Trei culori

Trei culori ("Three colours") was the national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Romania from 1977 until 1990. In 24 January 1990, after the Romanian Revolution, it was officially replaced by Deșteaptă-te, române!.[1][2] Before 1977, the national anthem had been E scris pe tricolor Unire, introduced in 1975.[3]

Trei culori

English: Three Colours
Coat of arms of S.R.Romania (1965-1989)
National anthem of Socialist Republic of Romania
Lyrics	Ciprian Porumbescu, 1977
Music	Ciprian Porumbescu
Adopted	1977
Relinquished	1990

Trei culori is based on a Romanian patriotic song with the same title (music and lyrics by Ciprian Porumbescu). The original text twice underwent non-credited revisions in order to reflect the country's Communist doctrine as well as parallels between past and present glories. This was unlike one of the previous anthems, Te slăvim, Românie, a text mentioning Romania's brotherhood with the Soviet Union and praises of the Leninist ideology were consciously not included, emphasising a more National Communist character of the state.

The title refers to the national flag of Romania, which is a blue-yellow-red tricolour. It has not undergone many or major changes in the history of the Romanian state. Only the distribution of the colors (in point of proportion and position) changed to a certain extent, being made equal after the abortive Romanian revolution of 1848. The Romanian principalities were among the many European states during that time that were inspired by the French revolutionary spirit to make a tricolour or dimensionally standardized three-color banner as their national flag.

The song continued as the national anthem for around a month after the overthrow of the Socialist Republic,[1][2] but with Porumbescu's original patriotic lyrics.

Original patriotic song

Romanian lyrics	Literal English translation	Free English translation
Trei culori cunosc pe lume Ce le țin de-un sânt odor, Sunt culori de-un vechi renume Suveniri de-un brav popor. Roșu-i focul ce-mi străbate, Inima-mi plină de dor Pentru sânta libertate Și al patriei amor. Auriu ca mândrul soare Fi-va'l nostru viitor Pururea'n eternă floare Și cu luci netrecător Iar albastrul e credința Pentru nație ce-oi nutrim Credincioși fără schimbare Pân' la moarte o să-i fim Pân' pe cer și cât în lume Vor fi aste trei culori Vom avea un falnic nume Și un falnic viitor Iar când, fraților, m'oi duce De la voi ș'oi fi să mor Pe mormânt, atunci să-mi puneți Mândrul nostru tricolor	Three colours I know in the world And I hold them like a holy jewel They are colours with an ancient fame Reminders of a brave nation. Red is the fire that permeates My heart which is full of longing For holy liberty And the love for the fatherland. Golden as the proud sun Shall be our future. Always in eternal blossom And unwithered radiance. And blue is our loyalty To our nation, which we cherish. To it we shall be loyal To the death, without faltering. As long as in the sky and in the world There will be these three colours We'll have a glorious name And a glorious future. And when, brothers, I shall leave you And the time will have come to die, On my tomb then lay Our proud tricolor flag.	With three colours I'm acquainted And their holiest embrace Since old times by glory painted Recalling a gallant race Crimson for the fire burning in my patriotic heart Liberty, so it decided Shall be its goals from the start Like the sun in skyey bowers golden shall our future be Blooming like a myriad flowers Shining bright for all to see We'll be loyal 'till we perish to Romania, brave and true To the Homeland which we cherish this our pledge is marked in blue As long as our flag is flying and is gloriously unfurled, our Romania, land undying, will be praised and crown the world. And when, brothers, I shall leave you And my time will come to die, This tricolour flag of ours on my grave shall proudly lie

National anthem

Romanian lyrics	Literal English translation	Free English translation
Trei culori cunosc pe lume, Amintind de-un brav popor, Ce-i viteaz, cu vechi renume, În luptă triumfător. Multe secole luptară Străbunii noștri eroi, Să trăim stăpîni în țară, Ziditori ai lumii noi. Roșu, galben și albastru Este-al nostru tricolor. Se înalță ca un astru Gloriosul meu popor. Suntem un popor în lume Strâns unit și muncitor, Liber, cu un nou renume Și un țel cutezător. Azi partidul ne unește Și pe plaiul românesc Socialismul se clădește, Prin elan muncitoresc. Pentru-a patriei onoare, Vrăjmașii-n luptă-i zdrobim. Cu alte neamuri sub soare, Demn, în pace, să trăim. Iar tu, Românie mîndră, Tot mereu să dăinuiesti Și în comunista eră Ca o stea să strălucești.	Three colours I know in the world, Reminders of a brave people – Which is brave, with old renown Victorious in battle. For long ages Our heroic forefathers fought To live as masters of this land, Builders of the new world. Red, yellow, and blue Is our tricolour The glory of my people Rises like a star. We are a people in the world Close-knit and industrious, Free, with a new renown and an audacious aim. Today the Party unites us And on Romanian land Socialism is being built, Through the workers' spirit. For the honor of our country, We crush enemies in battle. With other nations under the sun, We live, trustworthy, in peace. And you, splendid Romania, Shall stand for ever and ever, And in the Communist era Shall shine as a star.	With three colours I'm acquainted Which recall a gallant race – Since old times by glory sainted Battles has it won apace. For long ages our forefathers Have this gallant flag unfurled, So we may the land's fruit gather, Building here the future's world. This tricolour flag of ours Flutters crimson, yellow, blue, Like a star in skyey bowers Rise my people, brave and true. In this world we are a nation Keen on work and of one soul. Free and with new reputation, Sharing one ambitious goal. Now united by our Party; In Romania's meads and fields, Our work is hard and hearty, Building Socialism its yield. For the homeland's greater glory We crush enemies at fight, But we'd share a peaceful story With all peoples in proud light. Proud Romania, now dearer, Live forever in fine light! In the Communist new era Like a star you must shine bright!

References

1. "Cum a devenit „Deșteaptă-te, române!" imnul național al României". Digi24 (in Romanian). 5 May 2018.
2. Pădurean, Bianca (21 June 2018). "Pagina de istorie: Povestea cântecului "Deșteaptă-te, române!" și cum a devenit el "Marseilleza românilor"". RFI România (in Romanian).
3. Petru Bălan, Cristian (2008). Imnurile de stat ale ţărilor din Uniunea Europeană (in Romanian). p. 112. ISBN 9737400941.

External links

• Sound file (mp3)
• Trei culori music