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Il Canto degli Italiani

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Il Canto degli Italiani (1847)
by Goffredo Mameli

Il Canto degli Italiani (The Song of the Italians) is the Italian national anthem. The anthem is also popularly known, from its first line, as Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) and, after its author, as the Inno di Mameli (Mameli's Hymn). In 1946 Italy became a republic, and on October 12, 1946 Il Canto degli Italiani was provisionally chosen as the country's new national anthem. This choice was officialized in law only on November 17, 2005, almost 60 years later.

Note: this is the complete text of the original poem written by Goffredo Mameli, however the Italian anthem, as performed in every official occasion, is composed by the first part and the chorus, repeated twice, then ends with a loud "Sì!" ("Yes!"). The rest of the poem refers to relevant episodes of the Italian struggle for unification and independence.

19694Il Canto degli Italiani1847Goffredo Mameli

Brothers of Italy Goffredo Mameli Michele Novaro Inno di Mameli 1.jpg Inno di Mameli instrumental.ogg

Brothers of Italy,
Italy has arisen,
With Scipio's helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
The slave of Rome.
CHORUS
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!

We for centuries
Have been downtrodden and derided,
Because we are not a people,
Because we are divided.
May one flag, one hope
Bring us together;
The hour has struck
For us to join forces.
CHORUS
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us unite and love one another;
For union and love
Reveal to peoples
The way of the Lord
Let us swear to free
Our native soil;
If we are united under God,
Who can conquer us?


CHORUS
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
From the Alps to Sicily,
Everywhere it is Legnano;
Every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio.
The children of Italy
Are all called Balilla;
Every trumpet blast
Sounds the (Sicilian) Vespers.


CHORUS
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Mercenary swords
Are feeble reeds,
And the Austrian eagle
Has lost his plumes.
This eagle that drunk the blood
of Italy and Poland,
together with the Cossack,
But this has burned his gut.


CHORUS
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us form a cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!

 This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.

Original:

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Translation:

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