Any English version of the USSR anthem (without Stalin lyrics) ?

[BogdanV]

It so happened that I heard the first iteration of the USSRs anthem in English and I have to admit it sounds great... except for the Stalin part.
I know that after Stalin's death, the lyrics were changed, to lift him off the song, so, I was wondering if there ever existed a English interpretation without the mentioning of Stalin, or at least a translation/adaptation of these lyrics in English ?

[RebelDog]

It originated at the time of the Paris Commune long before the Soviet Union and the use of the song by the Soviet Union as their anthem was pre-Stalin.

the wiki article contains all you need: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale

[Spawn of Stalin]

The Internationale is not the USSR anthem. The only English translation I have heard is the Paul Robeson version, which of course has the Stalin lyrics, but hey, that's half the fun! In all honesty though I don't know if such a translation exists, I believe there were no new lyrics until 1977.

[mykittyhasaboner]

It originated at the time of the Paris Commune long before the Soviet Union and the use of the song by the Soviet Union as their anthem was pre-Stalin.


Actually it was after the second war that they changed it to the Soviet hymn (or it might have been during the war..?).

For the OP, here you go.

1.
Unbreakable union of freeborn republics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union)
Great Russia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Russia) has welded forever to stand!
Created in struggle by will of the peoples
United and mighty, our Soviet land!
CHORUS:
Glory to you, our free Motherland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Russia),Bulwark of people, in brotherhood strong!Oh! Party of Lenin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union)! The strength of the people.To Communism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism)'s triumph lead us on! 2.
Through tempests the sun rays of freedom have cheered us
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead!
To a righteous cause (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution) he raised up the people
Inspired them to labour and valorous deed!
CHORUS 3.
In the victory of Communism's deathless ideal,
We see the future of our dear land
And to her fluttering scarlet banner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union),
selflessly true, we always shall stand!
CHORUS
I believe there were no new lyrics until 1977.

According to wiki it was changed in 77 to exclude lyrics referring to Stalin. Go figure.



I personally prefer the song without lyrics. It's fairly good imo.

[BogdanV]

Thanks for your replies and translation ! As for the Internationale, if I'm not wrong, it was the USSR's anthem until WW2, when Stalin thought that a cry for world revolution doesn't fit quite well with the "socialism in one country" idea.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I prefer the instrumental one, which I believe was the official anthem from 1977 onwards?

[scarletghoul]

The Paul Robeson is so classic. A voice so pure.

[Spawn of Stalin]

Agreed, no doubt one of the most talented singers of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtU3vUOa2sw

[The Author]

The Internationale was used as the anthem in the USSR from 1917 to 1944. Then, Sergei Mikhalkov (who just died back in August of this year) and Alexander Alexandrov came up with the Hymn of the Soviet Union in 1944, lasting until 1955. Mikhalkov wrote the lyrics, Alexandrov wrote the music- partly borrowing from his earlier themes on the Bolshevik Party and "Life is Getting Better." From 1955 to 1977, there were no lyrics to the anthem, just the Instrumental version. From 1977 to 1991, you had the new lyrics adopted- written once again by Mikhalkov- which removed references to Stalin, changed the chorus from referring to the Soviet flag and victory to the Party of Lenin and the Communist Triumph, and changed the entire third verse from the army defeating the invaders (Great Patriotic War theme) to a new theme of being faithful to deathless communist ideals and remaining true to the Scarlet Banner.

After 1991, of course, Yeltsin used the Song of Glinka but could never adopt lyrics after repeated attempts. Then came Putin, who at the end of December in 2000, with his opportunist efforts to mix together the Tsarist, Soviet, and Liberal heritage into one contradictory expression of the national symbols, had the aging Mikhalkov write yet another version to the anthem. This version had no more Lenin, no more communism, no more "Unbreakable Union of Freeborn Republics," but referred to Great Russia, its forests and seas and polar realms (a reference to the famous song "My Spacious Homeland") protection by God, and opportunities in the sacred Fatherland and devotion to the Sacred State. Your quintessential bourgeois hymn dealing with nationalism and God and sacred land with opportunity as opposed to the previous, communist hymns with their international character.

[The Author]

These are the three different versions of the Anthem:

1944:

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has welded forever to stand!
Created in struggle by will of the Peoples,
United and Mighty our Soviet Land!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!

Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us,
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead,
Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,
Inspired us to labor and Valorous Deed!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Happiness Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!

Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle,
Barbarian invaders we'll swiftly strike down.
In combat the fate of the future we'll settle,
Our country we'll lead to eternal renown!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Bravery Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!



1977:

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has welded forever to stand!
Created in struggle by will of the Peoples,
United and Mighty our Soviet Land!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood Strong!
Oh! Party of Lenin! 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,
He raised up the peoples to a righteous cause
Inspiring them to labor and Valorous Deed!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood Strong!
Oh! Party of Lenin! Strength of the people,
To Communism's triumph lead us on!

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!

CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood Strong!
Oh! Party of Lenin! Strength of the people,
To Communism's triumph lead us on!



2000:

Russia — our sacred power,
Russia — our beloved country.
Mighty will, great glory —
Your honors for all time!

Refrain:
Glory to you, our free Motherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar regions
Spread our forests and fields.
You are unique in the world! You alone are like this —
Our dear land kept safe by God!

Refrain:
Glory to you, our free Motherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!

Wide amplitude for dreams and for living
Gets opened up for us with each passing year.
Loyalty to the Motherland gives us strength.
Thus it was, is, and always shall be!

Refrain:
Glory to you, our free Motherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!