A las Barricadas

"A las barricadas"
Song
Language	Spanish
Published	Original music from "Warszawianka" composed in 1879. Lyrics written in 1936.
Recorded	1936
Length	1:13
Composer(s)	Józef Pławiński
Lyricist(s)	Valeriano Orobón Fernández based on original lyrics by Wacław Święcicki
Audio sample
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"A las Barricadas" ("To the Barricades") 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 "Whirlwinds of Danger" ("Warszawianka"), composed by Józef Pławiński. The lyrics were written by Valeriano Orobón Fernández in 1936, partly based on the original Polish lyrics by Wacław Święcicki.

"The Confederation" referred to in the final stanza is the anarcho-syndicalist CNT (Spanish: 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.

Lyrics

Spanish

English Translation

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. Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos. 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. Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos. 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 air Dark clouds blind us Although pain and death [may] await us Duty calls us against the enemy The most precious good is freedom It must be defended with faith and courage Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Black storms shake the air Dark clouds blind us Although pain and death [may] await us Duty calls us against the enemy The most precious good is freedom It must be defended with faith and courage Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Get up, working people, to the battle [We] have to topple the reaction To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation

Covering artists

• Bandista (with the name "Haydi Barikata")
• Jean-Marc Leclercq
• Pascal Comelade
• Victor Manuel and Ana Belén (as a duet piece).
• Los Muertos de Cristo

See also

• Songs of the Spanish Civil War

External links

• Score
• Himno de la CNT – Hosting mp3s of "A Las Barricadas"
• http://anarchismus.at/ – Hosting mp3s of "A Las Barricadas"