Unofficial anthem of theAllies of World War II | |
| Lyrics | Harold Rome, 1942 |
|---|---|
| Music | Dmitri Shostakovich, 1932 |
| Adopted | 1942 |
| Relinquished | 1945 |
| Succeeded by | Hymn to the United Nations (de-facto, as the anthem of theUnited Nations in 1971) |
"United Nations on the March" is a song composed byDmitri Shostakovich and with lyrics written byHarold Rome. The song was written with the intent of it serving as the anthem for theAllied Powers ofWorld War II.
Dmitri Shostakovich was a successfulSoviet composer, having composed many pieces such as theLeningrad Symphony.The tune that would become the basis for "United Nations on the March" was composed by Shostakovich in 1932 for the filmCounterplan.[1] The English lyrics of "United Nations on the March" were composed byHarold Rome, an American composer and lyricist, in 1942.[2][3] The song was intended to serve as the anthem for the Allied Powers, though it only served as such in an unofficial context.[1]
The song became a popular morale-booster during the war. It was the featured choral finale in the 1943George Sidney musical and patriotic filmThousands Cheer.[4]Paul Robeson performed the song with an additional second verse in his albumSongs for Free Men 1940-1945.[3][5]
