Paul Robeson - Hymn of the Soviet Union

The national anthem of the USSR between 1944 and 1991, performed here by American bass singer Paul Robeson. Prior to this the anthem had been The Internationale - however it was replaced in the midst of the 'Great Patriotic War' (the USSR's bitter fight against Nazi Germany) to reflect its struggle as a nation. Like other Soviet propaganda it directly refers and links Lenin and Stalin, although this part of the anthem was disregarded after Stalin's death in 1953. The lyrics had been written by Bolshevik author Sergey Mikhalkov, hand-picked for the task by Stalin in 1942. Almost sixty years later Mikhalkov was chosen by Vladimir Putin to pen lyrics for the same tune to constitute a new national anthem for Russia.

Paul Robeson was one of America's best light operatic singers, most widely known for his performances of Ol' Man River from the musical Show Boat. He was invited to visit the USSR in 1931 and found that unlike in America, discriminatory treatment of blacks was non-existent. Robeson developed close ties with Soviet Russia, visiting it several times, giving performances (such as this one) and sending his son there for education. However the escalation of the Cold War naturally made Robeson a target for the FBI, McCarthy and HUAC, and for almost a decade he was denied a passport because of his sympathies for the communist state. Robeson was a champion of the fight against segregation and Jim Crow laws within the US, and his connections with the USSR were often use to discredit elements of the civil rights movement.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Soviet Union
• USSR
• Stalin
• anthem
• Paul Robeson
• Cold War
• civil rights

[dontbeascab]

It's actually very simple.

Back then, as blacks in the US were beaten and lynched for trying to assert their basic rights as citizens, the USSR represented to millions of people a different ideal. Sure it wasn't all it was cracked up to be but the inspiration is what Robeson is singing about. Sure enough, he also visited the USSR several times in his life.

The American CP (who was entirely tied to the USSR) were involved in the civil rights struggle decades before the days of MLK.

[burtchp]

the soviet union was one of the first places to have african american rights.

[ProletarianRage]

Poor Robeson. If only he could have seen what a horrendous betrayal of Marx the Soviet Union represented.

[ziggyzap1]

@burtchp communism believes in equality no matter what the race, age, or hight

[TheCultureFan]

*salutes the USA's most worthy rival*

[TheTrueJedi01]

@burnoutextreme70 Okay, I know you meant well; but please...PLEASE: if you're going to thank someone, use proper grammar. *you're

[mjslobo09]

burtchp, that is one of the dumbest statements. I'm glad they had "right," but in Russia, they would not be "African American." It is not an appropriate name for the race of people, which is Black or Negro or something. African American is geographically specific and descriptive. In fact, I knew a very White man from South Africa who is...more correctly "African American" than someone whose family tree goes as far back on the N. American continent as my own.

[LadyRavenhaire]

Let me add: So much for freedom of speech! And for those who naively believe it exists. They allow a token to exist to make it appear it exists; but if the people begin to listen, they are quick to slander, ruin your life, incarcerate, and/or kill you like Paul Robeson, es-senator Paul Wellington, Mumia, members of the black panthers, and even important union leaders like Ron Carey who actually wanted to revive trade unions in this country. Even Presidents they kill are not immune like Kennedy.

[LadyRavenhaire]

I think it should be added that the US government did worse than just take his passport. When it heard he was thinking of organizing a goodwill trip 2 Cuba 2 sing, they drugged him & cut his wrists 2 make it look like a commit suicide. When Robeson was entered into a British Mental Hospital, he was given more electric shock in 1 year than all its prisoners in all its history. He was never the same again. Our government felt they couldn't break his spirit, so they broke his mind & body instead.

[Fruggert]

@burtchp

Uh, and what about Africa?

[Shukria123]

Long live Mohamed Atta!

[burnoutextreme70]

this brings a tear to my eye whenever i hear it

rest in peace Paul Robeson

your a hero