State Anthem of the Soviet Union facts for kids
The State Anthem of the Soviet Union was the official song, or national anthem, of the Soviet Union from 1944 until 1991. It took the place of an older anthem called The Internationale, which was a Russian version of a French song.
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History of the Soviet Anthem
The music for this anthem was created around 1938 by Alexander Alexandrov. He was a famous Russian composer who also started the Alexandrov Ensemble, a well-known choir and army band. The first words for the anthem were written in 1943 by Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan. These words mentioned Joseph Stalin, who was the leader at the time, and the Great Patriotic War (World War II).
After Stalin died in 1953, the words were no longer used because they mentioned him. So, for a while, the anthem was played without any singing. In 1977, for the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution (a major event in Russian history), new words were written. Sergey Mikhalkov, one of the original writers, helped change the lyrics so they didn't mention Stalin or the war.
This song was used as the national anthem until 1991, when the Soviet Union ended. Most of the different parts of the Soviet Union had their own anthems. However, the Russian SSR (the biggest part) did not have its own anthem until 1990. After Russia became an independent country, its new anthem used music by Mikhail Glinka and had no official words.
In 2000, Vladimir Putin became the new President of Russia. He decided to bring back the melody of the old Soviet anthem. Sergey Mikhalkov, the same person who wrote the original Soviet words, wrote new words for this tune.
Below you can find the words in Russian and English. Both can be sung to the music. Like "The Internationale," there are also other versions of the Soviet anthem in different languages.
1977 Anthem Lyrics
These are the words that were used from 1977 until the Soviet Union ended.
Official Russian Lyrics
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Союз нерушимый республик свободных |
Sojuz nerušimyj respublik svobodnyh |
Official English Translation
This is the English version of the 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.
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- Chorus
- In the victory 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!
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- Chorus
Original 1944 Anthem Version
The first words written in 1944 had slightly different choruses after each verse. In 1977, these were changed to one chorus that was the same after every verse.
Official Russian Lyrics (1944)
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Союз нерушимый республик свободных |
Sojuz nerušimyj respublik svobodnyh |
English Translation of the 1944 Version
The Russian [Soviet] republics, in freedom united,
Have mustered their power, their glory, their pride,
And thus they created the great Soviet Union,
The will of the nations that spread far and wide!
Great shall your glory be, Motherland proud and free,
Bulwark of friendship for nation and man!
Flag of the Soviet, lead us to victory,
Flag of the people since freedom began!
The sunlight of freedom has shone through the tempest,
And Lenin has lighted our path with his flame,
While Stalin has shown us that faith in the people
Inspires us to action, to deeds and to fame.
Great shall your glory be, Motherland proud and free,
Bulwark of happiness for nation and man!
Flag of the Soviet, lead us to victory,
Flag of the people since freedom began!
Our army in action has grown in its power,
And soon it will wipe out the enemy horde;
The fate of the future is sealed by our bravery,
And honour and glory shall be our reward!
Great shall your glory be, Motherland proud and free,
Bulwark of glory for nation and man!
Flag of the Soviet, lead us to victory,
Flag of the people since freedom began!
Anthem of the Bolshevik Party
The Hymn of the Bolshevik Party (Гимн партии большевиков / Gimn partii boljševikov) uses the same tune as the Soviet anthem. However, it has different words written by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach. The beginning of this song uses parts from an earlier song by Alexandrov called Life has Become Better. From the 1930s to the 1950s, this hymn was like an unofficial anthem for the Bolshevik Party. In 2016, a Russian communist party called Communists of Russia said this song is their official party anthem.
Bolshevik Party Anthem Lyrics
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Страны небывалой свободные дети, |
Strany nebyvaloj svobodnije deti, |
Free children of a state unprecedented [until now], |
