Himno Nacional Mexicano

History of the National Anthem

In 1853, President Antonio López de Santa Anna announced a contest for the lyrics of a new national anthem. The judging committee chose the lyrics of Francicso González Bocanegra, an accomplished poet. After the selection of the lyrics, there was a contest for the melody. A Spaniard, Jaime Nunó Roca, won the contest. The combination of Nunó’s music with González’s lyrics was adopted as national anthem in 1854.

In 1943, when the anthem was officially adopted, the original version of the Himno Nacional was shortened from ten verses to four. When a shorter version is needed such as at sporting events, the chorus, the first stanza and again the chorus are played.^[1] When the National Anthem is being performed, one is legally required to remove headgear and stand at attention.^[2]

Himno Nacional Mexicano is unofficially known as Mexicanos, al Grito de Guerra.

If you are trying to learn to sing this song I recommend singing along with a YouTube video such as this one: "Himno Nacional Mexicano (El Mas Hermoso Del Mundo)".^[3]

HIMNO NACIONAL

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon!

Estrofa I:
Ciña ¡oh patria! tus sienes de oliva
De la paz el arcángel divino,
Que en el cielo tu eterno destino
Por el dedo de Dios se escribió.
Más si osare un extraño enemigo
Profanar con su planta tu suelo,
Pienso ¡oh patria querida! que el cielo
Un soldado en cada hijo te dio. (x2)

Stanza I:
Let gird, oh Fatherland!, your brow with olive
by the divine archangel of peace,
for in heaven your eternal destiny
was written by the finger of God.
But if some enemy outlander should dare
to profane your ground with his sole,
think, oh beloved Fatherland!, that heaven
has given you a soldier in every son.

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon!

Estrofa II:
¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente
De la patria manchar los blasones!
¡Guerra, guerra! Los patrios pendones
En las olas de sangre empapad.
¡Guerra Guerra! En el monte, en el valle
los cañones horrísonos truenen,
Y los ecos sonoros resuenen
Con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad! (x2)

Stanza II:
War, war without quarter to any who dare
to tarnish the coats of arms of the country!
War, war! Let the national banners
be soaked in waves of blood.
War, war! In the mountain, in the valley,
let the cannons thunder in horrid unison
and may the sonorous echoes resound
with cries of Union! Liberty!

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon!

Estrofa III:
Antes, patria, que inermes tus hijos
Bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen,
Tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen,
Sobre sangre se estampe su pie.
Y sus templos, palacios y torres
Se derrumben con hórrido estruendo,
Y sus ruinas existan diciendo:
De mil héroes la patria aquí fue. (x2)

Stanza III:
O, Fatherland, ere your children, defenseless
bend their neck beneath the yoke,
may your fields be watered with blood,
may their foot be printed in blood.
And may your temples, palaces and towers
collapse with horrid clamor,
and may their ruins continue on, saying:
Of one thousand heroes, here the Fatherland began.

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon!

Estrofa IV:
¡Patria! ¡patria! Tus hijos te juran
Exhalar en tus aras su aliento,
Si el clarín con su bélico acento
Los convoca a lidiar con valor.
¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva!
¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria!
¡Un laurel para ti de victoria!
¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! (x2)

Stanza IV:
Fatherland! Fatherland! your children swear to you
to breathe their last for your sake,
if the bugle with its bellicose accent
calls them together to battle with courage.
For you, olive wreathes!
A memory for them of glory!
For you, a laurel of victory!
A tomb for them of honor!

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón.

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centers
at the resounding roar of the cannon!

Himno Nacional Mexicano

Mexican National Anthem

Last updated 2015

History of the National Anthem

HIMNO NACIONAL

Footnotes and Notes