L'Internationale was written in 1888 by Adolphe Degeyter (to lyrics written 1871 by Eugène Pottier) and embraced by the Socialist International as the transnational anthem or the working masses.

The Bolsheviks adopted L'Internationale as the Soviet national anthem.

In 1944 Stalin replaced it with the "Hymn of the Soviet Union" for reasons of morale -- battlefield reports indicated soldiers were more willing to die for Mother Russia than for an international working class.

	The Reds soundtrack (out of print) has a Russian version performed by the Moscow Radio Chorus. An epic choral sound, in the style of the old USSR.
	A more symphonic Hungarian version is available on the Best of Communism CD (Vol. One). Songs sung in Hungarian. Includes a brief Lenin recording that is (naturally) in Russian. Despite the CD's title, its liner promotes Statue Park, a Hungarian website critical of Communism.
	Völker hört die Signale offers both German and French language versions of L'Internationale. The French version is the longest of any on this page -- 6 stanzas. The German version runs 3 stanzas, as do the (above) Russian and (below) English versions. The (above) Hungarian version has only one stanza. This French version seems the most complete -- and in the original language. A giddy Frenchman sings the stanzas solo, the refrain sung by an ebullient chorus.
	Billy Bragg sings in English on The Internationale.  However, Bragg rewrote the lyrics. Bragg explains that when "Pete Seeger asked me to sing the Internationale with him at the Vancouver Folk Festival, I told him I thought the English lyrics, whose translator is unknown, were archaic and often unsingable. He agreed and suggested I write some new lyrics to Degeyter's stirring tune."  Thus does Bragg try to rehabilitate "L'Internationale," for unlike the producers of the Hungarian CD, Bragg still buys into the song's ideology. Included on his little CD (ca. 19 minutes total) is a paean to the Sandanistas.
	Actress Judy Davis hums and sings L'Internationale in Children of the Revolution. Davis portrays an Australian Stalinist who one day meets her hero. Dead-on satire of the Western Communist "true believer." Also features excellent film aging. Davis and her family age 40 years (1951 through 1991) without heavy pancake makeup.  Excellent supporting cast.

L'Internationale

Arise ye workers [starvelings] from your slumbers
Arise ye prisoners of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last ends the age of cant.
Away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise
We'll change henceforth [forthwith] the old tradition [conditions]
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.

No more deluded by reaction
On tyrants only we'll make war
The soldiers too will take strike action
They'll break ranks and fight no more
And if those cannibals keep trying
To sacrifice us to their pride
They soon shall hear the bullets flying
We'll shoot the generals on our own side.

No saviour from on high delivers
No faith have we in prince or peer
Our own right hand the chains must shiver
Chains of hatred, greed and fear
E'er the thieves will out with their booty [give up their booty]
And give to all a happier lot.
Each [those] at the forge must do their duty
And we'll strike while the iron is hot.

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