On October 20, 1868, the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spanish colonial authorities in Bayamo, the jubilant people surrounded Figueredo and asked him to write an anthem with the melody they were humming. Right on the saddle of his horse, Figueredo wrote the lyrics of the anthem,[1] which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spanish two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his song: "Morir por la Patria es vivir" ('To die for one's country is to live').[2]
Officially adopted by Cuba as its national anthem in 1902, upon the foundation of the Republic, it was retained even after the revolution of 1959. The Cuban composer Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer contributed the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.[3]
In addition to the "Himno de Bayamo", there are two other well-known Cuban songs called "La Bayamesa". The first Bayamesa was composed in 1851 by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and José Fornaris at the request of their friend Francisco Castillo Moreno, who is sometimes also credited with the lyrics.[4] After 1868, during the Cuban war, a "mambí" version of "La Bayamesa" became popular. It has the same melody but different lyrics.[5] Many years later, in 1918, the composer and trovadorSindo Garay, from Santiago de Cuba, composed a song that he called "Mujer Bayamesa"; popular usage shortened the title to "La Bayamesa".[6]
Lyrics
Originally, the song had three verses. The last two were excluded when the anthem was officially adopted in 1902, because the lyrics were seen to be excessively anti-Spanish[7] and too long compared with the other verses.
¡Al combate, corred, bayameses!, Que la patria os contempla orgullosa; No temáis una muerte gloriosa, Que morir por la patria es vivir. (𝄆) En cadenas vivir es vivir En afrenta y oprobio sumido. Del clarín escuchad el sonido: ¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)
No temáis los feroces íberos,
Son cobardes cual todo tirano.
No resisten al bravo cubano;
Para siempre su imperio cayó.
(𝄆) ¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió,
Su poder y su orgullo ¿do es ido?
¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido:
¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)
Contemplad nuestras huestes triunfantes,
Contempladlos a ellos caídos.
Por cobardes huyeron vencidos;
¡Por valientes, sabemos triunfar!
(𝄆) ¡Cuba libre! podemos gritar
Del cañón al terrible estampido.
¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido:
¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)
To combat, run, people of Bayamo! For the Fatherland proudly looks at you; Fear not a glorious death, For dying for the Fatherland is living. (𝄆) Living in chains is living Plunged in affront and opprobrium. Hear the sound of the bugle: To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)
Fear not the fierce Iberians,
They are cowards like every tyrant.
They cannot withstand the brave Cubans;
Their empire has forever fallen.
(𝄆) Free Cuba! Spain has already died,
Its power and pride, where did it go?
Hear the sound of the bugle:
To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)
Behold our triumphant troops,
And behold them fallen.
For they were cowards, they flee defeated;
For we were brave, we knew how to triumph.
(𝄆) Free Cuba! we can shout
From the cannon's terrible boom.
Hear the sound of the bugle,
To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)
