Mexican National Anthem

Mexican National Anthem One of the most impressive choral performances Ive heard was when I was part of a crowd of hundreds of thousands one Sept. 15, the eve of Mexicos Independence Day, on Mexico Citys main plaza, known as the ZÃ ³calo. Late in the night, the crowd sang this song, the Mexican National Anthem, known officially as el Himno Nacional Mexicano. The anthem was written in 1853 by poet Francisco Gonzlez Bocanegra, although it didnt become official until nearly a century later. It was originally written with 10 verses and a chorus, although only four verses are typically sung. The anthem is usually sung starting with a chorus followed by the four stanzas, with the chorus sung between each stanza and at the end. Estribillo: Mexicanos, al grito de guerraEl acero aprestad y el bridn,Y retiemble en sus centros la tierraAl sonoro rugir del can. Chorus: Mexicans, when the war cry is heard,Have sword and bridle ready.Let the earths foundations trembleAt the loud cannons roar. Estrofa 1: Cia oh Patria! tus sienes de olivaDe la paz el arcngel divino,Que en el cielo tu eterno destino,Por el dedo de Dios se escribi;Mas si osare un extrao enemigo,Profanar con su planta tu suelo,Piensa oh Patria querida! que el cieloUn soldado en cada hijo te dio. Stanza 1: May the divine archangel crown your brow,Oh fatherland, with an olive branch of peace,For your eternal destiny has been writtenIn heaven by the finger of God.But should a foreign enemyDare to profane your soil with his tread,Know, beloved fatherland, that heaven gave youA soldier in each of your sons. Estrofa 2: Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intenteDe la patria manchar los blasones!Guerra, guerra! Los patrios pendonesEn las olas de sangre empapad.Guerra, guerra! En el monte, en el valleLos caones horrsonos truenenY los ecos sonoros resuenenCon las voces de Unin! Libertad! Stanza 2: War, war without truce against who would attemptto blemish the honor of the fatherland!War, war! The patriotic bannerssaturate in waves of blood.War, war! On the mount, in the valeThe terrifying cannon thunderand the echoes nobly resoundto the cries of union! liberty! Estrofa 3: Antes, patria,que inermes tus hijosBajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen,Tus campias con sangre se rieguen,Sobre sangre se estampe su pie.Y tus templos, palacios y torresSe derrumben con hrrido estruendo,Y sus ruinas existan diciendo:De mil hroes la patria aqu fue. Stanza 2: Fatherland, before your children become unarmedBeneath the yoke their necks in sway,May your countryside be watered with blood,On blood their feet trample.And may your temples, palaces and towerscrumble in horrid crash,and their ruins exist saying:The fatherland was made of one thousand heroes here. Estrofa 4: Patria! Patria! tus hijos te juranExhalar en tus aras su aliento,Si el clarn con su blico acento,Los convoca a lidiar con valor:Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva!Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria!Un laurel para ti de victoria!Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! Stanza 4: Fatherland, oh fatherland, your sons vowTo give their last breath on your altars,If the trumpet with its warlike soundCalls them to valiant battle.For you, the olive garlands,For them, a glorious memory.For you, the victory laurels,For them, an honored tomb.