“The Internationale”
Description
Communist anthem, translated into most major languages. English: "Arise, you pris'ners of starvation, Arise you wretched of the earth...." The workers are urged to rise up, throw off their chains and their overlords, and work toward a united human race
Notes
Obviously not a "folk song" in the ordinary sense, and not as popular as it once was. But enough people have sung it at one time or another (in many languages, though the original is French) that it probably belongs here.
Ironically, this song was not written for Communism as such but for the Paris Commune of 1871 -- a movement which failed miserably, had no influence on future French policy, and wasn't "Communist" in the Leninist sense anyway. - RBW
Recordings
- Pete Seeger, "L'Internationale, " [sung in French] (on PeteSeeger47)
References
- Silber-FSWB, p. 297, "The Internationale" (1 (English) text)
- Fuld-WFM, p. 303, "L'Internationale"
- DT, INTERNAT*
- BI, FSWB297B