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National Anthem of Peru

National Anthem of Peru - Himno Nacional del Perú

The National Anthem of Peru in Spanish, Quechua and English Translation

After Peru declared its independence in 1820, General José de San Martín began a public contest to select the National March, which was published on the 7th of August 1821 in the Gaceta Ministerial (Ministerial Gazette). After hearing all the presented compositions, they selected the last production of Master José Bernardo Alcedo.

At the end of the contest General José de San Martín stood up and exclaimed exited: "with no doubt, this is the National Anthem of Peru". The following day a signed decree confirmed the choice, and they performed publicly the anthem for the first time in the night of the 23rd of September 1821 in the Theater of Lima.

There have been various changes to the lyrics, but the official version of the National Anthem as known today has finally been sanctioned by the Peruvian Government in September 2009.

When the anthem is played on official occasions or ceremonies, the right hand is placed on the heart and it is quite common that the end of the anthem is followed by a shout: "Viva el Peru!" - "Long Live Peru!"

Lyrics of the National Anthem in Spanish & English

Below you'll find a "side by side" translation (Spanish-English) of the lyrics of the National Anthem of Peru.

Spanish lyrics

Coro

Somos libres
seámoslo siempre, seámoslo siempre
y antes niegue sus luces
sus luces, sus luces el Sol!
Que faltemos al voto solemne
que la patria al Eterno elevó,
Que faltemos al voto solemne
que la patria al Eterno elevó.
Que faltemos al voto solemne
que la patria al Eterno elevo.

I Verse (former official sung verse)

Largo tiempo el peruano oprimido
la ominosa cadena arrastró
condenado a una cruel servidumbre
largo tiempo, largo tiempo,
largo tiempo en silencio gimió.
Mas apenas el grito sagrado
¡Libertad! en sus costas se oyó
la indolencia del esclavo sacude
la humillada, la humillada,
la humillada cerviz levantó,
la humillada cerviz levantó, cerviz levantó...    

II Verse

Y al estruendo de broncas cadenas
que escuchamos tres siglos de horror,
de los libres al grito sagrado
que oyó atónito el mundo, cesó.
Por doquier San Martín inflamado,
libertad, libertad, pronunció,
y meciendo su base los Andes
la anunciaron, también, a una voz.

III Verse

Con su influjo los pueblos despiertan
y cual rayo corrió la opinión;
desde el istmo a las tierras del fuego,
desde el fuego a la helada región.
Todos juran romper el enlace
que Natura a ambos mundos negó,
y quebrar ese cetro que España
reclinaba orgullosa en los dos.

IV Verse

Lima cumple ese voto solemne,
y, severa, su enojo mostró,
al tirano impotente lanzando,
que intentaba alargar su opresión.
A su esfuerzo saltaron los grillos
y los surcos que en sí reparó,
le atizaron el odio y venganza
que heredara de su Inca y Señor.

V Verse

Compatriotas, no más verla esclava.
Si humillada tres siglos gimió,
para siempre jurémosla libre,
manteniendo su propio esplendor.
Nuestros brazos, hasta hoy desarmados
estén siempre cebando el cañón,
que algún día las playas de Iberia
sentirán de su estruendo el terror.

VI (Former fifth verse)

Excitemos los celos de España
pues presiente con mengua y furor
que en concurso de grandes naciones
nuestra patria entrará en parangón.
En la lista que de éstas se forme
llenaremos primero el reglón
que el tirano ambicioso Iberino,
que la América toda asoló.

VII (Present Official sung verse)

En su cima los Andes sostengan
la bandera o pendón bicolor,
que a los siglos anuncie el esfuerzo
que ser libres, que ser libres
que ser libres por siempre nos dio.
A su sombra vivamos tranquilos,
y al nacer por sus cumbres el sol,
renovemos el gran juramento
que rendimos, que rendimos
que rendimos al Dios de Jacob,
que rendimos al Dios de Jacob,
al Dios del Jacob...

English translation

Chorus

We are free!
May we always be so, may we always be so!
and let the lights be denied before
the lights, the lights...of the sun!
Before we break the solemn vow
which the fatherland elevated to the Eternal,
Before we break the solemn vow
which the fatherland elevated to the Eternal.
Before we break the solemn vow
which the fatherland elevated to the Eternal.

I (former official sung verse)

For a long time the oppressed Peruvian
the ominous chain he dragged
Condemned to a cruel servitude
for a long time, for a long time
for a long time he quietly moaned
But as soon as the sacred cry
Freedom! in its coasts was heard
the slaves' indolence shakes
the humiliated, the humiliated,
the humiliated neck raised up,
the humiliated neck raised up, neck raised up...

II Verse

Now the roar of rough chains
that we had heard for three centuries of horror
from the free, at the sacred cry
that the world heard astonished, ceased.
Everywhere the inflamed San Martín
"Freedom", "Freedom" he pronounced;
and the Andes, rocking their base,
announced it as well, in unison.

III Verse

With its influx the peoples woke up,
and like lighting ran the opinion;
from the Isthmus to the Tierra del Fuego,
and from Tierra del Fuego to the icy regions.
Everyone vowed to break the link
that Nature denied to both worlds,
and break the scepter that Spain
had reclined, proudly, on both.

IV Verse

Lima fulfilled this solemn vow,
and, severe, its anger showed
by throwing out the powerless tyrant,
who had been trying to extend his oppression.
On its endeavor the shackles cracked,
and the furrows that it had repaired in itself
stirred up its hatred and vengeance,
inherited from its Inca and Lord.

V Verse

Countrymen, may we see it a slave no more.
If for three centuries it moaned, humiliated,
forever may we swear it'd be free,
maintaining its own splendor.
Our arms, until today unarmed,
be they always readying the cannon,
that someday the beaches of Iberia
will feel the horror of its roar.

VI (Former fifth verse)

May we arouse the jealousy of Spain
since it has a premonition, with want and furor,
that in a contest of great nations
our country will enter in comparison.
On the list formed by these
we shall fill the line first,
ahead of the ambitious Iberian tyrant,
who devastated all of America.

VII (Present Official sung verse)

On its summits may the Andes sustain
the two-color flag or standard,
may it announce to the centuries the effort
that being free, that being free
that being free gave us forever.
Under its shadow may we live calmly
and, at birth of the sun in its summits,
may we all renew the great oath
that we rendered, that we rendered
that we rendered to the God of Jacob,
that we rendered to the God of Jacob,
the God of Jacob...

National Anthem of Peru in Quechua

There is also a Quechua version of the Peruvian National Anthem. Quechua is a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from a common ancestral language and is along with Spanish an official language in Peru. There is an estimated number of about 4 Million speakers in the country.

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National Anthem of Peru in Spanish

National Anthem of Peru in Spanish

3384 views
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04 March 2021
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National Anthem of Peru in Quechua

National Anthem of Peru in Quechua

4858 views
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04 March 2021
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