This article was translated by John R. Bopp
(Actually, it’s our wish today, yesterday, and always, but that didn’t fit in the title)
We apologize that there’s no news in this entry, but today we just couldn’t help sharing such a Declaration of Principles as this. Really, it’s not easy for us to explain why today we felt the need to share this video with our readers.
Perhaps it’s because we’ve just celebrated October 12th (Hispanic Day), or November 20th (the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Spanish Phalanx), or July 18th (the anniversary of Franco’s coup), and we’re just glad we survived all those unionist speeches and parades, and that we belong to a people whose will to live and be free has proven itself able to survive dictators, wars, persecutions, and all the miseries brought forth by the exclusivist nationalists who’d like to see us disappear. Perhaps it’s because a friend reminded us of it and we were reminded of that unique generation of Patriots (with a capital P) who gave so much for Euzkadi (the original spelling in Basque of the Basque nation) and are so little remembered. Perhaps it’s because there are times when it’s necessary to remember the basics, so we don’t lose sight of the path before us.
We don’t really know why. Maybe it’s simply because the combination of the lyrics by Basque poet and patriot Lauaxeta, a true martyr for the Freedom of the Basque Country, and the music of Ken Zazpi are, quite simply, perfect.
The original poem by Lauaxeta can be read here.
We don’t know why, but here we leave it for you, wishing you all
Health and a Basque Republic.
Gora Euzkadi Azkatuta
Mendigoxaliarena- Lauaxeta
Mendigoxaliarena** |
Mendigoxaliarena* |
| Mendi eze, ikurrin eder, azke nai zattut axian. Amar gasteren lerdena makilla luzez bidian! |
The humid mountain, beautiful ikurriña, I want you as free as the wind. The song of ten young people their walking sticks raised in the sky. |
| Mendi-bitxidor berdiok, arin or duaz kantari: «Dana emon biar yako matte dan azkatasunari». |
Beautiful green mountains, there they go so agile, singing: “You have to give everything for such beloved freedom”. |
| Eta ixil dago arratsa Euzkadi’ko lur-ganian. Amar gasteren lerdena makilla luzez bidian! |
And the afternoon is in the silence over the land of the Basques. ¡The song of ten young people with their walking sticks on the path! |
| Gastedi orren didarra bai-dala didar zolija! Aberri baten samiñez urduri dabil errija. |
The cry of this youth is really one of pain! For the pain of a homeland the people are nervous. |
| Azkatasun-goxalderuntz sugarra dira basuak. Sugarra basuak eta zidar argija itxasuak. |
For the sweetness of freedom in flames in the mountains. The mountains are in flames and the silver sea shines. |
| Or duan ozte-aldrea aberri-minez kantari: «Dana emon biar yako matte dan azkatasunari». |
There go the ozte-aldrea singing for the pain of a homeland: “You have to give everything for such beloved freedom”. |
| Gaste orreik goruntz duaz abesti eta ikurriñez. Lañuan baño tiro otsak: bedartza dager odolez. |
Those young people are climbing singing and with the ikurriña. But the sound of shots in the fog: The grass is stained red. |
| Ikaraz duaz usuak, mendija dago ixillean, Amar gasteren lerdena bixitza-barik lurrean! |
The doves fly off, scared, The mountain is silent. ¡The song of ten young peple lifeless on the ground! |
| Eta illuntziko bakian norbattek darrai kantari: «Dana emon biar yako matte dan azkatasunari». |
And in the peace of the dusk someone is still singing: “You have to give everything for such beloved freedom”! |
*English translation from John R. Bopp
As a side note, we were sad to see that the Musikazblai website substituted “Euzkadi”, the term used by Lauaxeta, with “Euskal Herria”, which was, at the time, used by the Carlists who wanted to finish off the Euzkadi Government and who were part of the uprisers who assassinated Lauaxeta.
The original poem by Lauaxeta can be read here.
Last Updated on Dec 20, 2020 by About Basque Country
