Cuba national anthem lyrics

Cuba national anthem lyrics belong to La Bayamesa, the official national anthem of Cuba. The lyrics were written by Perucho Figueredo, with music composed by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. First sung in 1868 during the Battle of Bayamo, the anthem is closely linked to Cuba’s fight for independence. The song calls on the Cuban people to stand up, resist oppression, and fight for freedom. Today, it is performed at official ceremonies, national celebrations, and public events across the country.

Cuba’s National Anthem

Cuba’s national anthem, La Bayamesa, was born during a moment of rebellion. The lyrics were written while the Cuban independence movement was gaining strength against Spanish colonial rule. Unlike many anthems written later in calm political periods, La Bayamesa directly speaks about action, sacrifice, and resistance. It reflects the urgency of a nation fighting to decide its own future.

Lyrics

La Bayamesa

Al combate corred, bayameses,
que la patria os contempla orgullosa;
no temáis una muerte gloriosa,
que morir por la patria es vivir.

En cadenas vivir es vivir
en afrenta y oprobio sumido.
Del clarín escuchad el sonido;
¡a las armas, valientes, corred!

No temáis; los feroces iberos
son cobardes cual todo tirano;
no resisten al brazo cubano;
para siempre su imperio cayó.

¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió,
su poder y su orgullo ¿do es ido?
Del clarín escuchad el sonido;
¡a las armas, valientes, corred!

Cuba National Anthem: Meaning and Analysis

Cuba’s national anthem is direct and uncompromising. It does not speak in metaphors or poetic distance. Instead, it addresses the people clearly and urges them to act.

Verse I

“Al combate corred, bayameses, que la patria os contempla orgullosa;”
The anthem opens with a call to action. It addresses the people of Bayamo and urges them to run into battle. The homeland is watching, and it expects courage.

“No temáis una muerte gloriosa, que morir por la patria es vivir.”
These lines state that dying for the country is not something to fear. In this context, sacrifice is presented as a form of honor and purpose rather than loss.

Verse II

“En cadenas vivir es vivir en afrenta y oprobio sumido.”
Living in chains is described as a life filled with shame. Freedom is shown as more important than safety or comfort.

“Del clarín escuchad el sonido; ¡a las armas, valientes, corred!”
The sound of the bugle signals the moment to fight. This line reinforces urgency and collective responsibility.

Verse III

“No temáis; los feroces iberos son cobardes cual todo tirano;”
Here, the anthem directly addresses the colonial rulers. It challenges their authority and questions their strength.

“¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió,”
The final message is clear and bold: Cuba is free. The anthem ends by reinforcing victory and independence, even before those goals were fully achieved.

The Story Behind Cuba’s National Anthem

The story of Cuba’s national anthem begins in 1868, during the early days of the Cuban War of Independence. At that time, Cuba was still under Spanish colonial rule, and the city of Bayamo had become a center of rebellion.

Perucho Figueredo, a lawyer, poet, and revolutionary, was deeply involved in the independence movement. After Cuban forces captured Bayamo, people gathered in the town square to celebrate. During this moment, Figueredo was asked to write lyrics for a song that had already been composed. Sitting on horseback, he reportedly wrote the words to La Bayamesa on the spot.

The anthem was first sung publicly by the people of Bayamo as an act of defiance. It was not written for royal ceremonies or official halls, but for the streets, the battlefield, and ordinary citizens who were risking their lives for independence.

Because of its revolutionary nature, the song was later banned by Spanish authorities. Singing or distributing it could result in punishment. Despite this, La Bayamesa continued to spread and became a symbol of resistance throughout the country.

After Cuba gained independence, La Bayamesa was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1902. Today, it remains a reminder of the country’s struggle, written not in a time of peace, but in the middle of conflict by people who believed freedom was worth fighting for.