Cara al Sol
Encyclopedia
Cara al Sol is the anthem
of the Falange
party. The lyrics were written in December 1935 and are usually credited to the then leader of the Falange, José Antonio Primo de Rivera
. The music was composed by Juan de Tellería and Juan R. Buendia.
The circumstances of its creation are unusual. The Falangists
needed a stirring song of their own to counter the popular appeal of El Himno de Riego
(the national anthem of the Second Spanish Republic
) and A Las Barricadas (a very popular Anarchist song). The Falange had nothing suitable of its own so it had been borrowing from the German Nazi
and the Italian fascist
repertoire.
To solve the problem, Primo de Rivera formed a committeehttp://revista.libertaddigital.com/articulo.php/1276226351, meeting on 2 December 1935 in the home of Marichu de la Mora Maura. Those present included José María Alfaro, Rafael Sánchez Mazas
, Agustín (Así) de Foxá, Mourlane Michelena, Dionisio Ridruejo
, Agustín Aznar
, and Luis Aguilar
. The result of their efforts, following a period of sub-committee review (at the Cueva del Orkompon, a Basque bar in Calle Miguel Moya, Madrid) was provisionally entitled the Himno de Falange Española. It was first performed in Madrid
in 1936.
Its popularity was boosted by Primo de Rivera's execution on 20 November 1936
and his subsequent glorification by the Spanish Nationalists.
During the Spanish Civil War
the Falange, which was since its inception quite military or paramilitary-like in its inner organization like other equivalent youth parties in countries under totalitarian regimes, became an important part of the National Army (or National Movement), both ideologically and militarily, still as an independent organization but strengthening the regular insurgent Army in the combat lines, which caused plenty of falangist casualties, and the Cara al Sol was their anthem throughout "the war days", the lyrics acquiring an even more special signification for its remembering of the "fallen comrades".
In Francoist Spain, the Falange, merged with other far-right groups into "Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS", became the only legal political party. Cara al Sol became an official hymn together with the Oriamendi
the hymn of the carlist movement, often played alongside the official anthem, the Marcha Real
, and was regarded as the battle song of the Spanish far right.
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
of the Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
party. The lyrics were written in December 1935 and are usually credited to the then leader of the Falange, José Antonio Primo de Rivera
José Antonio Primo de Rivera
José Antonio Primo de Rivera y Sáenz de Heredia, 1st Duke of Primo de Rivera, 3rd Marquis of Estella , was a Spanish lawyer, nobleman, politician, and founder of the Falange Española...
. The music was composed by Juan de Tellería and Juan R. Buendia.
The circumstances of its creation are unusual. The Falangists
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
needed a stirring song of their own to counter the popular appeal of El Himno de Riego
El Himno de Riego
El Himno de Riego is a song dating from the Liberal Triennium and named in honour of Colonel Rafael del Riego. It was the national anthem of Spain during the Trienio Liberal and the First and Second Spanish Republics ....
(the national anthem of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
) and A Las Barricadas (a very popular Anarchist song). The Falange had nothing suitable of its own so it had been borrowing from the German Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and the Italian fascist
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
repertoire.
To solve the problem, Primo de Rivera formed a committeehttp://revista.libertaddigital.com/articulo.php/1276226351, meeting on 2 December 1935 in the home of Marichu de la Mora Maura. Those present included José María Alfaro, Rafael Sánchez Mazas
Rafael Sánchez Mazas
Rafael Sánchez Mazas was a Spanish nationalist writer and a leader of the Falange, a right-wing political movement created in Spain before the Spanish Civil War....
, Agustín (Así) de Foxá, Mourlane Michelena, Dionisio Ridruejo
Dionisio Ridruejo
Dionisio Ridruejo Jiménez was a Spanish poet and political figure within the Falange...
, Agustín Aznar
Agustín Aznar
Agustín Aznar Gerner was a Spanish medical doctor, political activist with the Falange and a leading figure during the Spanish Civil War. Aznar was part of a radical element within the followers of Francisco Franco and at represented a challenge to his leadership...
, and Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar is an American soccer player who until recently played defense for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division.- Career :...
. The result of their efforts, following a period of sub-committee review (at the Cueva del Orkompon, a Basque bar in Calle Miguel Moya, Madrid) was provisionally entitled the Himno de Falange Española. It was first performed in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1936.
Its popularity was boosted by Primo de Rivera's execution on 20 November 1936
20-N
20-N is a symbolic abbreviation used to denote the date of death of two of the best known and controversial figures in 20th century Spanish history...
and his subsequent glorification by the Spanish Nationalists.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
the Falange, which was since its inception quite military or paramilitary-like in its inner organization like other equivalent youth parties in countries under totalitarian regimes, became an important part of the National Army (or National Movement), both ideologically and militarily, still as an independent organization but strengthening the regular insurgent Army in the combat lines, which caused plenty of falangist casualties, and the Cara al Sol was their anthem throughout "the war days", the lyrics acquiring an even more special signification for its remembering of the "fallen comrades".
In Francoist Spain, the Falange, merged with other far-right groups into "Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS", became the only legal political party. Cara al Sol became an official hymn together with the Oriamendi
Oriamendi
Oriamendi is the anthem of the Carlist movement. The name of the anthem stems from a battle which took place in 1837 during the First Carlist War.- The lyrics :Over the years, several versions of "Oriamendi" have been in use...
the hymn of the carlist movement, often played alongside the official anthem, the Marcha Real
Marcha Real
is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no official lyrics ....
, and was regarded as the battle song of the Spanish far right.
The lyrics
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 |
Original lyrics Cara al Sol con la camisa nueva, que tú bordaste en rojo ayer, me hallará la muerte si me lleva y no te vuelvo a ver. Formaré junto a mis compañeros que hacen guardia sobre los luceros, impasible el ademán, y están presentes en nuestro afán. Si te dicen que caí, me fui al puesto que tengo allí. Volverán banderas victoriosas al paso alegre de la paz y traerán prendidas cinco rosas las flechas de mi haz. Volverá a reír la primavera, que por cielo, tierra y mar se espera. ¡Arriba, escuadras, a vencer, que en España empieza a amanecer! ¡España una! ¡España grande! ¡España libre! ¡Arriba España! |
Translated lyrics Facing the sun in my new shirt that you embroidered in red yesterday, That's how death will find me if it takes me and I won't see you again. I'll take my place alongside my companions who stand on guard in the heavens, with a hard countenance, they are alive in our effort. If they say to you that I fell, know that I'm gone to my post up there. Victorious flags will return at the merry step of Peace and they'll bring five roses: the arrows of my quiver. Spring will laugh again, which we await by air, land and sea. Onwards, squadrons, to victory, that a new day dawns on Spain! Spain united! Spain (the) great! Spain (the) free! Onwards Spain! |
Written by committee
The lyrics were a collaborative effort, under the editorship of Primo de Rivera. Authorship of individual lines are attributed as follows: 1-4 Foxá, Primo de Rivera, Alfaro; 5-10 Foxá; 11-12 Ridruejo; 13-14 Primo de Rivera; 15 Alfaro; 16 Mourlane; and 17-18 Alfaro. Lines 19-22 were existing Falange slogans.Imagery in the lyrics
- Line 1: The reference to the "new shirt" relates to the FalangistFalangeThe Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
uniform, a working-class, plain blue shirt which was their most distinctive sign and was embroidered upon the heart position in the left side of the chest with the party symbol in red colour, a yoke uniting in its center an array of five arrows pointing upwards, meaning strength, sacrifice and union. "New shirts" does not refer to Falangists who joined during the warSpanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
("Old shirts" joined before it), since this expression came up only after the song was composed. - Lines 13-14: The reference to the arrows is an allusion to the Falange "Yoke and ArrowsYoke and arrowsThe Yoke and the Bundle of Arrows or the Yoke and Arrows is a badge dating back to the Spanish co-monarchy of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It served as the symbol of the shield of the monarchy of Ferdinand and Isabella and subsequent Catholic monarchs, representing a united...
" symbol and to the Falangist youth movement. - Lines 19-21: España Una, Grande y Libre was a frequently used slogan in Francoism.
- Line 22: Falangists use Arriba España ("Onward Spain") instead of the more usual Viva España ("Long live Spain").
Alternate lines
In Line 5, mis compañeros ("my companions") is sometimes replaced by los compañeros ("the companions") or otros compañeros ("other companions")."Amanecer"
This version of the song appeared after the civil war, and is a slow-motion version of "Cara al Sol", sometimes sung by a female voice, almost a ballad. This is a very different version, given the fact that "Cara al Sol" was originally a battle song, and "Amanecer" is almost a love ballad. It was produced and conducted by A. VelázquezExternal links
- BBC news story about the removal of the last statue of FrancoFrancisco FrancoFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
from MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, during which a group of Francoist demonstrators sang Cara al Sol. - Spanish website featuring lyrics and mp3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
files - Cara al Sol in digital transfer from original Italian gramophone disk in mp3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...