The anthem of El Salvador was composed by the Italian composer Juan Aberle and written by General Juan José Cañas in mid-1850’s at the recommendation of president Dr. Rafael Zaldivar. It was sung for the first time on September 15, 1879 at the National Palace.

Although it was adopted as the National Song on September 15, 1879, it did not receive official recognition until December 11, 1953.

 

CORO

 

Saludemos la patria orgullosos

De hijos suyos podernos llamar

Y juremos la vida animosos,

Sin descanso a su bien consagrar.

PRIMERA ESTROFA

 

De la paz en la dicha suprema,

Siempre noble soñó El Salvador;

Fue obtenerla su eterno problema,

Conservarla es su gloria mayor.

Y con fe inquebrantable el camino

Del progreso se afana en seguir

Por llenar su grandioso destino,

Conquistarse un feliz porvenir.

Le protege una férrea barrera

Contra el choque de ruin deslealtad,

Desde el día que en su alta bandera

Con su sangre escribió: ¡LIBERTAD!

CORO (Repeta)

 

SEGUNDA ESTROFA

 

Libertad es su dogma, es su guía

Que mil veces logró defender;

Y otras tantas, de audaz tiranía

Rechazar el odioso poder.

Dolorosa y sangrienta es su historia,

Pero excelsa y brillante a la vez;

Manantial de legítima gloria,

Gran lección de espartana altivez.

No desmaya en su innata bravura,

En cada hombre hay un héroe inmortal

Que sabrá mantenerse a la altura

De su antiguo valor proverbial.

CORO (Repeta)

 

TERCERA ESTROFA

 

Todos son abnegados, y fieles

Al prestigio del bélico ardor

Con que siempre segaron laureles

De la patria salvando el honor.

Respetar los derechos extraños

Y apoyarse en la recta razón

Es para ella, sin torpes amaños

Su invariable, más firme ambición.

Y en seguir esta línea se aferra

Dedicando su esfuerzo tenaz,

En hacer cruda guerra a la guerra:

Su ventura se encuentra en la paz.

CHORUS

 

Let us salute, the Motherland, proudly

To be its children, called we can

And let us swear our lives spiritedly

Without rest to its good, consecrate!

FIRST VERSE

 

Of peace enjoyed in perfect happiness

El Salvador always nobly dreamed.

To achieve this has been Her eternal proposition,

To keep it, Her greatest glory.

With inviolable faith, the path of progress

She strives to follow

To fulfil Her great destiny

And conquer a happy future.

A stern barrier protects Her

Against the clash of vile disloyalty,

Ever since the day when Her soaring Flag,

Wrote Freedom with Its blood.

CHORUS (Repeat)

 

SECOND VERSE

 

Freedom is Her dogma and Her guide;

A thousand times She has defended it,

And as many times has She repelled

The hateful power of atrocious tyranny.

Her history has been bloody and sad,

Yet at the same time sublime and brilliant,

A source of legitimate glory

And a great lesson in spartan pride.

Her innate bravery shall not waver:

In every man there is an immortal hero

Who knows how to maintain the level

Of the proverbial valour of old.

CHORUS (Repeat)

 

THIRD VERSE

 

All are self-denying and faithful

To the tradition of warlike ardour

With which they have always reaped fame

By saving the Motherland's honour.

To respect the rights of others

And base Her actions on right and justice

Is for Her, without infamous intrigue,

The constant and most firm ambition.

And in following this line She persists,

Dedicating her tenacious efforts

In giving hard battle for battle;

Her happiness is found in peace.

CHORUS (Repeat)