Song of the Soviet Army

The "Song of the Soviet Army",^[a] also known as the "Song of the Russian Army"^[b] or by the refrain's opening line "Invincible and Legendary",^[c] is a Soviet patriotic song written during the end of World War II. Its performance has been done by numerous artists, especially by the Alexandrov Ensemble. The original 1945 version is triumphal in tune, with its brass fanfares and ecstatic chords extended upward with the aid of trumpets, as part of the V-E Day celebrations. That arrangement by A. Alexandrov is very much in the tradition of final choruses in 19th-century Italian grand opera, and shows how he originally envisaged this composition. There are many versions of the song.

Besides the original lyrics in Russian,^[1] the song has been performed in German,^[2] Hungarian,^[3] Chinese,^[4] and Japanese.^[5]

Lyrics

Original version

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Над страною шумят как знамёна Двадцать семь героических лет. Солнцем славных боёв озарённым Весь твой путь в наших песнях воспет. Припев: Несокрушимая и легендарная, В боях познавшая радость побед - Тебе любимая, родная армия Шлёт наша Родина песню - привет. Тебе шлёт Родина песню - привет. Родилась ты под знаменем алым В восемнадцатом грозном году. Всех врагов ты всегда сокрушала, Победишь и фашистов орду. Припев Ленинград мы в боях отстояли, Отстояли родной Сталинград. Нас ведёт в наступление Сталин, Наши танки фашистов громят! Припев Победим, наша сила несметна, Гений Сталина в бой нас ведёт. Наша армия в битвах бессмертна, Как бессмертен Советский Народ. Припев	Nad stranoju šumjat kak znamjona Dvadcatj semj geroičeskih let. Solncem slavnyh bojov ozarjonnym Vesj tvoj putj v naših pesnjah vospet. Pripev: Nesokrušimaja i legendarnaja, V bojah poznavšaja radostj pobed - Tebe ljubimaja, rodnaja armija Šljot naša Rodina pesnju - privet Tebe šljot Rodina pesnju - privet. Rodilas ty pod znamenem alym V vosemnadcatom groznom godu. Vseh vragov ty vsegda sokrušala, Pobedišj i fašistov ordu. Pripev Leningrad my v bojah otstojali, Otstojali rodnoj Stalingrad. Nas vedjot v nastuplenije Stalin, Naši tanki fašistov gromjat! Pripev Pobedim, naša sila nesmetna, Genij Stalina v boj nas vedjot. Naša armija v bitvah bessmertna, Kak bessmerten Sovetskij Narod. Pripev	Over the country wave the banners Of the twenty-seven heroic years. Sun-lit were the past glorious battles Your whole path is sung in our songs. Chorus: Invincible and legendary, In battle, who experienced the joy of victories - You dear beloved, native army Our Motherland sends this song - hello! The Motherland sends you a song - hello! You were born under the scarlet banner In that vicious year of 1918. You have always crushed your enemies, You will also defeat the fascists. Chorus Leningrad, we defended in battle, And we defended our native Stalingrad. With Stalin leading the offensive, Our tanks are smashing the fascists! Chorus We shall win with our untold strength, With the genius of Stalin leading us into battle. Our army is immortal in battle, Immortal like the Soviet people. Chorus

Post-Stalinist version

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Над тобою шумят как знамёна Годы наших Великих Побед. Отзвук славных боёв отдалённых, Весь твой путь в наших песнях воспет. Припев: Несокрушимая и легендарная, В боях познавшая радость побед - Тебе любимая, родная армия Шлёт наша Родина песню - привет. Тебе шлёт Родина песню - привет. Родилась ты под знаменем алым В восемнадцатом грозном году. Всех врагов ты всегда побеждала, Победила фашистов орду. Припев Нашей партии гордое знамя, Нас на подвиг ведёт за собой! Словно солнце сияет над нами, Над Великой Советской Страной. Припев	Nad toboju šumjat kak znamjona Gody naših Velikih Pobed. Otzvuk slavnyh bojov otdaljonnyh, Vesj tvoj putj v naših pesnjah vospet. Pripev: Nesokrušimaja i legendarnaja, V bojah poznavšaja radost pobed - Tebe ljubimaja, rodnaja armija Šljot naša Rodina pesnju - privet. Tebe šljot Rodina pesnju - privet. Rodilasj ty pod znamenem alym V vosemnadcatom groznom godu. Vseh vragov ty vsegda pobeždala, Pobedila fašistov ordu. Pripev Našej partii gordoje znamja, Nas na podvig vedjot za soboj! Slovno solnce sijajet nad nami, Nad Velikoj Sovetskoj Stranoj. Pripev	Over you wave the banners Of the years of our Great Victories, The distant echo of past glorious battles, Your whole path is sung in our songs. Chorus: Invincible and legendary, In battle, who experienced the joy of victories - You dear beloved, native army Our Motherland sends this song - hello! The Motherland sends you a song - hello! You were born under the scarlet banner In that vicious year of 1918. You have always defeated your enemies, You will also defeat the fascists. Chorus Our party's proud banner, Leads us to great feats! Like the sun shining over us, Over the Great Soviet Country. Chorus

Post-Soviet version

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Над тобою шумят как знамёна Годы наших Великих Побед. Солнцем славных боёв озарённым, Весь твой путь в наших песнях воспет. Припев: Несокрушимая и легендарная, В боях познавшая радость побед - Тебе любимая, родная армия Шлёт наша Родина песню - привет. Тебе шлёт Родина песню - привет. Родилась ты под знаменем алым В восемнадцатом грозном году. Всех врагов ты всегда побеждала, Победила фашистов орду. Припев Нашей родины гордое знамя, Нас на подвиг ведёт за собой! Словно солнце сияет над нами, Над Великой Российской Землой. Припев	Nad toboju šumjat kak znamjona Gody naših Velikih Pobed. Solncem slavnyh bojov ozarjonnym, Vesj tvoj putj v naših pesnjah vospet. Pripev: Nesokrušimaja i legendarnaja, V bojah poznavšaja radost pobed - Tebe ljubimaja, rodnaja armija Šljot naša Rodina pesnju - privet. Tebe šljot Rodina pesnju - privet. Rodilasj ty pod znamenem alym V vosemnadcatom groznom godu. Vseh vragov ty vsegda pobeždala, Pobedila fašistov ordu. Pripev Našej rodiny gordoje znamja, Nas na podvig vedjot za soboj! Slovno solnce sijajet nad nami, Nad Velikoj Rossijskoj Zemloj. Pripev	Over you wave the banners Of the years of our Great Victories, Sun-lit were the past glorious battles, Your whole path is sung in our songs. Chorus: Invincible and legendary, In battle, who experienced the joy of victories - You dear beloved, native army Our Motherland sends this song - hello! The Motherland sends you a song - hello! You were born under the scarlet banner In that vicious year of 1918. You have always defeat your enemies, You will also defeat the fascists. Chorus Our homeland's proud banner, Leads us to great feats! Like the sun shining over us, Over the Great Russian Land. Chorus

4th Verse

Apparently, there's also a 4th missing verse in the song that rarely sung. The 1982 Red Army Choir concert use this verse as the 3rd verse when they sing the song.

Russian original	Romanization of Russian	English translation
Процветай же, родная держава, И, победная песня, звени! В дни боёв умножали мы славу, Приумножим и в мирные дни! Припев	Procvetaj že, rodnaja deržava, I, pobednaja pesnja, zveni! V dni bojov umnožali my slavu, Priumnožim i v mirnyje dni! Pripev	Prosper, dear country, And, victory song, ring! In the days of battles we multiplied the glory, Let's increase in peacetime too! Chorus

Notes

1. Russian: Песня о Советской армии, romanized: Pésnya o Sovétskoy ármii, IPA: [ˈpʲesʲnʲə ə‿sɐˈvʲetskəj ˈarmʲɪ(j)ɪ]
2. Russian: Песня о Российской армии, romanized: Pésnya o Rossískoy ármii, IPA: [ˈpʲesʲnʲə ə‿rɐˈsʲijskəj ˈarmʲɪ(j)ɪ]
3. Russian: Несокрушимая и легендарная, romanized: Nesokrushímaya i legendárnaya, IPA: [nʲɪsəkrʊˈʂɨməjə i‿lʲɪɡʲɪnˈdarnəjə]

References

1. "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922-1991) Military March "Invincible and Legendary"". YouTube.
2. "Unbesiegbar Und Legendär! - Несокрушимая и легендарная! - Invincible And Legendary! (German Version)". YouTube.
3. "Несокрушимая и Легендарная - Invincible and Legendary (Hungarian)". YouTube.
4. "苏联红军之歌(苏军之歌)/Song of the Soviet Red Army(Chinese Version)". YouTube.
5. "【NEUTRINO】ソビエト陸軍の歌（1943）/Песня о Советской армии（東北きりたん・琴葉茜）". YouTube.

External links

• krapp-sa.narod.ru webpage: list of Alexandrov Ensemble recordings. translated Russian→English by Google translate tool.
• Alexandrov Ensemble website. in Russian
• Sovmusic.ru webpage: list of Alexandrov Ensemble recordings. in Russian
• КАППСА - Мы Армия Народа on YouTube