Chile National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History

Sally Polly March 06, 2023 | 00:14

What Is The Chile National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History. Photo: MidiFiles

The "National Anthem of Chile", also known as Canción Nacional ('National Song') or by its incipit Puro, Chile, es tu cielo azulado ('How pure, Chile, is your blue sky'), was adopted in 1828. It has a history of two lyrics and two melodies that made up three different versions. The current version was composed by Ramón Carnicer, with words by Eusebio Lillo, and has six parts plus the chorus. Here are the anthem’s history, original lyrics and English translation.

History of Chile National Anthem

First national anthem

Goffredo Mameli, then a 20-year-old student, wrote the lyrics. Michele Novaro put them to music two months later.

The song rose to fame during Italy's Risorgimento, but "Marcia Reale" (the Royal March) replaced it as the country's official anthem after Unification in 1861. (Royal March).

When Italy finally became a republic after World War II, it reinstituted "Il Canto degli Italiani" as its national song.

This song was written 170 years ago, but it wasn't formally recognized as Italy's national anthem until December 2017.

Second national anthem

The current Chilean national song was written by Spanish composer Ramón Carnicer during his political exile to England. In response to the backlash over Robles's song, Chilean Minister in London Mariano Egaaa commissioned Carnicer to write a new hymn based on Bernardo de Vera's words.

After returning to Barcelona in 1827, the Spanish composer likely wrote the piece that would become his hymn, which was first performed on 23 December 1828 at the Arteaga theater in Santiago.

In 1847, after having the anti-Spain poem Vera y Pintado evaluated by Andrés Bello, the Chilean government entrusted the young poet Eusebio Lillo with a new text that would replace it ("Dulce patria, recibe los votos..."). In 1909, the lyrics were tweaked a bit.

Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship (1973-1990) saw the official incorporation of Verse III due to the dictator's high regard for the armed forces and national police (Carabineros). It was only sung at military gatherings after Pinochet's rule ended in 1990. In private events and rallies, supporters of the old military junta still sing the hymn with the controversial third verse, despite the growing consensus that the regime committed crimes against humanity.

The current melody of the anthem is based on the original melody of the second anthem by Carnicer, which was raised to F Major (the Royal Musical Official Version of the anthem) for the celebrations marking the return of democracy in March 1990 at Santiago's Estadio Nacional Julio Martnez Prádanos. The lyrics, however, are those of the 1847 anthem, with the exception of the original chorus, which dates back to 1819. From 1991 until 2000, this version was used to introduce broadcasts of presidential addresses in Chile. The more stylised variant that came into usage in 2000 lasted until 2010. Following that incident, speeches no longer included the national anthem. As the dictatorship ended, TV stations stopped regularly playing the song at the beginning and finish of broadcasts. This trend accelerated in the 1990s. Even today, it is customary for Chilean radio stations to play the national anthem on New Year's Eve.

In 2003, Joe Walsh, a legendary member of the American rock band the Eagles, sang the Chilean national anthem at a baseball game featuring the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche people, who make up the country's biggest indigenous group, is also translated into Spanish.

Spanish lyrics of The Chile National Anthem

Puro, Chile, es tu cielo azulado,

Puras brisas te cruzan también,

Y tu campo de flores bordado

Es la copia feliz del Edén.

Majestuosa es la blanca montaña

Que te dio por baluarte el Señor,

Y ese mar que tranquilo te baña

Te promete futuro esplendor.

Y ese mar que tranquilo te baña

Te promete futuro esplendor.

CHORUS:

Dulce Patria, recibe los votos

Con que Chile en tus aras juró:

Que o la tumba serás de los libres

O el asilo contra la opresión

Que o la tumba serás de los libres

O el asilo contra la opresión

Que o la tumba serás de los libres

O el asilo contra la opresión

O el asilo contra la opresión.

The Chile National Anthem in English translation

Chile, your sky is a pure blue,

Pure breezes blow across you,

And your field, embroidered with flowers,

Is a happy copy of Eden.

Majestic is the snow-covered mountain

That was given to you by the Lord as a bastion,

And the sea that tranquilly washes your shore

Promises future splendour for you,

And the sea that tranquilly washes your shore

Promises future splendour for you.

CHORUS:

Sweet fatherland, accept the vows

With which Chile swore at your altars:

Either you’ll be the tomb of the free

Or the refuge against oppression

Either you’ll be the tomb of the free

Or the refuge against oppression

Either you’ll be the tomb of the free

Or the refuge against oppression

Or the refuge against oppression.

Lyrics video of Chile National Anthem

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