Mexico's National Anthem

In 1853, President Antonio López de Santa Anna announced a competition to write a national anthem. The competition offered a prize for the best poetic composition worthy of representing a truly patriotic anthem. A deadline of twenty days was set.

Francisco González Bocanegra, a talented poet, was at first not interested in participating in the competition. He argued that writing love poems involved very different skills from the ones required to write a nation's anthem. His fiancée, Guadalupe González del Pino (Pili) – with undaunted faith in her fiancé's poetic skills and unsatisfied with his constant refusals to participate in spite of constant prodding from her and from their friends – decided to take measures. Under false pretenses, she lured him to a secluded bedroom in her house, locked him in, and refused to let him out until he produced an entry for the competition. After four hours of fluent, albeit forced inspiration, Francisco was able to regain his freedom by slipping his creation out under the door. His submission won the competition unanimously.

Later, in August 1854, music written by Spain-born Jaime Nunó, a military band inspector, was chosen. The anthem was officially adopted on Independence Day, September 16 of that same year. The inaugural interpretation was directed by Jaime Nunó himself and sang by soprano Balbina Steffenone and tenor Lorenzo Salvi. Francisco González Bocanegra and Guadalupe González del Pino (Pili), now married, also attended this event.

The fact that it was written by a Mexican poet and composed by a Spanish musician makes it the more nostalgic, for it symbolizes the cultural blend that created this country. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful national anthems, along with the French national anthem La Marseillaise and the former Soviet Union (1922-1944) national anthem The Internationale.

- Lyrics by Francisco González Bocanegra, music by Jaime Nunó.

Notes: Stanza IV is no longer sung, since it refers to Antonio López de Santa Anna, who lost public favor after the country's defeat in the Mexican-American war.
Also Stanza VII is no longer sung, since it refers to the first Mexican Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, who was sent to exile and forbidden, then immediately after his return was executed.
The anthem was written in a period of conservative ruling and when the liberal party returned to government, those stanzas were forbidden to be sung.

Coro: Mexicanos al grito de guerra el acero aprestad y el bridón. Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra, al sonoro rugir del cañón. ¡Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra, al sonoro rugir del cañón!	Chorus: Mexicans, at the cry of war, Grasp the steel and the bridle, And let the earth's core tremble To the roar of the cannon. And let the earth's core tremble To the roar of the cannon!
Estrofa I Ciña ¡oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva de la paz el arcángel divino, que en el cielo tu eterno destino por el dedo de Dios se escribió. Mas si osare un extraño enemigo profanar con su planta tu suelo, piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo un soldado en cada hijo te dio.	First Stanza Oh Fatherland! may your brow be wreathed with the olive By the divine archangel of Peace For in heaven, your eternal destiny has been written by the finger of God. But if a foreign enemy should dare To profane your ground with his step, Think, oh beloved Fatherland! that heaven Gave you a soldier in each son.
Estrofa II En sangrientos combates los viste por tu amor palpitando sus senos, arrostrar la metralla serenos, y la muerte o la gloria buscar. Si el recuerdo de antiguas hazañas de tus hijos inflama la mente, los recuerdos del triunfo tu frente, volverán inmortales a ornar.	Stanza II In bloody combats you have seen them, Love for you beating in their breasts, Serenely facing the shrapnel, And seeking death or glory. If the memory of the ancient exploits Of your sons inflames the mind, The memory of triumph will become Immortal to crown your brow.
Estrofa III Como al golpe del rayo la encina, se derrumba hasta el hondo torrente, la discordia vencida, impotente, a los pies del arcángel cayó. Ya no más, de tus hijos la sangre, se derrame en contienda de hermanos; sólo encuentre el acero en sus manos quien tu nombre sagrado insultó.	Stanza III As the lightning bolt blasts the oak Into the deep torrent, Vanquished and impotent discord Fell at the feet of the archangel. May the blood of your sons never again Be spilled in fights between brothers; May only he encounter the steel in their hands Who has insulted your sacred name.
Estrofa IV Del guerrero inmortal de Zempoala te defiende la espada terrible, y sostiene su brazo invencible, tu sagrado pendón tricolor. Él será del feliz mexicano en la paz y en la guerra el caudillo. porque él supo sus armas de brillo circundar en los campos de honor.	Stanza IV The terrible sword of the immortal warrior of Zempoala defends you, And his invincible arm sustains Your sacred tricoloured flag. He will be in peace and war The leader of the joyous Mexican, Because he surrounded his weapons With brilliance in the fields of honour.
Estrofa V Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente de la Patria manchar los blasones, Guerra, guerra, los patrios pendones en las olas de sangre empapad. Guerra, guerra. En el monte, en el valle, los cañones horrísonos truenen, y los ecos sonoros resuenen con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad!	Stanza V War, war without truce upon him who means To sully the blazon of the Fatherland; War, war! Soak our homeland's flags In the waves of blood. War, war! In the mountains and the valley, The dreadful cannons thunder, And the deafening echoes resound The cries of Union! Liberty!
Estrofa VI Antes, Patria, que inermes tu hijos, bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen, tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen, sobre sangre se estampe su pie. Y tus templos, palacios y torres se derrumben con hórrido estruendo, y sus ruinas existan diciendo: De mil héroes la Patria aquí fue.	Stanza VI O Fatherland, before your unarmed sons Bend their necks under the yoke, Your countrysides will be watered with blood And in blood will be their footprints. And your temples, palaces, and towers Will fall with terrible thunder, And their ruins shall live to say, "This was the fatherland of a thousand heroes."
Estrofa VII Si a la lid contra hueste enemiga, nos convoca la trompa guerrera, de Iturbide la sacra bandera, mexicanos, valientes seguid. Y a los fieles bridones les sirvan las vencidas enseñas de alfombra; los laureles del triunfo den sombra a la frente del Bravo Adalid.	Stanza VII If to the struggle against a hostile host The warrior trumpet calls us, The sacred banner of Iturbide, O Mexicans, follow valiantly. And to the faithful war horses, Let the vanquished ensigns be a carpet; Let the laurels of triumph give shade To the forehead of the great captain.
Estrofa VIII Vuelva altivo a los patrios hogares, el guerrero a cantar su victoria, ostentando las palmas de gloria que supiera en la lid conquistar. Tornaránse sus lauros sangrientos en guirnaldas de mirtos y rosas, que el amor de las hijas y esposas, también sabe a los bravos premiar.	Stanza VIII Let the warrior return proud to his native home To sing his victory; Waving the palms of glory That he captured in the fight. Let his bloody laurels turn To garlands of myrtle and roses, Which the love of daughters and wives Also award to the brave.
Estrofa IX Y el que al golpe de ardiente metralla, de la Patria en las aras sucumba, obtendrá en recompensa una tumba donde brille, de gloria, la luz. Y, de Iguala, la enseña querida a su espada sangrienta enlazada, de laurel inmortal coronada, formará de su fosa una cruz.	Stanza IX And he who, to the burning shrapnel's stroke Falls in the altars of the Fatherland, Will in reward obtain a tomb Where the light of glory shines. And, from Iguala, the beloved ensign Laced to his bloody sword, Crowned with immortal laurel, He will make a cross of his grave.
Estrofa X ¡Patria, Patria! tus hijos te juran exhalar en tus aras su aliento, si el clarín, con su bélico acento, los convoca a lidiar con valor. ¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva! ¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria! ¡Un laurel para ti de victoria! ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor!	Stanza X Fatherland, Fatherland! Your sons swear To breathe out their breath on your altars, If the clarion with its warlike tone Calls them to struggle with valour. For you the garlands of olive! For them a memory of glory! For you a laurel of victory! For them a tomb of honour!

In current times, the chorus, stanza I and chorus repeat are sung in official events, as a rule. In radio and television transmissions, at 6:00 am and 12:00 am, the anthem can be heard in a chorus, stanza I, chorus, stanza X and chorus recorded version. The official form of the anthem is the first mentioned.