Colombian National Anthem

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The Colombian National Anthem

The Colombian National Anthem is officially known as Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) and was adopted in 1920. It was originally composed in 1887 by Oreste Sindici, who composed the music and Rafael Nuñez who did the lyrics.

I rather like it. Grandiose as so many national anthems but I find myself humming along when they play it on the radio in the evenings when I'm driving home.

CORO / CHORUS

¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh júbilo inmortal!
En surcos de dolores
el bien germina ya. (repeat)
((Repeat all))

Oh unfading glory!
Oh immortal joy!
In furrows of pain
the good now germinates. (Repeat)
((Repeat all))

Verse I

Cesó la horrible noche,
la libertad sublime
derrama las auroras
de su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
que entre cadenas gime,
comprende las palabras
del que murió en la cruz.

The fearful night has ceased,
Liberty sublime
shines forth the dawning
of its invincible light.
All of mankind,
moaning in chains,
understands the words
of Him, who died on the Cross.

Daily Broadcast

In 1995 it was decreed as law, that it's mandatory for local radio and TV stations to broadcast the Colombian National Anthem at 6:00am and at 6:00pm every single day. It's played in the same way as it is performed in all public and political events. First you’ll hear the Chorus, then the first verse and ending with the chorus as shown above.

Here's a video of the song:

Format and Verses

In sports events such as soccer games an instrumental introduction is played prior to the first chorus, then the rest is played in the same format. Even though the first verse is the one that is sung the most, the Colombian National Anthem has a total of 11 verses which can be sung between choruses. At Colombian Artillery ceremonies you will hear the 11th verse of the National Anthem instead of the first one.

Temporary 12th Verse

The Colombian national anthem mentions different Colombian regions and the reasons why the Colombian people sought Independence, as well as how they were victorious in different battles for freedom across the country. In the early 1930s, a 12th verse was added and sung by the soldiers who fought for Colombia against Peru in what’s known as the Border Conflict.

It is said that during that time of war, this last verse of the Colombian national anthem which was played after the trumpet fanfare was being taught to elementary school students.

Hoy que la madre patria se halla herida,
Hoy que debemos todos combatir, combatir,
Demos por ella nuestra vida
Que morir por la patria no es morir, es vivir

Now when the motherland is wounded,
Now when we must all fight, fight,
Let us give our life for her,
Because to die for one's country is not to die but live.

The Colombian National Anthem remains the same as this last verse fell into disuse as soon as the war ended. The remaining 10 verses of the Colombian national anthem next:

Verse II

"¡Independencia!" grita
el mundo americano;
se baña en sangre de héroes
la tierra de Colón.
Pero este gran principio,
"El rey no es soberano"
resuena, y los que sufren
bendicen su pasión.

"Independence!" cries
the American world;
The land of Columbus.
Is bathed in heroes' blood.
But this great principle,
"The king is not sovereign",
resounds, and those who suffer now
Esteem the heroes' blood.

Verse III

Del Orinoco el cauce
se colma de despojos,
de sangre y llanto un río
se mira allí correr.
En Bárbula no saben
las almas ni los ojos,
si admiración o espanto
sentir o padecer.

The Orinoco's bed
Is heaped with plunder,
The river runs
With blood and weeping.
In Bárbula
neither soul nor eyes,
know whether to feel shock
or to suffer fright.

Verse IV

A orillas del Caribe,
Hambriento un pueblo lucha,
horrores prefiriendo
a pérfida salud.
¡Oh, sí!, de Cartagena
la abnegación es mucha,
y escombros de la muerte
desprecia su virtud.

On the shores of the Caribbean,
the famished people fight,
choosing the horrors
over fickle health.
O, aye! for Cartagena
heavy is the hardship,
but her virtue
disdains death's rubble.

Verse V

De Boyacá en los campos,
el genio de la gloria,
con cada espiga un héroe
invicto coronó.
Soldados sin coraza
ganaron la victoria;
su varonil aliento
de escudo les sirvió.

From Boyacá in the fields,
the genius of glory,
for every ear a hero
undefeated crowned.
Soldiers without breastplate
won victory;
their virile breath
as shield served.

Verse VI

Bolívar cruza el Ande
que riegan dos océanos,
espadas cual centellas
fulguran en Junín.
Centauros indomables
descienden a los llanos,
y empieza a presentirse,
de la epopeya el fin.

Bolivar crosses the Andes
that two oceans bathe,
swords as sparks
shine in Junín.
Untamable centaurs
descend to the plains,
and a prescience begins to be felt,
of the epic the end.

Verse VII

La trompa victoriosa
en Ayacucho truena,
que en cada triunfo crece
su formidable son.
En su expansivo empuje
la libertad se estrena,
del cielo americano
formando un pabellón.

The victorious trumpet
in Ayacucho loudly thunders,
that in every triumph grows
its formidable sound.
In its expansive thrust
Liberty is worn for the first time,
from the American sky
a pavilion forming up.

Verse VIII

La virgen sus cabellos
arranca en agonía
y de su amor viuda
los cuelga del ciprés.
Lamenta su esperanza
que cubre loza fría,
pero glorioso orgullo
circunda su alba tez.

In agony, the Virgin
Tears out her hair,
and bereft of her love,
leaves it to hang on a cypress.
Regretting her hope
covered by a cold headstone,
but glorious pride
hallows her fair skin.

Verse IX

La patria así se forma,
termópilas brotando;
constelación de cíclopes
su noche iluminó.
La flor estremecida
mortal el viento hallando,
debajo los laureles
seguridad buscó.

Thus the motherland is formed,
Thermopylae are breaking forth;
constellation of Cyclops
its night brightened.
The trembling flower
finding the wind mortal,
underneath the laurels
safety sought.

Verse X

Más no es completa gloria
vencer en la batalla,
que el brazo que combate
lo anima la verdad.
La independencia sola
el gran clamor no acalla;
si el sol alumbra a todos,
justicia es libertad.

But it's not complete glory
to defeat in battle,
that the arm that fights
is encouraged by truth.
Independence alone
The great clamor doesn't silence;
if the sun illuminates everyone,
justice is liberty.

Verse XI

Del hombre los derechos
Nariño predicando,
el alma de la lucha
profético enseñó.
Ricaurte en San Mateo,
en átomos volando,
"Deber antes que vida,"
con llamas escribió.

From men the rights
Nariño's preaching,
the soul of struggle
prophetically taught.
Ricaurte in San Mateo,
in atoms flying,
"Duty before life,"
with flames he wrote.

There you go - the entire Colombian national anthem! I doubt a lot of people know all 11 verses though...

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