Trei culori

"Trei culori" ("Three colours") was the national anthem of Romania from 1977 until 1989, during the last stage of the Communist regime. Since the anti-communist Romanian Revolution of 1989 it been replaced by Deşteaptă-te, române! Before 1977. the national anthem had been "Te slăvim, Românie", introduced in 1953.

"Trei culori" is based on a Romanian patriotic song with the same title (music and lyrics by Ciprian Porumbescu). The original text twice underwent non-credited "adaptation" in order to match currently prevailing Communist Party ideology.

The title refers to the national flag of Romania, which is a tricolor: red, yellow and blue. It has not undergone many or major changes in the course of history. Only the distribution of the colors (in point of proportion and position) changed to a certain extent, being made equal after the abortive Romanian revolution of 1848 when, under the spur of the French revolutionary spirit, many states in Europe adopted as their national flag the tricolour, or dimensionally standardized three-color banner.

Original patriotic song ( _ro. Cântecul tricolorului)

Romanian lyrics

:"Trei culori cunosc pe lume"
:"Ce le ştiu ca sfânt odor,"
:"Sunt culori de-un vechi renume"
:"Amintind de-un brav popor."

:"Cât pe cer şi cât pe lume,"
:"Vor fi aste trei culori,"
:"Vom avea un falnic nume,"
:"Şi un falnic viitor."

:"Roşu-i focul vitejiei,"
:"Jertfele ce-n veci nu pier"
:"Galben, aurul câmpiei,"
:"Şi-albastru-al nostru cer."

:"Multe secole luptară"
:"Bravi şi ne-nfricaţi eroi"
:"Liberi să trăim în ţară"
:"Ziditori ai lumii noi."

English translation

:Three colours I know in the world
:And I hold them like a holy jewel
:They are colours with an ancient fame
:Reminders of a brave nation.

:As long as in the sky and in the world
:There will be these three colours
:We'll have a glorious name
:And a glorious future.

:Red is the bravery's fire
:Sacrifices that won't ever be lost:Yellow, the plain's gold
:And blue is our sky

:For many centuries they fought
:O, brave and undismayed heroes
:So that we can live free in our country,
:Builders of the new world

National Anthem of Communist Romania

Infobox Anthem
title = Trei culori
transcription =
english_title = Three Colours
alt_title =
en_alt_title =
alt_title_2 =
en_alt_title_2=

---

image_size =
caption = the last communist emblem (coat of arms) of Romania
prefix = National
country = Socialist Republic Romania
author = Unknown
lyrics_date = 1977
composer = Ciprian Porumbescu
music_date =
adopted = 1977
until = 1989
sound =
sound_title =

Romanian lyrics

:"Trei culori cunosc pe lume,
:"Amintind de-un brav popor,
:"Ce-i viteaz, cu vechi renume,
:"În luptă triumfător."

:"Multe secole luptară
:"Străbunii noştri eroi,
:"Să trăim stăpîni în ţară,
:"Ziditori ai lumii noi."

:"Roşu, galben şi albastru
:"Este-al nostru tricolor.
:"Se înalţă ca un astru
:"Gloriosul meu popor."

:"Suntem un popor în lume
:"Strâns unit şi muncitor,
:"Liber, cu un nou renume
:"Şi un ţel cutezător."

:"Azi partidul ne uneşte
:"Şi pe plaiul românesc
:"Socialismul se clădeşte,
:"Prin elan muncitoresc."

:"Pentru-a patriei onoare,
:"Vrăjmaşii-n luptă-i zdrobim.
:"Cu alte neamuri sub soare,
:"Demn, în pace, să trăim."

:"Iar tu, Românie mîndră,
:"Tot mereu să dăinuieşti
:"Şi în comunista eră
:"Ca o stea să străluceşti."

Literal English translation by Andrei Bantaş

:Three colours I know in the world,
:Reminders of a brave people –
:Since old times, with old renown
:Victorious in battle.

:For long ages
:Our heroic forefathers fought
:To live as masters of this land,
:Builders of our world.

:Red, yellow, and blue
:Is our tricolour
:The glory of my people
:Rises like a star

:We are a people in the world
:Closely-knit and industrious,
:Free, with a new renown
:and an audacious aim.

:Today the Party unites us
:And on Romanian land
:Socialism will be built,
:Through the workers' spirit.

:For the honor of our homeland,
:We crush enemies in battle.
:With other nations under the sun,
:We live, trustworthy, in peace.

:But you, splendid Romania,
:Shall stand for ever and ever,
:And in the Communist era
:Shall shine as a star.

Freer English translation

:With three colours I'm acquainted
:Which recall a gallant race –
:Since old times by glory sainted
:Battles has it won apace.

:For long ages our forefathers
:Have this gallant flag unfurled,
:So we may the land's fruit gather,
:Building here the future's world.

:This tricolour flag of ours
:Flutters crimson, yellow, blue,
:Like a star in skyey bowers
:Rise my people, brave and true.

:In this world we are a nation
:Keen on work and of one soul.
:Free and with new reputation,
:Sharing one ambitious goal.

:Now united by our Party;
:In Romania's meads and fields,
:Our work is hard and hearty,
:Building Socialism its yield.

:For the homeland's greater glory
:We crush enemies at fight,
:But we'd share a peaceful story
:With all peoples in proud light.

:Proud Romania, now dearer,
:Live forever in fine light!
:In the Communist new era
:Like a star you must shine bright!

External links

* [http://debian.fmi.uni-sofia.bg/~kalata/docz/National%20Anthems/Romanian%20National%20Anthem.mp3 Sound file (mp3)]
* [http://www.ceausescu.org/ceausescu_media/treiculori.html Trei culori music]