Opinion of The Internationale

[Indy Texas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8EMx7Y16Vo

Originally written in French in the late 19th century, it soon became the anthem of Leftist movements ranging from social democracy to anarchism, and was the national anthem of the Soviet Union from its founding until 1944.

Arise, the workers of all nations!
Arise, oppressed of the earth!
For justice thunders condemnation:
A better world's in birth!
It is time to win emancipation,
Arise, you slaves, no more in thrall!
The earth will rise on new foundations:
We, who were nothing, shall be all!
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!

We see through their disinformation:
Designs to turn us into war.
But soon, the soldiers in formation
Will break ranks and fight no more.
And if those cowards think it's their right
To sacrifice us to their dream,
They'll see the power of our own might;
It's time to end the old regime.
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!

Just we, the workers of the world-wide,
The mighty army of labor,
To own the planet have a true right -
But the parasites — never!
For too long we've endured exploitation,
Too long we've been the vulture's prey.
Farewell to days of condemnation!
The red dawn brings a bright new day!
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!
  Forward, brothers and sisters,
  And the last fight let us face;
  The Internationale
  Unites the human race!

[H. Ross Peron]

Like the Billy Bragg version lyrics-wise (especially as it can be applied as equally to communist dictatorships as to right-wing ones) but I dislike the original version despite the great music due to its explicitly anti-religious lines:

There are no supreme saviours
Neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune.

[© tweed]

Like the Billy Bragg version lyrics-wise (especially as it can be applied as equally to communist dictatorships as to right-wing ones) but I dislike the original version despite the great music due to its explicitly
anti-religious lines:

There are no supreme saviours
Neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune.

the state was the Church -- take your sympathies where they belong.  Marx himself lauded the protestant revolution for 'restoring the authority of faith over faith in authority'.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Absolutely awesome.

[minionofmidas]

Literally both.

[Peter the Lefty]

Absolutely awesome.

[Leftbehind]

Absolutely awesome.

[Vosem]

Literally both.

This. I do like it as a work of poetry, though. Voted Freedom Song.

[TNF]

Absolutely awesome.

[Arturo Belano]

Absolutely awesome.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Vile.

[Redalgo]

Overwhelmingly a freedom song on balance, though I find one or more stanzas in every variation of the song objectionable due to their rejection of attempts at inter-class collaboration and solidarity, or since I prefer an eternal revolution via elections over any violent uprising to capture or hastily abolish the state. Those lyrics in question are applicable to other places and times, but not mine.

When sung, which is quite often in my case, I only use the first two stanzas of Bragg's version.

[opebo]

Good but didn't mention the guillotine

[Icehand Gino]

Absolutely awesome.

[Dr. Cynic]

Absolutely awesome.

[RogueBeaver]

Literally both.

This. I do like it as a work of poetry, though. Voted Freedom Song.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

FS, literally.