Cuban National Anthem

“La Bayamesa”- By Pedro Felipe Figueredo

Pedro Felipe Figueredo was a Cuban lawyer, landowner, poet and musician born in Bayamo, Cuba in 1818. In 1867 he wrote the La Bayamesa whilst riding is horse, just before the town he was born in was burnt to the ground to save it from the conquering Spanish. Today this song is the National Anthem of Cuba. Pedro Felipe Figueredo was executed on 17 August 1870 after being captured by the Spanish.

IN SPANISH:

Cuba Al combate corred bayameses

Que la patria os comtempla orgullosa

No temais una muerte gloriosa’Que morir por la patria es vivir

Es cadenas vivir es morir

En afrenta y oprobio sumidos

Del clarin escuchad el sonido

Alas armas valientes corred

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Hasten to battel, men of Bayamo

For the homeland looks proudly to you.

You do not fear a glorious death,

Because to die for the country is to live

To live in chains

Is to live in dishonour and ignominy.

Hear the larion call,

Hasten, brave ones, to battle!