Our Fatherland | Մեր Հայրենիք | Mer Hayrenik

Описание: Performer: Ara Guiragossian
Author: Mikael Nalbandian
Composer: Barsegh Kanachyan

Earliest recording:
1861

Also known as "The Song of an Italian Girl" (Իտալացի աղջկա երգը). Originally starting out as a mere poem written by Mikael Nalbandyan, this poem grew to become popular during the revolutionary years of the Armenian National Movement, with it's final lines...

«Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է, Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ մեռնի, Բայց երանի, որ իւր ազգին, Ազատութեան կը զոհուի»
"No matter where, death is the same, Man must die at least one time, But blessed be, those who martyr, For the freedom of his land"

being sewn into various banners and such. Eventually Parsegh Kanachyan would write the score for the song (most likely prior to 1907), and in 1918 it would be adopted as the anthem of the First Republic of Armenia. Following the sovietization of Armenia, the anthem was banned and became a protest song for those against the soviet government. The Internationale would take its place until it was replaced by Aram Khachaturyan's "Anthem of the Armenian SSR". Mer Hayrenik would return as the official anthem after the fall of the USSR and independence of Armenia, albeit with modified lyrics to match the current situation. This video contains the original lyrics of the song.

This YouTube channel is anti-partisan. I do not support or endorse any political party or faction, be it the Dashnaktsutiun, Hunchakians, Communists, or any of the past or present presidents or leadership. I aim to preserve these songs and make them easier to access by consolidating them to one channel, as well as repopularizing some of the old, forgotten songs lost to time. If you have anything you want to share or want me to make a video, please let me know.

Footage source:
National Archives of Armenia
British Pathé
National Archives of the US
YouTube

Socials
Discord:   / discord  
Email: [email protected]