Arroja la bomba

"Arroja la bomba" ("Throw the bomb") was one of the most popular anarchist songs of the Republican faction during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). It is believed that it was composed in the dungeons of the Superior Police Delegation of Barcelona, in 1932, by an Aragonese anarchist named Aznar, in response to the brutal interrogations and torture to which he was subjected. Since the original version of the song was too aggressive for non-violent anarchists, a moderated version was created, sometimes called "Luchemos obreros" ("Let's fight/struggle workers"). There is also an Italian version of the song called "Mano alla bomba" ("Hand on the bomb").

Lyrics

Original version

Spanish

English translation

Arroja la bomba que escupe metralla. Coloca petardo, empuña la "Star". Propaga tu idea revolucionaria hasta que consigas amplia libertad. ¡Acudid los anarquistas empuñando la pistola hasta el morir, con petróleo y dinamita, toda clase de gobierno a combatir y destruir! Es hora que caiga tanta dictadura vergüenza de España por su proceder. No más militares, beatas ni curas. Abajo la Iglesia que caiga el Poder. ¡Acudid los anarquistas empuñando la pistola hasta el morir, con petróleo y dinamita, toda clase de gobierno a combatir y destruir!

Throw the bomb that spits shrapnel. Place the firecracker, Wield the "Star". Spread your revolutionary idea until you get full freedom. Come anarchists wielding the gun until death, with petrol and dynamite, to fight and destroy all kinds of government! It's time for every dictatorship to fall, shame of Spain due to its behavior. No more military church people or priests. down with the church let the power fall. Come anarchists wielding the gun until death, with petrol and dynamite, to fight and destroy all kinds of government!

Moderated version (Luchemos obreros)

Spanish

English translation

Defiendete, pueblo contra tus tiranos hasta que consigas un mundo de hermanos Defiende tu idea de la tiranía, que tu vida sea en plena anarquía. ¡Luchemos hombres conscientes, defendiendo nuestra vida y dignidad; despejemos nuestras mentes, implantemos nuestra ansiada sociedad! La anarquía es orden y amor a la ciencia, el funesto Estado es la violencia. Rompe tus cadenas, no las sufras más si sabes romperlas tendrás libertad. ¡A vivir como hombres libres; anarquistas ; imponed vuestra moral, superior a la burguesa, destruyamos para siempre al capital! Luchemos obreros por el anarquismo, ideal hermoso lleno de altruismo. Redímete pueblo de la autoridad, que mata y oprime con impunidad. No ya más explotadores, resplandezca ya en la tierra la igualdad, a luchar los productores por un mundo de justicia y de equidad. Desnudos nacimos hombres y mujeres igual en derechos igual en deberes. Iguales nos hizo la naturaleza, iguales seremos en la madre tierra. Ya no más pobres ni ricos, suprimamos de una vez la esclavitud. Es misión del anarquismo si lo sabe defender la multitud.

Defend yourselves, people against your tyrants until you get a world of brothers. Defend your idea from the tyranny, let your life be in full anarchy. Let's fight conscious men, defending our life and dignity; let's clear our minds! Let's implant our long-awaited society! Anarchy is order and love of knowledge; the disastrous state is violence. Break your chains, don't suffer them anymore; if you know how to break them, you will have freedom, To live as free men, anarchists, impose your morals, superior to the bourgeois. Let's destroy capital forever! Let's fight, workers, for anarchism, beautiful ideal, full of altruism. Free yourselves people, from authority, that kills and oppresses with impunity. No more exploiters, may equality shine on earth now, to fight the owners for a world of justice and equity. Naked we were born men and women, equal in rights, equal in obligations Nature made us equal. We will be equal on mother earth. No longer poor or rich, Let's abolish slavery once and for all. It is the mission of anarchism, if the people know how to defend it.

Italian version

Italian

English translation

Su mano alla bomba che scoppi mitraglia Disponi i petardi, impugna le Star (impugna le Star) Propaga l’idea rivoluzionaria La gran libertaria che i ceppi spezzò Presto anarchici accorriamo A pugnar per la vittoria od il morire Con petrolio e dinamite Ogni classe ed il governo a disfar e debellar. È ora che spenta sia la dittatura Vergogna e tortura del mondo civil (del mondo civil) Non più militari né classi borghese Su fuoco alle chiese e abbasso il poter. Presto anarchici accorriamo A pugnar per la vittoria od il morire Con petrolio e dinamite Ogni classe ed il governo a disfar e debellar.

Hand on the bomb that spits shrapnel Arrange the crackers, grasp the "Stars" (grasp the "Stars") Propagate the revolutionary idea The great libertarian one that broke the chains Soon we anarchists will rush To fight for victory or death With petrol and dynamite Each class and government to destroy and defeat. It is time for the dictatorship to be extinguished, (being) the shame and torture of the civil world (of the civil world). No more military or bourgeois classes Fire to the churches and down with the power. Soon we anarchists will rush To fight for victory or death With petrol and dynamite Each class and government to destroy and defeat.