Wide is My Motherland

Last updated August 19, 2024

"Wide Is My Motherland",^{[lower-alpha 1]} also known as the "Song of the Motherland",^{[lower-alpha 2]} is a Soviet patriotic song from 1936. The music was composed by Isaac Dunaevsky and the lyrics were written by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach. The song was first featured in the classic Soviet film Circus .^[1]

History

The song made its debut in the 1936 film Circus, starring Lyubov Orlova and Sergei Stolyarov. The film depicts the story of an American woman who flees from racism in the United States after giving birth to an African-American child. She comes to the USSR to sing as part of an act in the circus, and soon falls in love with a performance director Ivan Petrovich Martinov. As she becomes assimilated into her new surroundings, her love blossoms into a love not only for Martinov but for the Soviet motherland itself, the ideals that have refined it, and the newly found freedoms of Soviet society. The melody and chorus of the song appear throughout the film, and both parts of the final stanza are sung at the end where all the characters are seen marching in a May Day parade on Red Square.

The song gained immediate popularity. A full three-stanza recording was published in 1937. In 1939, the opening chorus notes played on vibraphone became the official call sign of Soviet radio. Later on, however, during the period of de-Stalinization, the third stanza was dropped due to its mention of Joseph Stalin. It was replaced with a new stanza emphasizing comradeship and proletarian internationalism. The song was also translated into several other languages of Eastern Bloc countries, including German and Hungarian. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the song remains a popular patriotic tune in Russia.

Lyrics

The third stanza of the lyrics has been removed after de-Stalinization.

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Припев: Широка страна моя родная, Много в ней лесов, полей и рек! Я другой такой страны не знаю, Где так вольно дышит человек. I От Москвы до самых до окраин, С южных гор до северных морей Человек проходит, как хозяин, Необъятной Родиной своей. Всюду жизнь привольно и широко, Точно Волга полная, течёт. Молодым везде у нас дорога, Старикам везде у нас почёт. Припев II Наши нивы глазом не обшаришь, Не упомнишь наших городов, Наше слово гордое – товарищ – Нам дороже всех красивых слов. С этим словом мы повсюду дома. Нет для нас ни чёрных, ни цветных. Это слово каждому знакомо, С ним везде находим мы родных. Припев III За столом у нас никто не лишний, По заслугам каждый награждён, Золотыми буквами мы пишем Всенародный Сталинский закон. Этих слов величие и славу Никакие годы не сотрут: — Человек всегда имеет право На ученье, отдых и на труд! Припев IV Над страной весенний ветер веет. С каждым днём все радостнее жить, И никто на свете не умеет Лучше нас смеяться и любить. Но сурово брови мы насупим, Если враг захочет нас сломать, Как невесту, Родину мы любим, Бережём, как ласковую мать. Припев	Pripev: Široka strana moja rodnaja, Mnogo v nej lesov, polej i rek! Ja drugoj takoj strany ne znaju, Gde tak voljno dyšit čelovek. I Ot Moskvy do samyh do okrain, S južnyh gor do severnyh morej Čelovek prohodit, kak hozjain, Neob’jatnoj Rodinoj svojej. Vsjudu žiznj privoljno i široko, Točno Volga polnaja, tečjot. Molodym vezde u nas doroga, Starikam vezde u nas počjot. Pripev II Naši nivy glazom ne obšarišj Ne upomnišj naših gorodov, Naše slovo gordoje – tovarišč – Nam dorože vseh krasivyh slov. S etim slovom my povsjudu doma. Net dlja nas ni čjornyh, ni cvetnyh. Eto slovo každomu znakomo, S nim vezde nahodim my rodnyh. Pripev III Za stolom u nas nikto ne lišnij, Po zaslugam každyj nagraždjon, Zolotymi bukvami my pišem Vsenarodnyj Stalinskij zakon. Etih slov veličije i slavu Nikakije gody ne sotrut: – Čelovek vsegda imejet pravo Na učenje, otdyh i na trud. Pripev IV Nad stranoj vesennij veter vejet. S každym dnjom vse radostneje žitj, I nikto na svete ne umejet Lučše nas smejatjsja i ljubitj. No surovo brovi my nasupim, Jesli vrag zahočet nas slomatj, Kak nevestu, Rodinu my ljubim, Berežjom, kak laskovuju matj. Pripev	Chorus: Wide is my Motherland, Of her many forests, fields, and rivers! I know of no other country Where a man can breathe so freely. I From Moscow to the borders, From southern peaks to northern seas, As the master a man stands In his wide Motherland. Throughout life, freely and widely, Just like the Volga flows. The youth are always dear to us, The elderly always honoured by us. Chorus II Too wide for the eyes are our fields, Too many to remember are our cities. Our proud word – comrade – There's no word dearer to us. Everywhere with this word we feel at home. For us there are no blacks nor coloreds. This word is familiar to everyone, Everywhere with it we find friends. Chorus III At our table no one is excluded, Everyone is rewarded on merit, In golden letters we write The National Stalin Law. These great and glorious words Shall live through the years: A person always has the right To study, rest, and work. Chorus IV Over the country, the spring breeze blows. Everyday life becomes more joyful, And no one on earth knows better Than us how to laugh and love. But our brows shall frown sternly If an enemy attempts to break us. As a bride, we love our Motherland, We protect her like a gentle mother. Chorus

Notes

↑ Russian:Широка страна моя родная, romanized:Shiroká straná moyá rodnáya, IPA: [ʂɨrɐˈkastrɐˈnamɐˈjarɐdˈnajə]
↑ Russian:Песня о родине, romanized:Pésnya o ródine, IPA: [ˈpʲesʲnʲəɐ‿ˈrodʲɪnʲe]

Related Research Articles

The anthem of the Estonian SSR was the Soviet regional anthem of the Estonian SSR between 1945 and 1990 when Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union.

The "Mexican National Anthem", also known by its incipit "Mexicans, at the cry of war", is the national anthem of Mexico. The lyrics of the national anthem, which allude to historical Mexican military victories in the heat of battle and including cries of defending the homeland, were composed by poet Francisco González Bocanegra after a Federal contest in 1853. Later, in 1854, he asked Jaime Nunó to compose the music that now accompanies González's poem. The national anthem, consisting of ten stanzas and a chorus, effectively entered into use on September 16, 1854.

"Mila Rodino" is the national anthem of Bulgaria. It was composed and written by Tsvetan Radoslavov as he left to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885 and was adopted in 1964. The text has been changed many times, most recently in 1990. On 12 July 1991 the anthem was shortened to its first verse along with the chorus.

"The Patriotic Song" was the national anthem of Russia from 1991 to 2000. It was previously the regional anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1990 until 1991, when it transformed into the Russian Federation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Unlike most national anthems, it had no official lyrics. Although unofficial ones were written for it, they were never adopted.

The "State Anthem of the Russian Federation" is the national anthem of Russia. It uses the same melody as the "State Anthem of the Soviet Union", composed by Alexander Alexandrov, and new lyrics by Sergey Mikhalkov, who had collaborated with Gabriel El-Registan on the original anthem. From 1944, that earliest version replaced "The Internationale" as a new, more Soviet-centric and Russia-centric Soviet anthem. The same melody, but without any lyrics, was used after 1956. A second version of the lyrics was written by Mikhalkov in 1970 and adopted in 1977, placing less emphasis on World War II and more on the victory of communism, and without mentioning Joseph Stalin by name.

The "State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" was the national anthem of the Soviet Union and the regional anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1944 to 1991, replacing "The Internationale". Its original lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with Gabriyel’ Arkadyevich Ureklyan (1899–1945), and its music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). For a two-decade interval following de-Stalinization, the anthem was performed without lyrics. The second set of lyrics, also written by Mikhalkov and in which Stalin's name was omitted, was adopted in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tikhon Khrennikov</span> Soviet-Russian composer (1913–2007)

Tikhon Nikolayevich Khrennikov was a Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, and General Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers (1948–1991), who was also known for his political activities. He wrote three symphonies, four piano concertos, two violin concertos, two cello concertos, operas, operettas, ballets, chamber music, incidental music and film music.

The State Anthem of the Ukrainian SSR was the Soviet republican anthem of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the republics of the Soviet Union.

Circus is a 1936 Soviet melodramatic comedy musical film. It was directed by Grigori Aleksandrov and Isidor Simkov at the Mosfilm studios. In his own words, it was conceived as "an eccentric comedy...a real side splitter."

”Moldova Sovietică” was the regional anthem of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.

Matvey Isaakovich Blanter was a Soviet composer, and one of the most prominent composers of popular songs and film music in the Soviet Union. Among many other works, he wrote the famous "Katyusha" (1938), performed to this day internationally. He was active as a composer until 1975, producing more than two thousand songs.

The State Anthem of the Georgian SSR was the regional anthem of Georgia between 1946 and 1990 when it was part of the Soviet Union.

The State Anthem of the Tajik SSR was the regional anthem of Tajikistan when it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic. The music and the lyrics were created in 1946, and the anthem was adopted later that year. The lyrics were dropped after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the national anthem of the newly independent Tajikistan had used the same melody without any lyrics until 1994, when the country adopted a new anthem, under the title "Surudi Milli", with new lyrics while retaining the same melody.

"Farewell of Slavianka" is a Russian patriotic march, written by the composer Vasily Agapkin in honour of Slavic women accompanying their husbands in the First Balkan War. The march was written and premiered in Tambov in the end of 1912. In the summer of 1915, it was released as a gramophone single in Kiev. Slavianka translates to 'Slavic woman'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olga Bergholz</span> Soviet poet

Olga Fyodorovna Bergholz was a Soviet and Russian poet, writer, playwright and journalist. She is most famous for her work on the Leningrad radio during the city's blockade, when she became the symbol of city's strength and determination.

Serafim Sergeyevich Tulikov was a Russian and Soviet composer, who was born in the Imperial Russia, and died in Russia. He was often credited as Tulikov in his musical works and his cameo appearance in Russian television series. Serafim Tulikov is known for his patriotic and officially ideological compositions.

"The Sacred War", also known as "Arise, Great Country!", 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.

The anthem of Transnistria, titled "We Sing the Praises of Transnistria", was written by Boris Parmenov, Nicholas Bozhko and Vitaly Pishchenko, and composed by Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov. The anthem has lyrics in all three official languages of Transnistria: Russian, Romanian, and Ukrainian. They are, however, not all literal translations of one another. The origin of the anthem was from the Russian patriotic song "Long Live our State", a 1943 composition that was one of the proposed songs to be the anthem of the Soviet Union. Boris Alexandrov's composition was, however, rejected in favor of the one submitted by his father, Alexander Alexandrov.

Mass song was a genre of Soviet music that was widespread in the Soviet Union. A mass song was written by a professional or amateur composer for individual or chorus singing and intended for "broad masses" of Soviet people.

<i>And the Battle Is Going Again</i> Song

"And the Battle's Going Again", also known as "And Lenin Is Young Once Again", is a Soviet patriotic song released in 1974 about the October Revolution and Vladimir Lenin. It was composed by Aleksandra Pakhmutova to lyrics written by her husband Nikolai Dobronravov, with the most known performance of the song being done by Soviet singers Leonid Smetannikov, Joseph Kobzon, and Lev Leshchenko. The song was also performed by Lev Leshchenko at the finals of Pesnya goda in 1975.

References

↑ Roger Manvell, ed. (1949). Experiment in the Film. The Grey Walls Press Ltd. p. 169.

External links

Mention on the Russian National Anthems site - Archived April 15, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
Sheet music - Archived April 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Russian:Широка страна моя родная, romanized:Shiroká straná moyá rodnáya, IPA: [ʂɨrɐˈkastrɐˈnamɐˈjarɐdˈnajə]

[2] Russian:Песня о родине, romanized:Pésnya o ródine, IPA: [ˈpʲesʲnʲəɐ‿ˈrodʲɪnʲe]

[3] Roger Manvell, ed. (1949). Experiment in the Film. The Grey Walls Press Ltd. p. 169.

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 2]

[1]