To The Barricades
Encyclopedia
A las Barricadas was one of the most popular songs of the Spanish anarchists
during the Spanish Civil War
. A las Barricadas is sung to the tune of Warszawianka 1905
. The lyrics were written by Valeriano Orobón Fernández
in 1936.
"The Confederation" referred to in the final stanza is the anarcho-syndicalist CNT
(Confederación Nacional del Trabajo — "National Confederation of Labor"), which at the time was the largest labour union
and main anarchist organisation in Spain, and a major force opposing Francisco Franco
's military coup against the Spanish Republic from 1936–1939.
The third stanza is sometimes sung instead with the line "Alza la bandera revolucionaria, que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos" (This sentence is hard to translate to English with the original intent. An approximation is "Raise the revolutionary flag, which unstoppably leads us to victory").
Anarchism in Spain
Anarchism has historically gained more support and influence in Spain than anywhere else, especially before Francisco Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939....
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. A las Barricadas is sung to the tune of Warszawianka 1905
Warszawianka 1905
Warszawianka is a Polish song that is believed to have been written in 1879. Wacław Święcicki wrote the song while serving a sentence in the Tenth Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel for socialist activity. The song received its name during a May Day demonstration in 1905, when it became the hymn of the...
. The lyrics were written by Valeriano Orobón Fernández
Valeriano Orobón Fernández
Valeriano Orobón Fernánez was a Spanish anarcho-syndicalist theoretician, trade-union activist, translator and poet, who wrote the lyrics of the revolutionary song A Las Barricadas....
in 1936.
"The Confederation" referred to in the final stanza is the anarcho-syndicalist CNT
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT...
(Confederación Nacional del Trabajo — "National Confederation of Labor"), which at the time was the largest labour union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and main anarchist organisation in Spain, and a major force opposing Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's military coup against the Spanish Republic from 1936–1939.
Lyrics
Negras tormentas agitan los aires nubes oscuras nos impiden ver Aunque nos espere el dolor y la muerte contra el enemigo nos llama el deber. El bien más preciado es la libertad hay que defenderla con fe y valor. Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos (Another version:que llevará al pueblo a la emancipación) Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos (Another version:que llevará al pueblo a la emancipación) En pie el pueblo obrero a la batalla hay que derrocar a la reacción ¡A las Barricadas! ¡A las Barricadas! por el triunfo de la Confederación. ¡A las Barricadas! ¡A las Barricadas! por el triunfo de la Confederación. |
Black storms shake the sky Dark clouds blind us Although death and pain await us Duty calls us against the enemy National Faction (Spanish Civil War) The National faction also known as Nationalists or Nationals , was a major faction in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. It was composed of a variety of political groups opposed to the Second Spanish Republic, including the Falange, the CEDA, and two rival monarchist claimants: the Alfonsists... The most precious good is freedom And we have to defend it With courage and faith Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries the people to emancipation Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries the people to emancipation Working people march onwards to the battle We have to smash the reaction Reactionary The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by... To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation Confederación Nacional del Trabajo The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT... To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation |
The third stanza is sometimes sung instead with the line "Alza la bandera revolucionaria, que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos" (This sentence is hard to translate to English with the original intent. An approximation is "Raise the revolutionary flag, which unstoppably leads us to victory").
Artists to cover the song include
- A.D.E.S.
- Asto Pituak
- Dandelion Junk Queens
- Jake and the Infernal Machine
- Jean-Marc LeclercqJean-Marc LeclercqJean-Marc Leclercq is a French singer and Esperantist from Toulouse. The former singer of the group Les Rosemary’s Babies who published two CDs with the French record production company Boucherie et Willins Production, he holds the Guinness Record for singing rock and traditional songs in over 22...
- Juventude Maldita (hardcore band from Brazil)
- Les Amis de ta Femme
- Los Dolares
- Los Muertos De Cristo
- Pascal ComeladePascal ComeladePascal Paul Vincent Comelade , is a French Catalan musician.Comelade born was in Montpellier, France. After living for several years in Barcelona, he made his first album, Fluences, influenced by electronic music and by the group Heldon.Subsequently, his music has become more acoustic and is...
- Serge Utgé-Royo
- VennaskondVennaskondVennaskond is an Estonian punk rock band founded in 1984. The band has toured in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Romania, Sweden, Germany, France and the USA .-Members:...
- Victor ManuelVíctor ManuelVíctor Manuel San José Sánchez is a Spanish singer-songwriter.He has been married to the Spanish singer and actress Ana Belén since 1972. He and his wife are considered symbols of the Spanish Transition, and his songs and albums often feature boldly-titled works with social and political content.-...
and Ana BelénAna BelénAna Belén is the artistic name of María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta, a Spanish actress and singer. She was born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid.- Biography :...
(as a duet piece). - Bandista (Turkish ensemble, with the name "Haydi Barikata")
- In September 2011, during the so-called Arab SpringArab SpringThe Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
, an ArabicArabic languageArabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
version appeared on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
sung by an amateurAmateurAn amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
in Syrian dialect.
External links
- Score
- Himno de la CNT - Hosting mp3s of A Las Barricadas
- http://anarchismus.at/ - Hosting mp3s of A Las Barricadas
