National Anthem of Colombia

Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia

English: National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia
National anthem of Colombia
Lyrics	Rafael Núñez, 1887
Music	Oreste Sindici, 1887
Adopted	1920
Music sample
National Anthem of Colombia (instrumental)

Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia. The anthem, commonly known as ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! (O Unfading Glory), was largely the creation of José Domingo Torres, an actor from Bogotá, who took a poem written by former Colombian president Rafael Núñez and asked a friend, opera singer Oreste Sindici, to set it to music.

The official announcement came in the form of Act 33 of October 28 of 1920. The law 198 of 1995, which legislates national symbols, its distribution became mandatory in all radio and television in the country both at 6:00 am as at 18:00 h (the latter half, at various times for private open signal and not applicable to national TV channels by cable), and public intervention in the President of the Republic and other official events.

Sheet music

• Piano sheet music of National Anthem of Colombia

Lyrics

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Spanish lyrics	English translation
CORO	CHORUS
¡Oh, gloria inmarcesible! ¡Oh, júbilo inmortal! En surcos de dolores, el bien germina ya. (repeat) ((Repeat all))	Oh, unfading glory! Oh, inmortal joy! In furrows of pain, the good now germinates. (Repeat) ((Repeat all))
I	I
Cesó la horrible noche. La libertad sublime derrama las auroras de su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, que entre cadenas gime, comprende las palabras del que murió en la cruz.	The fearful night has ceased. Liberty sublime shines forth the dawning of its invincible light. All of mankind, moaning in chains, understands the words of the one who died on the cross.
II	II
"¡Independencia!", grita el mundo americano. Se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio; "El rey no es soberano" resuena, y los que sufren bendicen su pasión.	"Independence!" cries the American world; The land of Columbus. Is bathed in heroes' blood. But this great principle; "The king is not sovereign", resounds, and those who suffer bless their passion.
III	III
Del Orinoco el cauce se colma de despojos, de sangre y llanto un río se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben las almas ni los ojos, si admiración o espanto sentir o padecer.	The Orinoco's bed Is heaped with plunder, The river runs With blood and weeping. In Bárbula neither soul nor eyes, know whether to feel shock or to suffer fright.
IV	IV
A orillas del Caribe, hambriento un pueblo lucha, horrores prefiriendo a pérfida salud. ¡Oh, sí!, de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud.	On the shores of the Caribbean, the famished people fight, choosing the horrors over fickle health. O, aye! for Cartagena heavy is the hardship, but her virtue disdains death's rubble.
V	V
De Boyacá en los campos, el genio de la gloria, con cada espiga un héroe invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza ganaron la victoria; su varonil aliento de escudo les sirvió.	From Boyacá in the fields, the genius of glory, for every ear a hero undefeated crowned. Soldiers without breastplate won victory; their virile breath as shield served.
VI	VI
Bolívar cruza el Ande que riegan dos océanos, espadas cual centellas fulguran en Junín. Centauros indomables descienden a los llanos, y empieza a presentirse, de la epopeya el fin.	Bolívar crosses the Andes that two oceans bathe, swords as sparks shine in Junín. Untameable centaurs descend to the plains, and a prescience begins to be felt, the epic' end has come.
VII	VII
La trompa victoriosa en Ayacucho truena, que en cada triunfo crece su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje la libertad se estrena, del cielo americano formando un pabellón.	The victorious trumpet in Ayacucho loudly thunders, that in every triumph grows its formidable sound. In its expansive thrust Liberty is worn for the first time, from the American sky a pavilion forming up.
VIII	VIII
La virgen sus cabellos arranca en agonía y de su amor viuda los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza que cubre loza fría, pero glorioso orgullo circunda su alba tez.	In agony, the Virgin Tears out her hair, and bereft of her love, leaves it to hang on a cypress. Regretting her hope is covered by a cold headstone, but glorious pride hallows her fair skin.
IX	IX
La patria así se forma, termópilas brotando; constelación de cíclopes su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida mortal el viento hallando, debajo los laureles seguridad buscó.	Thus the motherland is formed, Thermopylaes are breaking forth; constellation of cyclops its night brightened. The trembling flower finding the wind mortal, underneath the laurels its safety sought.
X	X
Mas no es completa gloria vencer en la batalla, que el brazo que combate lo anima la verdad. La independencia sola el gran clamor no acalla; si el sol alumbra a todos, justicia es libertad.	But it's not complete glory to defeat in battle, that the arm that fights is encouraged by truth. For independence alone The great clamour doesn't silence; if the sun illuminates everyone, justice is liberty.
XI	XI
Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, el alma de la lucha profético enseñó. Ricaurte en San Mateo, en átomos volando, "Deber antes que vida," con llamas escribió.	From men the rights Nariño's preaching, the soul of struggle was prophetically taught. When Ricaurte in San Mateo, in atoms flying, "Duty before life," with flames he wrote.

Instrumental Introduction Lyrics

During the border conflict with Peru (1932-1934), the soldiers who defended Colombia's national sovereignty added a new verse after the trumpet fanfare. Written specifically for that time of war, it soon fell into disuse. The words are:

Hoy que la madre patria se halla herida,

Hoy que debemos todos combatir, combatir,

Demos por ella nuestra vida

Que morir por la patria no es morir, es vivir

Now when the motherland is wounded,

Now when we must all fight, fight,

Let us give our life for her,

Because to die for one's country is not to die but live.

According to José Antonio Amaya, elementary school students in the 1930s were taught this stanza.

The final line is very similar to a line in the national anthem of Cuba that goes, "¡Qué morir por la patría es vivir!"

Usage

By law, radio broadcasts must play the national anthem at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm in the following manner: Chorus, first verse* and chorus once again. This is also how it is customarily performed in all public, political, and other official events.

Although the first verse is usually sung in between choruses, any of the eleven verses may be used. The anthem must be played chorus-verse-chorus regardless of which verse is selected.

In sports events, is played instrumental introduction-chorus-verse, instrumental introduction-chorus or chorus-verse.

In ceremonies of the Colombian Artillery, the last verse is used instead of the first verse.^{[citation needed]}