Guatemala national anthem lyrics

Guatemala national anthem lyrics belong to Himno Nacional de Guatemala, the official anthem of the country. The lyrics were written by José Joaquín Palma, and the music was composed by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle. The anthem was first performed in 1897 and later confirmed as the national anthem. Its text speaks about dignity, freedom, and the hope for peace after long periods of conflict. Today, it is sung at official ceremonies, schools, and national events throughout Guatemala.

Notes on Guatemala’s Anthem

Guatemala’s anthem has a serious and reflective tone. Instead of glorifying conquest, it focuses on the cost of war and the value of peace. The lyrics call for honor, justice, and respect for the nation, while also remembering past suffering. This makes it different from many anthems written mainly as battle songs.

Lyrics

Himno Nacional de Guatemala

¡Guatemala feliz!… que tus aras
no profane jamás el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.

Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasión extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará.

Coro

Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará;
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.

De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tú forjaste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.

Nuestros padres lucharon un día
encendidos en patrio ardimiento,
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.

Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de patria en enérgico acento
dió la vida del pueblo creador.

Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
entre nubes de nítida albura,
y ¡ay! de aquel que con ciega locura
sus colores pretenda manchar.

Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.

Recostada en el Ande soberbio
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.

Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo;
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real!

Reading the Anthem: Line by Line

Guatemala’s anthem balances pride with restraint. It warns against tyranny, values freedom above comfort, and places peace above conquest.

Opening Section

“¡Guatemala feliz!… que tus aras no profane jamás el verdugo;”
The anthem opens with a wish: that violence and oppression never return.

“Ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo”
This line rejects submission and speaks clearly against any form of bondage.

Central Verses

“De tus viejas y duras cadenas tú forjaste… el arado”
Here, suffering is turned into work and progress. The focus is on building rather than destroying.

“Colocarte en un trono de amor”
Independence is described not as domination, but as dignity and care for the homeland.

The Story Behind Guatemala’s National Anthem

Guatemala’s national anthem was created at the end of the 19th century, during a time of political change. In 1896, the government organized a competition to select a national anthem. José Joaquín Palma, a Cuban poet living in Guatemala, secretly submitted the lyrics, while Rafael Álvarez Ovalle composed the music.

The anthem was first performed publicly in 1897 and was well received for its thoughtful tone. Palma’s authorship was revealed only years later, shortly before his death. Over time, the anthem became a central part of national life, taught in schools and performed at official events.

Rather than celebrating war, Guatemala’s anthem remembers its cost and emphasizes peace, freedom, and national dignity. This approach reflects a desire to move forward without forgetting the past.