Farewell of Slavianka

The cover of one of the first editions of the Farewell of Slavianka notes

Farewell of Slavianka (Russian: Прощание славянки - Proščanije slavjanki) is a Russian patriotic march, written by the composer Vasily Agapkin in honour of the Bulgarian women accompanying their husbands in the First Balkan War. The march was written and premiered in Tambov in the end of 1912. In summer of 1915 it was released as a single in Kiev. Slavyanka means "Slavic woman".

A theory of some musicians ^{[citation needed]} is that melody was inspired by Russian march "Yearning for the Motherland", or originated from unknown folk anti-war song during the Russo-Japanese War. It is still popular today and is widely known in Russia.

History

The melody gained popularity in Russia and adjoining countries during World War I, when the Russian soldiers left their homes accompanied by this music. This march was performed also during parade of 7 November 1941 on the Red Square, after which soldiers went straight to fight in Battle of Moscow. This march was also used as an unofficial anthem of Admiral Kolchak's White Army.

It was commonly believed, erroneously, that prior to its use in the award-winning 1957 film The Cranes Are Flying, the song was banned in the Soviet Union due to associations with the tsarist regime and the counter-revolutionary movements. This was not the case. This march was published in an official collection of music for Red Army orchestras, and it was recorded in the early 1940s by a military orchestra under Ivan Petrov (1906–1975), though different lyrics were used during that time. There are lyrics which are usually sung by the Red Army choir today.

Subsequently, several Russian and Polish composers have written lyrics for this music. During World War II in German occupied Poland an adapted "underground" version of the song, Rozszumiały się wierzby płaczące ("Weeping willows began to hum") became popular, among anti Nazi partisans, based on lyrics by Roman Ślęzak.

During the 1990s, the Yabloko party lobbied for the march to be adopted as the National Anthem of Russia, but without success. Currently, the march is recognized as the anthem of the Tambov Oblast. Ships cruising along the Volga and the Rossiya train which runs from Moscow to Vladivostok make use of the tune before departing. Train #2 (named "Ukraine" at the time) used to depart from Kiev to Moscow to the sound of this tune.

"Farewell of Slavyanka" was first used in movies in the 1957 film, The Cranes Are Flying. It has also featured in the film Charlie Wilson's War which is set around the Soviet war in Afghanistan and in the Russian movie 72 Meters (72 метра).

Lyrics

Original 1912 Version

Original Встань за Веру, Русская Земля! Много песен мы в сердце сложили, Воспевая родные края Беззаветно тебя мы любили, Святорусская наша земля. Высоко ты главу поднимала - Словно солнце твой лик воссиял. Но ты жертвою подлости стала - Тех, кто предал тебя и продал! ПРИПЕВ: И снова в поход труба нас зовёт. Мы все встанем в строй И все пойдем в священный бой. Встань за Веру, Русская земля! Ждут победы России святые. Отзовись, православная рать! Где Илья твой и где твой Добрыня? Сыновей кличет Родина-мать. Под хоругви мы встанем все смело Крестным ходом с молитвой пойдём, За Российское правое дело Кровь мы русскую честно прольём. ПРИПЕВ. Все мы - дети великой Державы, Все мы помним заветы отцов Ради Родины, Чести и Славы Не жалей ни себя, ни врагов. Встань, Россия, из рабского плена, Дух победы зовет: в бой, пора! Подними боевые знамена Ради Веры, Любви и Добра! ПРИПЕВ.

English translation Arise, Russian Land, defend your Faith! We have composed many a song in our heart, Glorifying the native land. We've loved you no matter what, You, our holy Russian land. You've raised your head high, Your face has been shining like the sun. You've become a victim of betrayal -- by those who have cheated and sold you! Refrain: And again in march trumpet calls us. We all stand in order And go to the holy battle. Arise, Russian Land, defend the faith! Russia's holiness awaits victory. Respond, the Orthodox host! Where is your Ilya and where is your Dobrynia? The mother is summoning her sons. Under the banners of all we stand boldly Procession with prayers go, For the Russian right thing The blood we shed Russian honestly. Refrain We all are children of a Great Power, We all remember the forefathers' commandment: For the Homeland, Honor, Glory, Pity neither yourself nor the foes. Arise, Russia, from your prison of slavery, Victory's spirit is called: time to do battle! Rise your battle flags For Faith, Love, and Good. Refrain

By Vladimir Lazarev (1984)

Original Наступает минута прощания, Ты глядишь мне тревожно в глаза, И ловлю я родное дыхание, А вдали уже дышит гроза. Дрогнул воздух туманный и синий, И тревога коснулась висков, И зовёт нас на подвиг Россия, Веет ветром от шага полков. Прощай, отчий край, Ты нас вспоминай, Прощай, милый взгляд, Прости-прощай, прости-прощай… Летят-летят года, Уходят во мглу поезда, А в них — солдаты. И в небе тёмном Горит солдатская звезда. А в них — солдаты. И в небе тёмном Горит солдатская звезда. (Припев) Лес да степь, да в степи полустанки. Свет вечерней и новой зари — Не забудь же прощанье Славянки, Сокровенно в душе повтори! Нет, не будет душа безучастна — Справедливости светят огни… За любовь, за великое братство Отдавали мы жизни свои. (Припев) Летят-летят года, А песня — ты с нами всегда: Тебя мы помним, И в небе тёмном Горит солдатская звезда. (Припев)

Transliteration Nastupayt minuta proshaniya, Ty gljadish' mne trevozhno v glaza, I lovlju ya rodnoe dykhanie, A vdali uzhe dyshit groza. Drognul vozdukh tumannyjj i sinijj, I trevoga kosnulas' viskov, I zavyot nas na podvig Rossiya, Veet vetrom ot shaga polkov. Proshay, otchiy kray, Tyi nas vspominaya, Proshay, miliy vzgljad, Prosti-proshay, prosti-proshay... Letyat, letyat goda, Ukhodyat vo mglu poezda, A v nikh — soldatyi. I v nebe temnom Gorit soldatskaya zvezda. A v nikh — soldatyi. I v nebe temnom Gorit soldatskaya zvezda. Pripev Les da step', da v stepi polustanki. Svet vecherneyi i novoyi zari? Ne zabud' zhe proshan'e Slavianka, Sokrovenno v dushe novtori! Nyet, ne budet dusha bezuchastna— Spraveddivosti svetyat ogni... Za lubov', za vezikoe bratstvo Otdavali myi zhzni svom. Pripev Letyat, letyat goda, A pesnya - tyi s nami vsegda: Tebya myi pominim, I v nebe temnom Gorit soldatskaya zvezda. Pripev

English version The moment of parting is nigh You look into my eyes with alarm. I sense your dear breath, And far away the storm is already gathering. A tremor ran through the blue, misty air, Alarm touched my temples, And Russia calls us to a feat, A breath is wafting from the marching regiments. Farewell, the land of the fathers, Remember us. Farewell, dear glance, Forgive-farewell, Forgive-farewell... Years fly by Trains disappear in the dark. In them—the soldiers. And in the dark sky The soldier's star is shining. In them—the soldiers. And in the dark sky The soldier's star is shining. refrain Forests, the steppe, junctions stand in the steppe The light of the twilight, evening, morning—So, don't forget the Slavic woman's farewell, Repeat it to yourself in your soul! No, the soul will not be indifferent— The lights of justice shine... For love, for the great fraternity We have sacrificed our lives. refrain Years fly by, A the song—you are always with us. We remember you, And in the dark sky The soldier's star is shining. refrain

Words by Andrej Mingalyov (1990s)

Много песен мы в сердце сложили,

Воспевая родные поля.

Беззаветно тебя мы любили,

Святорусская наша земля.

Высоко ты главу поднимала -

Словно солнце твой лик воссиял.

Но ты жертвою подлости стала -

Тех, кто предал тебя и продал!

ПРИПЕВ:

И снова в поход!

Труба нас зовет!

Мы вновь встанем в строй

И все пойдем в священный бой.

Встань за Веру, Русская Земля!

Ждет победы России святыня.

Отзовись, православная рать!

Где Илья твой и где твой Добрыня?

Сыновей кличет Родина-мать.

ПРИПЕВ.

Все мы - дети великой Державы,

Все мы помним заветы отцов

Ради Знамени, Чести и Славы

Не жалей ни себя, ни врагов.

Встань, Россия, из рабского плена,

Дух победы зовет: в бой, пора!

Подними боевые знамена

Ради Правды, Красы и Добра!

ПРИПЕВ.

The post-World War II Version (Red Army Choir)

Original Этот марш не смолкал на перронах когда враг заслонял горизонт. С ним отцов наших в дымных вагонах Поезда увозили на фронт. Он Москву отстоял в сорок первом, В сорок пятом шагал на Берлин, Он солдатом прошел до Победы По дорогам нелегких годин. И если в поход Страна позовет За край наш родной Мы все пойдем в священный бой! (2 pаза) Шумят в полях хлеба. Шагает Отчизна моя К высотам счастья, Сквозь все ненастья — Дорогой мира и труда. К высотам счастья, Сквозь все ненастья — Дорогой мира и труда. Припев

Transliteration Etot marš ne smolkal na perronah Kogda vrah zaslonjal gorizont. S nim ocov naših v dymnyh vagonah pojezda uvozili na front. On Moskvu otstojal v sorok pervom V sorok pjatom šagal na Berlin, On soldatom prošel do Pobedy Po dorogam nelegkih godin. I jesli v pohod Strana pozovet Za kraj naš rodnoj My vse pojdem v svjaśennyj boj! (2 raza) Šumjat v poljah hleba. Šagajet Otčizna moja K vysotam sčastjja, Skovzj vse nenastjja — Dorogoj mira i truda. K vysotam sčastjja, Skovzj vse nenastjja — Dorogoj mira i truda. Pripev

English Translation This march would not quiet at the train stations When the enemy barred the horizon To this march our fathers, in smoke filled cars, Were carried by trains to the front. He defended Moscow in '41 In '45 he marched on Berlin As a Soldier he achieved victory Over the course of trying years And if to a crusade The country calls For our Motherland We will all go to holy battle They sound off in the fields of bread My fatherland is on the move! To the height of joy Through all difficulties — By the way of peace and labor! To the height of joy Through all difficulties — Dear is peace and labor! Refrain

Hebrew version

A Hebrew version was written in 1945 by singer/songwriter Haim Hefer for the Palmach. In his version of the song, called בין גבולות (Between borders), Hefer coined the phrase אָנוּ פֹּה חוֹמַת מָגֵן (We are a defensive shield) used by Israel Defense Forces when naming Operation Defensive Shield in 2002.

External links

• Russian/English lyrics and mp3 file
• The proposed anthem and its lyrics
• A Chinese rendition with translated (Red Army Choir) lyrics performed by the Male Choir of the People's Armed Police
• Original version from 1912