The State Anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was the regional anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (LPSR), when Latvia was then part of the Soviet Union. It was written by Fricis Rokpelnis and Jūlijs Vanags, and its music was composed by Anatols Liepiņš. It was adopted on 19 July 1945, then it was relinquished on 15 February 1991 after declaring independence from the Soviet Union. It was replaced by Latvia's current anthem "Dievs, svētī Latviju!".[1]
History[]
Previously, "Dievs, svētī Latviju!" was the anthem of Latvia before it joined the USSR. Until then, that anthem was considered illegal and was abolished, so it was replaced by this anthem. The original lyrics of this anthem had references to Joseph Stalin until they were removed in 1977. On 15 February 1991, "Dievs, svētī Latviju!" was restored as the sovereign state's anthem.
After the Soviet Union dissolved, this song was abolished in 1990, and "Dievs, svētī Latviju!" was restored as Latvia's anthem in February 1991.
Lyrics[]
Latvian version[]
| Latin script | Cyrillic script | IPA transcription |
|---|---|---|
Šai zemē visdārgā mēs brīvību guvām, |
Шай земе висдарга мес бривибу гувам, |
[ʃaj ˈzɛ.mɛː ˈviz.daːr.gaː mɛːz‿ˈbriː.viː.bu ˈgu.vaːm ǀ] |
Russian version[]
Свободен навеки народ наш счастливый,
Путь светлый для всех поколений открыт.
Шумит наше море, цветут наши нивы,
В семье городов наша Рига гремит.
Припев:
Славься, Советская Латвия наша,
Ярко в созвездии республик сияй!
Не раз мы за волю ходили походом,
Бесправия цепи пытались разбить,
Лишь в дружбе незыблемой с русским народом
Смогли мы неправду и зло победить.
Припев
Под знаменем Ленина к счастью и славе
Путем Октября мы победно идем.
Верны мы великой Советской державе
И кровь за нее, если надо, прольем!
Припев
[2]
English translation[]
In this land most dear we gained our freedom,
Generation upon generation blessed to be born here,
Here our sea sighs, here our fields blossom,
Here our cities ring out, here Riga resounds.
Chorus:
Let Soviet Latvia live forever,
Let it shine bright in the Soviet crown!
We rose to break chains of slavery,
About centuries' long struggles it is told in every place.
Only in fraternity with the great Russian nation
We became a power to wage revolution.
Chorus
On Lenin's road to blessings and glory,
With the flag of October we will go on forever.
We will guard our Soviet Fatherland,
Everyone to the last drop of our blood.
Chorus
Original version[]
The original version of the song, used between 1945 and 1977, is almost identical to the post-1977 version; in the second line of the third verse, it just mentions "Stalin" instead of "October".