The Internationale in 20 languages

you know you want it you pinko!

Billy Bragg’s famous version does NOT use the original lyrics.

• Wikipedia entry on the Internationale. Yes I know I am a Wikipedia whore.

Bragg version:

Stand up, all victims of oppression
For the tyrants fear your might
DonÂ’t cling so hard to your possessions
For you have nothing, if you have no rights
Let racist ignorance be ended
For respect makes the empires fall
Freedom is merely privilege extended
Unless enjoyed by one and all

Chorus:
So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race

Let no one build walls to divide us
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
WeÂ’ll live together or weÂ’ll die alone
In our world poisoned by exploitation
Those who have taken, now they must give
And end the vanity of nations
WeÂ’ve but one earth on which to live

And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields
When we fight, provoked by their aggression
Let us be inspired by like and love
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above

Original (translated from French)- I never realized how toned down the modern versions are. Take note of the parts which deprecates messianistic religion, and the previous verse which calls for treason. Actually, I guess the verses are arranged by scale of rebellion- the last being a rebellion against God.

Arise ye workers [starvelings] from your slumbers
Arise ye prisoners of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last ends the age of cant.
Away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise
We’ll change henceforth [forthwith] the old tradition [conditions]
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.

No more deluded by reaction
On tyrants only we’ll make war
The soldiers too will take strike action
They’ll break ranks and fight no more
And if those cannibals keep trying
To sacrifice us to their pride
They soon shall hear the bullets flying
We’ll shoot the generals on our own side.

No saviour from on high delivers
No faith have we in prince or peer
Our own right hand the chains must shiver
Chains of hatred, greed and fear
E’er the thieves will out with their booty [give up their booty]
And give to all a happier lot.
Each [those] at the forge must do their duty
And we’ll strike while the iron is hot.

Web link of note: The Internationale in 20 languages
(At http://www.hymn.ru/internationale/index-en.html)