"Venceremos" (pronounced [ben.seɾˈe.mos]) (translated as "We will prevail") was the anthem of the Popular Unity, a left-wing political bloc that brought socialist Salvador Allende to the presidency of Chile in 1970.

1983 record of the song, performed by Jairo

The lyrics were written by Claudio Iturra and the music composed by Sergio Ortega.[1] It was originally popularized by the Chilean groups Inti-Illimani and Quilapayún. A second version for the 1970 presidential campaign was written by Víctor Jara, on the same Ortega music.[2]

'Venceremos' is an example of the Nueva canción movement of Chilean protest music, which had been gaining momentum for much of the previous decade. This song marks a significant recognition of the political thrust of this movement in its use as a tool of propaganda for the Unidad Popular coalition. Following the success of 'Venceremos', Allende famously stated "there can be no revolution without song".[3]

Versions

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This song has appeared on various official albums, being performed by multiple musical artists.

By Inti Illimani

  • 1970 - Song to the program
  • 1972 - Chile town (collective)
  • 1973 - We will win / The people united (single)
  • 1973 - Viva Chile!
  • 1973 - Politische lieder (collective, live)
  • 1980 - Zehnkampf - Festival des politischen Liedes 1970-1980 (compilation, collective)
  • From Quilapayún
  • 1970 - Venceremos / UP (EP, 1st and 2nd version)
  • 1971 - We Will Win (single)
  • 1971 - Live like him
  • 1974 - Vorwärts lieder (collective)
  • 1977 - Public Registry (live)
  • 1977 - The march and the drapeau (compilation)
  • 2006 - The force of history (compilation)

Others

  • 1970 - Canto libre, by Víctor Jara (musicalized by Víctor and Patricio Castillo)
  • 1974 - Konzert für Chile, by various artists (collective, live)
  • 1977 - Song to the October Revolution, by the Soviet Army Choir (collective)
  • 1985 - Vorwärts, nicht vergessen solidarität!, by Quilapayún or Inti-Illimani (compilation, collective)
  • 2003 - We will win - Tribute to Salvatore Allende, by Ventiscka (collective)

This song has been used as a ``second´´ international song, since it is in several languages, among these are: German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Finnish. etc.

Lyrics

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Lyrics in original language (Spanish)

Desde el hondo crisol de la patria
se levanta el clamor popular;
ya se anuncia la nueva alborada,
todo Chile comienza a cantar.
Recordando al soldado valiente
cuyo ejemplo lo hiciera inmortal
enfrentemos primero a la muerte:
traicionar a la patria jamás.
Venceremos, venceremos
mil cadenas habrá que romper
venceremos, venceremos,
al fascismo sabremos vencer!
Venceremos, venceremos
mil cadenas habrá que romper
venceremos, venceremos,
al fascismo sabremos vencer!
Campesinos, soldados y obreros,
la mujer de la patria también,
estudiantes, empleados, mineros
cumpliremos con nuestro deber.
Sembraremos la tierra de gloria;
socialista será el porvenir,
todos juntos seremos la historia,
a cumplir, a cumplir, a cumplir.
Venceremos, venceremos
mil cadenas habrá que romper
venceremos, venceremos,
al fascismo sabremos vencer!

Lyrics in English

From the deep crucible of the homeland
the peoples voices rises up;
The new dawn is announced,
all of Chile starts singing.
Remembering the brave soldier
whose example made him immortal
first we confront death:
our homeland we´ll never betray.
We shall prevail, We shall prevail[2]
a thousand chains we´ll have to break
We shall prevail, We shall prevail,
We can overcome fascism[1]!
We shall prevail, We shall prevail
a thousand chains we´ll have to break
We shall prevail, We shall prevail,
We can overcome fascism[1]!
Peasants, soldiers and miners[3]
the woman of the homeland as well,
students, employees, workers[3]
We will fulfil our duty.
We will sow the land of glory;
socialist will be our future,
all together we will be the history ,
to fulfill, to fulfill, to fulfill.
We shall prevail, We shall prevail[2]
a thousand chains we´ll have to break
We shall prevail, We shall prevail,
We can overcome fascism[1]!
We shall prevail, We shall prevail
a thousand chains we´ll have to break
We shall prevail, We shall prevail,
We can overcome fascism[1]!
1: There are variations that instead of fascism say misery
2: there are variations in which the chorus is not repeated
3: there are variations in which they change workers for miners

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Morris, Nancy E. (1984). Canto Porque Es Necesario Cantar: The New Song Movement in Chile, 1973-1983. Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico.
  2. ^ Milos, Pedro (2013). Chile 1970: El país en que triunfa Salvador Allende (in Spanish). Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado. ISBN 978-956-9320-43-9.
  3. ^ Balderston, Daniel, Mike Gonzalez, Ana M. Lopez (eds.), Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures. p.788
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