National symbols — Peru

National anthem

Anthem History

"Somos libres, seámoslo siempre" is the national anthem of Peru and was written by José de La Torre Ugarte and composed by José Bernardo Alcedo, who won a contest run by Don José de San Martín, known for being the liberator of Peru, in 1821. It was performed for the first time by Rosa Merino in the Municipal Theater of Lima.

Anthem Lyrics

• Somos libres, seámoslo siempre Chorus: Somos libres, seámoslo siempre y antes niegue sus luces el sol, que faltemos al voto solemne que la patria al Eterno elevó. Largo tiempo el peruano oprimido la ominosa cadena arrastró
• condenado a cruel servidumbre largo tiempo en silencio gimió. Mas apenas el grito sagrado ¡Libertad! En sus costas se oyó, la indolencia de esclavo sacude, la humillada cerviz levantó. Ya el estruendo de broncas cadenas que escuchamos tres siglos de horror, de los libres al grito sagrado que oyó atónito el mundo, cesó. Por doquier San Martín inflamado, Libertad, libertad, pronunció, y meciendo su base los Andes la anunciaron, también a una voz. Con su influjo los pueblos despiertan y cual rayo corrió la opinión
• desde el itsmo a las tierras del fuego desde el fuego a la helada región. Todos juran romper el enlace que natura a ambos mundos negó, y quebrar ese cetro que España, reclinaba orgullosa en los dos. Lima, cumple ese voto solemne, y, severa, su enojo mostró, al tirano impotente lanzando, que intentaba alargar su opresión. A su esfuerzo sellaron los grillos y los surcos que en sí reparó, le atizaron el odio y venganza que heredara de su Inca y Señor. Compatriotas, no más verla esclava si humillada tres siglos gimió, para siempre jurémosla libre manteniendo su propio esplendor. Nuestros brazos, hasta hoy desarmados estén siempre cebando el cañón, que algú n día las playas de Iberia sentirán de su estruendo el terror. En su cima los Andes sostengan la bandera o pendón bicolor, que a los siglos anuncie el esfuerzo que ser libres, por siempre nos dió. A su sombra vivamos tranquilos, y al nacer por sus cumbres el sol, renovemos el gran juramento que rendimos al Dios de Jacob.

Anthem Lyrics English

• CHORUS We are free, let's always be so and may the sun deny its light if we fail the solemn vow that the motherland swore to the Eternal One. For a long time the oppressed Peruvian dragged the ominous chain
• condemned to a cruel servitude for a long time, he cried in silence. But once the sacred cry Freedom! In its coasts, it was heard the slave's indolence shakes, the humiliated neck he raised. Already the roar of angry chains that we heard three centuries of horror, from the free to the sacred cry which the world heard astonished, ceased. Everywhere Saint Martin inflamed, Freedom, freedom, he pronounced, and rocking the base of it the Andes They announced it, also with one voice. With its influence, the people awaken and like lightning the opinion spread
• from the isthmus to the lands of fire From the fire to the frozen region. Everyone swears to break the link that nature denied both worlds, and break that scepter that Spain, She leaned proudly on both of them. Lima, fulfill that solemn vow, and, severe, her anger showed, to the impotent tyrant throwing, who tried to prolong his oppression. At his effort, they sealed the crickets and the furrows that he repaired in himself, They fueled hatred and revenge that he would inherit from the Inca and Lord of him. Compatriots, no more seeing her as a slave if she humiliated three centuries she moaned, forever let us swear her free maintaining its own splendor. Our arms, until today unarmed They are always priming the cannon, that one day the beaches of Iberia They will feel the terror of its roar. At their summit the Andes hold the two-color flag or pennant, that to the centuries announce the effort that being free, he gave us forever. In its shadow let us live peacefully, and when the sun rises through its peaks, let's renew the great oath that we surrender to the God of Jacob.