A las Barricadas

"A las Barricadas" (English: To the Barricades) is a Spanish anarchist anthem, popularised during the Spanish Civil War as the official hymn of the National Confederation of Labour (CNT). The lyrics, written by Valeriano Orobón Fernández, were based on the Polish revolutionary anthem "Whirlwinds of Danger", composed by Józef Pławiński. Since the civil war, it has gained widespread popularity among the songs of the international left and remains in use among contemporary anarchists.

"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(s)	Józef Pławiński
Lyricist(s)	Valeriano Orobón Fernández (based on original lyrics by Wacław Święcicki)
Audio sample
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Recording with piano and vocals

Instrumental recording

Composition

The lyrics to the song were composed in the early 1930s by the Spanish anarchist writer Valeriano 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 by Wacław Święcicki and the music composed by Józef Pławiński.^[1]

Popularisation

By 1936, the song had become the official anthem of the National Confederation of Labour (CNT), an anarcho-syndicalist trade union confederation.^[1] It became one of the main anarchist anthems of the Spanish 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 the Durruti Column when it departed from Barcelona for the Aragon front [es].^[5] Composer Pablo Sorozábal reported that when his orchestra played "A las Barricadas", the anarchists and syndicalists would stand up and perform the anarchist 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 of left-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 French Confédération nationale du travail (CNT-F), headquartered on Rue des Vignoles [fr] in Paris.^[8] It has also been covered by anarcho-punk bands, which have played renditions of it with loud electric guitars and screaming.^[9]

Lyrics

Spanish[10]	Catalan[11]	English translation[10]
Negras tormentas agitan los aires nubes oscuras nos impiden ver. Aunque nos espere el dolor y la muerte contra el enemigo nos llama el deber. El bien más preciado es la libertad hay que defenderla con fe y con valor. Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos. Alza la bandera revolucionaria que del triunfo sin cesar nos lleva en pos. En pie el pueblo obrero, a la batalla hay que derrocar a la reacción. ¡A las barricadas! ¡A las barricadas! por el triunfo de la Confederación. ¡A las barricadas! ¡A las barricadas! por el triunfo de la Confederación.	Negres tempestes agiten els aires núvols sinistres enceguen l'esguard. Encara que ens esperi la mort més cruenta contra l'adversari havem de lluitar. L'única riquesa és la llibertat i cal defensar-la amb coratge i fe. Alta la bandera revolucionària que sens repòs ens mena al triomf del nostre anhel. Alta la bandera revolucionària que sens repòs ens mena al triomf del nostre anhel. Dempeus tot el poble, tots a la lluita esfondrem amb fúria la reacció! A les barricades! A les barricades! Per la victòria de la Confederació. A les barricades! A les barricades! Per la victòria de la Confederació.	Black storms shake the air Dark clouds blind us Although pain and death [may] await us Duty calls us against the enemy The most precious good is freedom It must be defended with faith and courage Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Raise the revolutionary flag Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph Get up, working people, to the battle [We] have to topple the reaction To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation To the Barricades! To the Barricades! For the triumph of the Confederation

Covering artists

• Bandista (with the name "Haydi Barikata")^[12]
• Jean-Marc Leclercq^[13]
• Pascal Comelade^[14]
• Victor Manuel and Ana Belén (as a duet piece).^[15]
• Los Muertos de Cristo^[16]
• Feminazgûl^[17]

See also

• Songs of the Spanish Civil War