| "A las Barricadas" | |
|---|---|
 A las Barricadas | |
| Song | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Written | Original music from "Warszawianka" composed in 1879. Spanish lyrics written in 1933. |
| Published | November 1933. |
| Recorded | 1936 |
| Length | 1:13 |
| Composer | Józef Pławiński |
| Lyricist | Valeriano Orobón Fernández (based on original lyrics byWacław Święcicki) |
| Audio sample | |
"A las Barricadas" (English:To the Barricades) is aSpanish anarchistanthem, popularised during theSpanish Civil War as the official hymn of theNational Confederation of Labour (CNT). The lyrics, written byValeriano Orobón Fernández, were based on the Polish revolutionary anthem "Whirlwinds of Danger", composed byJózef Pławiński. Since the civil war, it has gained widespread popularity among the songs of the international left and remains in use amongcontemporary anarchists.
The lyrics to the song were composed in the early 1930s by the Spanish anarchist writerValeriano Orobón Fernández.[1] The Spanish lyrics were based on a German translation of the Polish revolutionary anthem "Whirlwinds of Danger" (Polish:Warszawianka),[2] the lyrics of which were originally penned in the early 1880s byWacław Święcicki and the music composed byJózef Pławiński.[1]
By 1936, the song had become the official anthem of theNational Confederation of Labour (CNT), ananarcho-syndicalisttrade union confederation.[1] It became one of the main anarchist anthems of theSpanish Civil War,[3] together with the song "Hijos del Pueblo", and it would often be featured in the propaganda films of the CNT.[4] The song was sung by theDurruti Column when it departed fromBarcelona for theAragon front.[5] ComposerPablo Sorozábal reported that when his orchestra played "A las Barricadas", the anarchists and syndicalists would stand up and perform theanarchist salute, locking their hands together over their heads, while the socialists and communists remained seated. He likewise reported the opposite happening when his orchestra performed "The Internationale".[6]
In the latter half of the 20th century, "A Las Barricades" entered the global repertoire ofleft-wing music, taking a place alongside other Spanish Civil War songs like "¡Ay Carmela!", the Italian partisan song "Bella ciao" and the Russian anti-fascist song "Katyusha", among others.[7] The song was adopted by members of the FrenchConfédération nationale du travail (CNT-F), headquartered onRue des Vignoles [fr] inParis.[8] It has also been covered byanarcho-punk bands, which have played renditions of it with loud electric guitars andscreaming.[9]
| Spanish[10] | Catalan[11] | English translation[10] |
|---|---|---|
Negras tormentas agitan los aires | Negres tempestes agiten els aires | Black storms shake the air |
