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You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Russian. (December 2020) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Content in this edit is translated from the existing Russian Wikipedia article at [[:ru:Священная война]]; see its history for attribution.{{Translated|ru|Священная война}} to the talk page. |
| "The Sacred War" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Written | 1941 |
| Genre | Martial music |
| Composer(s) | Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov |
| Lyricist(s) | Vasily Lebedev-Kumach |
"The Sacred War",[a] also known as "Arise, Great Country!"[b] is one of the most famous Soviet songs of World War II. The music is by Alexander Alexandrov, founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble and the musical composer of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union. The lyrics are by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach.[1]
The circumstances of the composition and first performance of the song were hurried; the lyrics were published on 24 June 1941, and Alexandrov immediately wrote the music for them, writing the notes out on a blackboard for the singers to copy manually. The first performance was on 26 June at Belorussky Railway Station, where according to eyewitnesses it was sung five times in succession.[2]
In the 1990s Russian media published the allegation that the lyrics had been plagiarized by Lebedev-Kumach, and that they were indeed written during the First World War by Aleksandr Bode [ru] (1865–1939). These claims were taken to court, and the newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta in June 2000 was forced to publish a retraction of the claim.[3] Prof. Evgeniy Levashev (2000) still upheld doubts on the authorship, and on the reasonableness of the court's decision.[4]
One of the most famous Soviet patriotic songs, The Sacred War has been sung in several languages including Russian,[5] Finnish,[6] Hungarian,[7] Estonian,[8] Latvian,[9] Chinese,[10] Korean,[11] Japanese,[12] Vietnamese,[13] Hindi,[14] Punjabi,[15] German,[16] French[17] and English.[18] There exists a version of the song in Ukrainian,[19] however it is repurposed for the War in Donbas from the Ukrainian side and instead has anti-Soviet and anti-Russian themes.
| Original Russian lyrics | Latin transcription | Literal English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Verse | |||
|
Встава́й, страна́ огро́мная, |
Vstaváy straná ogrómnaya, |
Arise, vast country, | |
| Припе́в ×2 | Pripév ×2 | Chorus ×2 | |
|
Пусть я́рость благоро́дная |
Pustʹ yárostʹ blagoródnaya |
Let noble wrath | |
| Second Verse | |||
|
Дади́м отпо́р души́телям |
Dadím otpór dushítelyam |
We shall repulse the oppressors | |
| Припе́в | Pripév | Chorus | |
|
Пусть я́рость благоро́дная |
Pustʹ yárostʹ blagoródnaya |
Let noble wrath | |
| Third Verse | |||
|
Не сме́ют кры́лья чёрные |
Ne sméyut krýlʹya chórnye |
The black wings shall not dare | |
| Припе́в | Pripév | Chorus | |
|
Пусть я́рость благоро́дная |
Pustʹ yárostʹ blagoródnaya |
Let noble wrath | |
| Fourth Verse | |||
|
Гнило́й фаши́стской не́чисти |
Gnilóy fashístskoy néchisti |
We shall drive a bullet into the forehead | |
| Припе́в ×2 | Pripév ×2 | Chorus ×2 | |
|
Пусть я́рость благоро́дная |
Pustʹ yárostʹ blagoródnaya |
Let noble wrath | |
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