Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

The State Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Estonia from 1945 to 1990 when it was a part of the Soviet Union.

Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistliku Vabariigi hümn

English: Anthem of the Estonian SSR
Former regional anthem of the Estonian SSR
Lyrics	Johannes Semper
Music	Gustav Ernesaks
Adopted	20 July 1945[1] 21 July 1956 (modified version)
Relinquished	8 May 1990[2]
Audio sample
State Anthem of the Estonian SSR (1945 version) file help

Background

The anthem was presented to the central government of the USSR in May 1944, three months after the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR had issued a decree on 3 February 1944, on the Anthems of the Soviet Republics.^[3]

The melody of the anthem was composed by Gustav Ernesaks, and the lyrics written by Johannes Semper. The anthems of the Estonian SSR, the Karelo-Finnish SSR, and the Georgian SSR were the only Soviet regional anthems which did not mention either Russia (country) or the Russians (people) anywhere in the lyrics. After the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died in 1953, during the following period of de-Stalinization in the USSR, on 21 July 1956, the third stanza of the anthem of the Estonian SSR was officially changed to remove all mentions of Stalin.

During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, performing or reciting the melody or lyrics of "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" was forbidden by law, and considered a punishable criminal offence by the Soviet regime. While another song with Ernesaks' melody "Mu isamaa on minu arm", served as means of expressing national feelings, and was widely regarded by Estonians as their "unofficial anthem". On 8 May 1990, "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" was restored as the state anthem, together with the blue-black-white Estonian flag and state official name Republic of Estonia.^[4]

Lyrics

Post-Stalinist version

Estonian original

English translation

Jää kestma, Kalevite kange rahvas, ja seisa kaljuna, me kodumaa! Ei vaibund kannatustes sinu vahvus, end läbi sajanditest murdsid sa ja tõusid õitsvaks sotsialismimaaks, et päikene su päevadesse paista saaks. Nüüd huuga, tehas, vili, nurmel vooga, sirp, lõika, alasile, haamer, löö! Nõukogu elu, tuksu võimsa hooga, too õnne rahvale, me tubli töö! Me Liidu rahvaste ja riike seas sa, Eesti, sammu esimeste kindlas reas! Sa kõrgel leninlikku lippu kannad ja julgelt kommunismi rada käid. Partei me sammudele suuna annab ja võidult võitudele viib ta meid. Ta kindlal juhtimisel kasva sa ja tugevaks ning kauniks saa, me kodumaa!

Endure, heroic people of Kalevs And stand like a boulder, our homeland! Your courage did not subside in the sufferings, You broke yourself through the centuries, and became a flourishing socialist country, For the sun could shine in your days. Now roar! O factory! Flow! O crops on cornfields! Reap! O sickle! And strike! O hammer! May the Soviet life throb in mighty swing; May happiness be brought to the folks through good labor! Among the peoples and states of our Union, You, Estonia, march at the firm forefront! You're bearing Lenin's banner high, And boldly following the path of Communism. Our Party will give us direction And will lead us from victory to victory. You will grow under its firm leadership And become strong and beautiful, our Homeland!

Original version

Estonian original

English translation

Jää kestma, Kalevite kange rahvas, ja seisa kaljuna, me kodumaa! Ei vaibund kannatustes sinu vahvus, end läbi sajanditest murdsid sa. Ja tõusid töötajate vabaks maaks, et päikene su päevadesse paista saaks. Nüüd huuga, tehas, vili, nurmel vooga, sirp, lõika, alasile, haamer, löö! Nõukogu elu, tuksu võimsa hooga, too õnne rahvale, me tubli töö! Me Liidu rahvaste ja riike seas sa, Eesti, sammu esimeste kindlas reas! Kui kants-nii seisavad su kodurannad, su ees vaid lainetavad laiad veed. Sa kõrgel Leninlikku lippu kannad suur Stalin juhtimas su tõusuteed. Käi kindlalt, saatmas sind su õnneteel me võitlusvaim ja kohkumatu mehemeel!

Endure, heroic people of Kalevs And stand like a boulder, our homeland! Your courage did not subside in the sufferings, You broke yourself through the centuries, And arose a workers country in blossom, For the sun could shine in your days. Now roar! O factories, waves and cornfields! Reap! O sickle! And strike! O hammer! May the Soviet life throb in mighty swing; May happiness be brought to the folks through good labor! Among the nations and states of our Union, You, Estonia, march in the firm forefront! Your home beaches stand like a castle, Wide waters only wave before you. You're bearing Lenin's banner high, Great Stalin's leading your ascent. March steadily with our fighting spirit And bold manly mind guiding you!