Somos libres, seámoslo siempre
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"Somos libres, seámoslo siempre" is the national anthem of Perú 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 Perú, in 1821. It was performed for the first time by Rosa Merino in the Municipal Theater of Lima. (Audio recording)
Original Spanish text
Coro
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 algún 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.
The original Spanish lyrics were copied from http://www.nuevaalejandria.com/secciones/himnos/peru.php
English translation
CHORUS
We are free, let's always be so
and may the sun deny its light
before we fail the solemn vow
that the motherland swore to the Eternal One.
For a long time the oppresed Peruvian
dragged the ominous chain;
condemned to a cruel servitude
for a long time he groaned in silence.
But once the sacred cry
Freedom! in its coasts it was heard
the slave's indolence shakes,
the humilliated neck he raised.
Already has the roar of the rough chains,
that we have heard for three centuries (full) of horror,
from the freemen to the sacred cry
that the world, speechless, heard, stopped.
Everywhere, San Martin, swollen,
Freedom! Freedom! he pronounced,
and shaking their own ground, the Andes
announced it, too, at same voice.
Under this influence, the peoples wake,
and like a flash, the idea spread,
from the Isthmus to the Tierra del Fuego,
from the Fire to the Frozen lands.
Everyone swears to break that link,
that Gaia denied to both Worlds,
and tear apart that scepter that Spain,
so proudly held over both.
Lima sticks to this solemnous promess,
and severely its anger it showed
by throwing away the powerles tyran
who tried to extend its opression.
Its efforts were sealed by the crickets
and the furrows in itself that it repaired,
it was awarded the hate and revenge,
that inherited from its Inca and lord.
Fellow countrymen, never see it slaved again,
having, humillated, she groamed for three centuries.
Forever let us call her free
keeping her own splendor.
Our hands, so far unarmed,
must be always charging our cannons,
for some day the bays of Iberia
will go under the soreness of its loads.
In their top may the Andes support
the flag or bicolor banner
to the centuries may it announce the effort
that free being forever it gave us.
Under its shade let's live calm
and when sun by its hills will appear
let's renovate the great oath
we had swore to the Jacob's God
