Mer Hayrenik

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National anthems of Armenia
Mer Hayrenik (1918-1922)
Anthem of Armenian SSR (1944-1991)
Mer Hayrenik (1991-present)

"Mer Hayrenik" (Armenian script: "Մեր Հայրենիք"; English translation: "Our Fatherland") is the national anthem of Armenia. Adopted on July 1, 1991, it is based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics.

The lyrics were written as a poem by poet Mikael Nalbandian (1829-1866) and later set to music by composer Barsegh Kanachyan (1885-1967).

1 Armenian lyrics
2 Latin transliteration
3 English translation
4 New national anthem?
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Armenian lyrics

Mikael Nalbandian

Մեր Հայրենիք, ազատ, անկախ
Որ ապրէլ է դարէ դար
Իւր որդիքը արդ կանչում է
Ազատ, անկախ Հայաստան:

Ահա՝ եղբայր, քեզ մի դրօշ,
Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի
Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ,
Արտասուքով լուացի:

Նայիր նրան երեք գոյնով,
Նուիրական մէր նշան,
Թող փողփողի թշնամու դէմ,
Թող միշտ պանծայ Հայաստան:

Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է
Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ՚ մեռնի,
Բայց երանի՚ որ իւր ազգի
Ազատութեան կը զոհուի:

[edit] Latin transliteration

Mer Hayrenik, azat ankakh,
Vor aprel eh dareh dar
Yur vortikeh ard kanchoom eh
Azat, ankakh Hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)

Aha yeghbair kez mi drosh,
Vor im dzerkov gortzetsi
Gishernereh yes koon chegha,
Artasoonkov lvatsi.
(repeat previous two lines)

Nayir nran yerek gooynov,
Nvirakan mer nshan,
Togh poghpoghi tshnamoo dem,
Togh misht pantza Hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)

Amenayn tegh maheh mi eh
Mard mee ankam pit merni,
Baytz yerani vor yur azgi
Azatootyan keh zohvi.
(repeat previous two lines)

(repeat first verse)

[edit] English translation

Our fatherland, free and independent,
That has lived for centuries
Calls on its children now,
Free independent Armenia.
(repeat previous two lines)

Here brother, for you a flag,
That I made with my hands
At nights I did not sleep,
I washed it with tears.
(repeat previous two lines)

Look at it, in three colours
It is our gifted symbol.
Let it shine against the enemy.
Let Armenia always be glorious.
(repeat previous two lines)

Everywhere death is the same
A man will only die once
But fortunate is he
who dies for the freedom of his nation.
(repeat previous two lines)

(repeat first verse)

[edit] New national anthem?

Lately, there has been a debate over whether Armenia should do away with its current national anthem and adopt something different. There have been complaints and allegations that the song is too wimpy and gloomy.^[1] A 22-person commission made up of Armenia's wisest and best have been sifting through 85 candidates to come up with a new anthem. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation staunchly opposes the idea of changing Mer Hayrenik. The very idea, according to them, is tantamount to sacrilege.^[1] The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is a part of the coalition government. According to some, one anthem, with lyrics based on a poem by Kars-born Armenian writer Yeghishe Charents is considered one of the most favored submissions.^[1] "Avedis," Armenia's first anthem, re-sung recently by VANArmenya, is another contender. A modified version of the Soviet-era anthem by Aram Khachaturian with new lyrics is another candidate, along with two other recordings. The proposals are being produced by an orchestra in order for the public to hear the different options being considered for the new state anthem. [1] Despite the committee selecting the music composed by Khachaturian with no lyrics as the new anthem, Mer Hayrenik will be kept as the state anthem for one more year. [2]