, Mer Hayrenik was brought back as the national anthem. Only a few small changes were made to the words.

Lyrics

The lyrics of Mer Hayrenik are very important to the Armenian people. They talk about freedom and the love for their country.

Current lyrics

Here are the words of the anthem as they are sung today. You can see the original Armenian words and an English translation.

Armenian original
Poetic English translation

Մեր Հայրենիք, ազատ անկախ,
Որ ապրել է դարեդար
Յուր որդիքը արդ կանչում են
Ազատ, անկախ Հայաստան։

Ահա եղբայր քեզ մի դրոշ,
Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի
Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ,
Արտասուքով լվացի։

Նայիր նրան՝ երեք գոյնով,
Նուիրական մեր նշան
Թող փողփողի թշնամու դեմ
Թող միշտ պանծայ Հայաստան։

Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է
Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ մեռնի,
Բայց երանի՝ որ յուրր ազգի
Ազատության կզոհվի։

Our Fatherland, free, independent,
That has fo' centuries liv'd,
Now summoneth its descendents
To free, independent Armenia.

Here a flag for thee, my br'er,
That I have sewn by my hand
O'er the nights which felt fore'er,
Bath'd in my tears now so grand.

O, look at it, tricolour'd,
Fo' us 'tis a symbol priz'd.
Letteth it shine forth 'gainst thy foe.
Mayeth Armenia with grace glow.

Death is no different anywhere
He who dieth but even once,
Bless'd is he who sacrificeth
Fo' the freedom o' his land.

Original lyrics

The original version of Mer Hayrenik was a poem called The Song of an Italian Girl. When it was first written, some of the words were different. The original poem talked about being "miserable" and "downtrodden by our enemies." It also mentioned "revenge" and even wished for "Austria to be destroyed."

When the song became the national anthem, these parts were changed. The new words focus on Armenia being "free, independent" and full of pride. This made the anthem more about hope and freedom for the country.

Poem text in Armenian English translation

Մեր հայրենիք, թշուառ, անտէր,
Մեր թշնամուց ոտնակոխ,
Իւր որդիքը արդ կանչում է
Հանել իւր վրէժ, քէն ու ոխ:

Ահա՛, եղբայր, քեզ մի դրoշ,
Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի,
Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ,
Արտասուքով լուացի։

Նայի՛ր նորան, երեք գոյնով,
Նուիրական մեր նշան,
Թո՛ղ փողփողի թշնամու դէմ,
Թո՛ղ կործանուի Աւստրիան:

Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է,
Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ մեռնի.
Բայց երանի՜, որ իւր ազգի
Ազատութեան կը զոհուի:

Our Fatherland, miserable, abandon'd,
Downtrodden by our enemies,
Now summoneth its descendents
Ready fo' revenge, spite, grudge.

Here a flag for thee, my br'er,
That I have sewn by my hand
O'er the nights which felt fore'er,
Bath'd in my tears now so grand.

O, look at it, tricolour'd,
Fo' us 'tis a symbol priz'd.
Letteth it shine forth 'gainst thy foe:
Mayeth Austria be destroy'd.

Death is no different anywhere
He who dieth but even once,
Bless'd is he who sacrificeth
Fo' the freedom o' his land.

See also

In Spanish: Mer Hayrenik para niños

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