Once, the song Warriors of Light by the Belarusian band Lyapis Trubetskoy unexpectedly became something of an anthem for Ukraine’s Maidan. During the current protests in Belarus, it’s hard to say that any particular song has become the anthem. However, the events themselves have inspired the creation of many beautiful songs, some of which I’ve already shared on my blog. But there’s one song that has unexpectedly been heard in many places and from many voices. It’s called Razbury Turmy Mury (often shortened to Mury), which translates from Belarusian as Tear Down the Prison Walls (or simply The Walls).
The history of the song is also remarkable. It’s recounted on Wikipedia, but I’ll summarize it briefly. The song was originally written by the Catalan author Lluís Llach as a protest against Franco’s dictatorship in Spain.
In 1978, the Polish bard Jacek Kaczmarski took the original melody but wrote his own lyrics, which were different from the Spanish version. However, this song became the anthem of Solidarity, the leading opposition trade union in Poland at the time.
It was this version, with Kaczmarski’s lyrics, that became known in the post-Soviet space, and it was translated into both Russian and Belarusian. Notably, it was the Polish text, not the original Catalan one, that was translated.
When the protests began in Belarus in 2020, the Belarusian version of the song was performed by various artists. However, the version I find most powerful and moving was recorded by Sergey Kosmos and Sergey Tikhanovsky, the latter being the individual who initially planned to run for president but was imprisoned, after which his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, stepped in as the candidate. For their rendition, both Sergeys added two verses to the original translation.
Below the music video for the song, you can find the lyrics in both Belarusian and English (the latter has been translated literally from Belarusian).
Text
| Па-беларускi (пераклад: Андрэй Хадановіч, cловы ў апошніх куплетах: Alexander Kiss, Сяргей Kosmas) Ён быў натхнёны і малады, Іх незлічона было. Ён на плошчы вёў гарады З песняй, што блізка святло. І запальвалі свечкі яму, Плыў па-над плошчаю дым. Ён спяваў: зруйнуем турму! Яны спявалі за ім. Разбуры турмы муры! Прагнеш свабоды — то бяры! Мур хутка рухне, рухне, рухне — І пахавае свет стары! Ведалі словы на памяць — і спеў Неслі па вуліцах так, Што кроў кіпела і гнеў кіпеў, І сэрцы стукалі ў такт. Білі ў сто тысяч далоняў — і рытм Ворагаў біў напавал. Ішлі на муры ва ўсім свеце старым… А ён усё граў і спяваў. Разбуры турмы муры! Прагнеш свабоды — то бяры! Мур хутка рухне, рухне, рухне — І пахавае свет стары! Па усёй Беларусі падняўся народ Свабоду сваю адстаяць. Адзiнаю мэтай узняўся наш дух Цемру святлом разганяць. Браты-афіцэры, мы — адзіны народ. Мы разам жывем на зямлі. Зрабіце ж сумленны выбар свой. Ня хочам мы гэтай вайны. Прачніцесь, сябры, мы да праўды ідзем, Імкнемся да шчасця свайго. І мара народа ў краіне жыцця Проста — как добра было. Моцны грукат нястомленых рук Рады ідуць і ідуць. Мы — беларусы, мы з мірам ідзем У светлы і сонечны пуць. Разбуры турмы муры! Прагнеш свабоды — то бяры! Мур хутка рухне, рухне, рухне — І пахавае свет стары! | In English (my literal translation from Belarusian) He was inspired and young, They were countless in number. He led cities onto the square With a song proclaiming the light was near. They lit candles for him, Smoke drifted over the square. He sang, “We will destroy the prison!” And they sang along with him. Tear down the prison walls! If you long for freedom, take it! The wall will soon fall, fall, fall— And bury the old world! They knew the words by heart and carried the song Through the streets, so strongly That blood boiled and anger surged, And hearts beat in unison. A hundred thousand hands clapped in rhythm— A beat that struck down enemies. They marched toward the walls of the old world… And he kept playing and singing. Tear down the prison walls! If you long for freedom, take it! The wall will soon fall, fall, fall— And bury the old world! Across all of Belarus, the people rose up To defend their freedom. Our spirit was lifted with one single goal: To dispel the darkness with light. Brothers in uniform, we are one people. We live together on this earth. Make your choice with honesty. We don’t want this war. Awaken, friends; we are walking toward truth, Striving for our own happiness. The dream of the people is a life-giving land, Simply for things to be good. The powerful sound of tireless hands— Rows upon rows continue to march. We are Belarusians, and we walk with peace Toward a bright and sunny path. Tear down the prison walls! If you long for freedom, take it! The wall will soon fall, fall, fall— And bury the old world! |
