La marcha real (“The Royal March”) is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no official lyrics.
The origins of the anthem, one of the oldest in the world, are unknown. The melody was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española (The Spanish Infantry’s Book of Military Bugle Calls), by Manuel de Espinosa. Here it is entitled La Marcha Granadera (“March of the Grenadiers”), though no composer’s name is given.
In 1770, King Carlos III declared the Marcha Granadera to be the official “Honour March”, thereby according it a place at public and ceremonial events. Because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the Marcha Granadera as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or “Royal March”.
Under the Second Spanish Republic (19311939), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country’s national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera.
Franco lyrics:
Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.
¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.
¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.
Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie
la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz.
Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie
la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz.
Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.
Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.
English Translation:
Long live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are rising again.
Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.
Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.
Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels
sing to the rhythm
of the hymn of the faith.
Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels
sing to the rhythm
of the hymn of the faith.
Together with them let’s stand and sing
the new powerful life of labour and peace.
Together with them let’s stand and sing
the new powerful life of labour and peace.
Long live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are arising again.
Long Live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are arising again.
Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.
Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.