Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Internationale

The song called “The Internationale” is a socialist, anarchist, communist and social-democratic anthem and (according to Wikipedia) one of the most recognized songs of the world.

Well, I didn’t know about it, and still have not heard it. But, I like the lyrics, so I am going to reprint the first two stanzas here. It seems like a very good song for a revolution. They say it is traditionally sung with the hand raised in a clenched fist salute.

Arise, wretched of the earth
Arise, convicts of hunger
Reason thunders in its volcano
This is the eruption of the end
Of the past let us wipe the slate clean
Masses, slaves, arise, arise
The world is about to change its foundation
We are nothing, let us be all
This is the final struggle
Let us gather together, and tomorrow
The Internationale
Will be the human race.

There are no supreme saviours
Neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune..
Producers, let us save ourselves
Decree the common welfare
That the thief return his plunder,
That the spirit be pulled from its prison
Let us fan the forge ourselves
Strike the iron while it is hot
This is the final struggle
Let us stand together, and tomorrow
The Internationale
Will be the human race.

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