During Soviet rule, the previous anthem, "Dievs, svētī Latviju!", composed by Kārlis Baumanis was illegal and the anthem was approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic on 19 July 1945. The original lyrics had references to Joseph Stalin until its replacement in 1977 when the references of him were removed. After Latvia regained independence in 1990, Dievs, svētī Latviju! was restored as its anthem on 15 February 1991.
Background
The decree on the Anthem of the Latvian SSR. The anthem was adopted on 19 July 1945.
Šai zemē visdārgā mēs brīvību guvām,
Te paaudžu paaudzēm laimīgam dzimt,
Te šalc mūsu jūra, te zied mūsu druvas,
Te skan mūsu pilsētas, Rīga te dimd.
Padomju Latvija mūžos lai dzīvo, Spoža lai Padomju vainagā mirdz!
Mēs cēlāmies, verdzības važas lai rautu,
Par gadsimtu cīņām ik vieta vēl teic.
Vien biedros ar diženās Krievzemes tautu
Mēs kļuvām par spēku, kas pretvaru veic.
Padomju Latvija mūžos lai dzīvo, Spoža lai Padomju vainagā mirdz!
Pa Ļeņina ceļu uz laimi un slavu
Ar Oktobra karogu iesim mūždien.
Mēs sargāsim Padomju Tēvzemi savu
Līdz pēdējai asiņu lāsei ikviens.
𝄆Padomju Latvija mūžos lai dzīvo, Spoža lai Padomju vainagā mirdz!𝄇[2]
In dearest land we gained our freedom,
Generation upon generation are happily born here,
Here our sea rustles, here our fields bloom,
Here our cities ring, Riga will resound here.
May Soviet Latvia live forever, May the Soviet crown shine bright!
We rose to break the chains of slavery,
Every place still tells of centuries of struggle,
Only in brotherhood with the people of great Russia
We became a revolutionary force.
May Soviet Latvia live forever, May the Soviet crown shine bright!
On Lenin's road to happiness and glory,
Let's carry the flag of October forever.
We will protect our own Soviet Fatherland,
With the last drop of our blood.
𝄆May Soviet Latvia live forever, May the Soviet crown shine bright!𝄇
1945–1956 version
The pre-1977 version of the anthem was almost identical to the above version. The only differences were "Te skan mūsu pilsētas, Rīga te dimd" ("Here our cities ring out, here Riga resounds") was "Te mirdz mūsu pilsētas, Rīga te dimd" ("Here our cities shine, here Riga resounds"), "Mēs kļuvām par spēku, kas pretvaru veic." ("We became a power to wage revolution") was "Mēs kļuvām par spēku, kas naidnieku veic." ("We became the force that carries the enemy"), and ''Ar Oktobra karogu iesim mūždien" ("With the flag of October we will go on forever") was: "Ar Staļinu sirdī mēs iesim mūždien" ("With Stalin in our hearts we will go forever"). As a part of De-Stalinization, the latter version praising him was scrapped in 1956.
Notes
The chorus at the last stanza is repeated twice respectively.
Latvian SSR
