Himno de Riego


The "Himno de Riego" is a song dating from the Liberal Triennium and named in honour of Colonel Rafael del Riego, composed by José Melchor Gomis to words by. It was the national anthem of Spain during the Trienio Liberal and the First and Second Spanish Republics.

Original lyrics

Serenos y alegres, valientes y osados,
Cantemos, soldados, el himno a la lid.
De nuestros acentos el orbe se admire
Y en nosotros mire los hijos del Cid.
Refrain:
Soldados, la patria nos llama a la lid.
Juremos por ella vencer o morir.
El mundo vio nunca, más noble osadía,
Ni vio nunca un día más grande el valor,
Que aquel, inflamados, nos vimos del fuego,
Excitar a Riego de Patria el amor.
Refrain
La trompa guerrera sus ecos al viento,
Horror al sediento, ya ruge el cañón.
A Marte sañudo la audacia provoca
Y el ingenio invoca de nuestra nación.
Refrain
Serene and happy, brave and daring,
Let us sing, soldiers, the battle hymn.
The world is astonished at our voices
And in us it beholds the sons of the Cid.
Refrain:
Soldiers, the fatherland calls us to the fight.
Let us swear for her sake to triumph or to die.
The world never saw more noble daring,
Nor any day greater valour was shown,
Than that, inflamed, we showed at the fire
Awaken in Riego the love of his land.
Refrain
The war trumpet echoes to the winds,
Affrighting the greedy, the cannon now roars.
The audacity of our nation provokes
And the genius invokes wrathful Mars.
Refrain

1968 European championship controversy

On October 1, 1967, during the qualifying stage for the European championship in Prague, the "Himno de Riego" was performed by mistake instead of the then official anthem of Spain "Marcha Real".

2003 Davis Cup controversy

At the 2003 Davis Cup finals held in Australia, James Morrison performed "Himno de Riego" instead of Spain's current national anthem, the "Marcha Real". Australian tennis officials claimed there was an error on the CD provided to the musician, but Spanish sport authorities still issued an official protest.