Po dolinam i po vzgoriam

"Through Valleys and Over Hills" (Russian: По долинам и по взгорьям) or "Through Forests and Over Hills" (Serbo-Croatian: По шумама и горама / Po šumama i gorama), also known as the "Partisan's Song", is a popular Red Army song from the Russian Civil War.

Pyotr Parfyonov wrote the latest version of the song after the 1922 Battle of Volochayevka. It is sung to the melody of "Rozpryahayte, khloptsi, koni", a Ukrainian folk song.

The song has many versions in other languages, including Serbo-Croatian, Greek, German, French, Hungarian, Hebrew, Kurdish, and as well as in many languages of the Soviet Union. The song was adapted by the Yugoslav Partisans and used in World War II.

History

Vladimir Gilyarovsky wrote the poem "From the Taiga, the Deep Taiga" in 1915 during World War I dedicated to the Siberian Riflemen, with text similar to the well-known version. Gilyarovsky's poem was published that year in several corpuses of Great War's soldiers' songs, and in the post-Soviet era it became known as the March of the Siberian Riflemen.

After the end of the Russian Civil War, the song was popular within the Soviet Union. Later, during World War II, it resurged in popularity among anti-fascist partisan fighters, most prominently among Yugoslav and Soviet partisans.

The song entered the official canon of Soviet songs when the director of the Red Army choir Aleksandr Aleksandrov, together with the poet Sergei Alymov, introduced the song into the choir repertoire. The words of the song were attributed to Alymov. The author of the melody was named as Ilya Aturov, commander of a Red Army unit, from whom Aleksandrov heard the melody of the song. The Red Army choir rendition was distributed on phonograph records. In 1934, a letter from veterans of the Russian Civil War in the Far East was published in the Izvestia central newspaper, naming Pyotr Parfyonov as the original author. Later that year, Parfyonov recalled the story of the creation of the song in the Krasnoarmeyets–Krasnoflotets (lit. 'Red Army man and Red Fleet man') magazine. In this article, Parfyonov wrote that he borrowed the melody from his earlier 1914 song Na Suchane (lit. 'On the Suchan'), and penned the verses to Po dolinam i po vzgoriam after the Red takeover of Vladivostok in early 1920. However, he was arrested in 1935 and executed in 1937 as part of the Great Purge. The song continued to be published attributed to Alymov and Aturov until the Supreme Court of the Russian SFSR confirmed Parfyonov's authorship in 1962.

Decades after the end of the Russian Civil War, White émigré accounts were published that included the lyrics to a White variation of the song, the March of the Drozdovites, claimed to have been written by White colonel Pyotr Batorin in commemoration of the Jassy-Don March. These accounts claimed that the composer Dmitry Pokrass was ordered to write the tune of the march by Colonel Anton Turkul during the White occupation of Kharkov in 1919.

The song is commonly played by the Alexandrov Ensemble. In the Middle East, the Russian song also got Hebrew texts written by the poets Avraham Shlonsky - Halokh halkha hevraya - a translation after Alexander Blok, which in several mobilizing versions served the Zionist Socialist Hashomer Hatzair movement and the Palestinian Communist Youth (now BANKI) movement in the Mandatory Palestine and then in Israel - and Didi Menosi - Mul gesher hanahar - which is known in the interpretation by the Israeli Gevatron ensemble. The music was used also as the first melody for the anthem of Palmakh Jewish shock units in Palestine. In the 1960s, French anarchist Étienne Roda-Gil penned a version dedicated to the Makhnovshchina.

Lyrics

"Through Valleys and Over Hills"

Russian original	Romanization	Literal translation
По долинам и по взгорьям Шла дивизия вперёд, Чтобы с боя взять Приморье — Белой армии оплот Наливалися знамена Кумачом последних ран, Шли лихие эскадроны Приамурских партизан. Этих лет не смолкнет слава, Не померкнет никогда — Партизанские отряды Занимали города. И останутся, как в сказках, Как манящие огни Штурмовые ночи Спасска, Волочаевские дни. Разгромили атаманов, Разогнали воевод И на Тихом океане Свой закончили поход.	Po dolinam i po vzgoriam Šla divizija vpered, Čtoby s boja vzjatj Primore — Beloj armii oplot. Nalivalisja znamena Kumačom poslednih ran, Šli lihije eskadrony Priamurskih partizan. Etih let ne smolknet slava, Ne pomerknet nikogda — Partizanskije otrjady Zanimali goroda. I ostanutsja, kak v skazkah, Kak manjaščije ogni, Šturmovyje noči Spasska, Voločajevskije dni. Razgromili atamanov, Razognali vojevod, I na Tihom okeane Svoj zakončili pohod.	Across the valleys and across the hills The divisions marched forward, To capture Primorye in battle — The stronghold of the White Army. The banners fell In the bunting of the last wounds Went dashing divisions Of the partisans of Amur. The glory of those years will never fade, No, they shall never fade — As the partisan troops Captured the cities. They will remain legends, Like alluring lights Through the storming nights of Spassk and the days of Volochaevka. [We] defeated the atamans, The voevodes were dispersed And on the Pacific Ocean We ended our campaign.

"From the Taiga, the Deep Taiga"

Russian original	Romanization	Literal translation
Из тайги, тайги дремучей От Амура, от реки Молчаливой, грозной тучей, Шли на бой сибиряки. Их сурово воспитала Молчаливая тайга, Бури грозные Байкала, И сибирские снега. Ни усталости, ни страха, Бьются ночь и бьются день, Только серая папаха Лихо сбита набекрень. Эх, Сибирь, Сибирь родная, За тебя ль мы постоим, Волнам Рейна и Дуная Твой привет передадим!	Iz tajgi, tajgi dremučej Ot Amura, ot reki Molčalivoj, groznoj tučej, Šli na boj sibirjaki. Ih surovo vospitala Molčalivaja tajga, Buri groznyje Bajkala, I sibirskije snega. Ni ustalosti, ni straha, Biutsja nočj i biutsja den, Toljko seraja papaha Liho sbita nabekrenj. Eh, Sibirj, Sibirj rodnaja, Za tebja my postoim. Volnam Rejna i Dunaja Tvoj privet peredadim!	From the taiga, the deep taiga From the Amur, from the river Like a silent, fearsome cloud Siberians march to battle. They have been sternly raised By the silent taiga, By the fearsome storms of Baikal, And Siberian snows. With neither fatigue nor fear Fighting day and night long, Only their gray papakhas Are dashingly worn askew. Oh, Siberia, dear Siberia, We'll stand up for you. To the waves of the Rhine and the Danube We'll give you our regards!

"March of the Siberian Riflemen"

French original

English translation

Dans le froid et la famine, Par les villes et par les champs, A l'appel de Dénikine, Marchaient les Partisans Blancs.   Sabrant les troupes bolcheviques, En ralliant les Atamans. Dans leurs campagnes épiques, Ils traquaient Trotsky tremblant.   C'est pour la Sainte Russie, Pour la vieille tradition, Pour la gloire et la patrie, Que luttaient ces bataillons.   Votre gloire est immortelle, Volontaires et Officiers Blancs, Et votre agonie cruelle, La honte de l'occident.

In the cold and the famine, By the cities and by the fields, At the call of Denikin, Marched the White Partisans,   Slashing Bolshevik troupes, by rallying the Atamans. In their epic campaigns, they were hunting down trembling Trotsky.   It is for a Holy Russia, For the old traditions, For the glory and the motherland, That these battalions were fighting.   Your glory is immortal, White Volunteers and Officers, And our cruel agony, The shame of the west.

"The Makhnovshchina"

French original

English translation

Makhnovchtchina, Makhnovchtchina Tes drapeaux sont noirs dans le vent ils sont noirs de notre peine ils sont rouges de notre sang. Par les monts et par les plaines dans la neige et dans le vent à travers toute l'Ukraine se levaient nos partisans. Au Printemps les traités de Lénine Ont livré l'Ukraine aux Allemands À l'automne la Makhnovchtchina Les avait jetés au vent. L'armée blanche de Denikine est entrée en Ukraine en chantant mais bientôt la Makhnovchtchina l'a dispersée dans le vent. Makhnovchtchina, Makhnovchtchina Armée noire de nos partisans Qui combattait en Ukraine contre les rouges et les blancs. Makhnovchtchina, Makhnovchtchina Armée noire de nos partisans qui voulait chasser d'Ukraine à jamais tous les tyrans.

Makhnovshchina, Makhnovshchina Your flags are black in the wind they are black with our pain they are red with our blood. Through the mountains and through the plains in the snow and in the wind all over Ukraine our supporters rose. In the Spring Lenin's Treatises Delivered Ukraine to the Germans In the fall the Makhnovshchina Tossed them to the wind. Denikin's White Army entered Ukraine singing but soon the Makhnovshchina scattered it in the wind. Makhnovshchina, Makhnovshchina Black army of our partisans Who was fighting in Ukraine against the Reds and Whites. Makhnovshchina, Makhnovshchina Black army of our partisans who wanted to drive out of Ukraine forever all tyrants.

"Through Forests and Over Hills"

Memorial plaque to Zora and her brother Mirko Kovačević, the author of this version of the song, who later died as one of the most experienced 1st Split Partisan Detachment members; Obilićevo, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina (their hometown)

Serbo-Croatian (Latin / Cyrillic)		English translation
Po šumama i gorama naše zemlje ponosne idu čete partizana, Slavu borbe pronose! Mi smo djeca vjerna rodu i ko jedan spremni svi da u borbi za slobodu umiremo svjesno mi! Neka čuje dušman kleti krvavi se vodi rat, Prije ćemo mi umrijeti Nego svoje zemlje dat'! Kaznićemo izdajice, Oslobodit' narod svoj, Kazaćemo cijelom svijetu Da se bije ljuti boj! Crne horde nas ne plaše, Krv herojska u nas vri, Mi ne damo zemlje naše Da je gaze fašisti! Zgazit ćemo izdajice, i prihvatit' ljuti boj, spasit' kuće, oranice, oslobodit' narod svoj.	По шумама и горама наше земље поносне иду чете партизана, Славу борбе проносе! Ми смо дјеца вјерна роду и ко један спремни сви да у борби за слободу умиремо свјесно ми! Нека чује душман клети крвави се води рат, Прије ћемо ми умријети Него своје земље дат'! Казнићемо издајице, Ослободит' народ свој, Казаћемо цијелом свијету Да се бије љути бој! Црне хорде нас не плаше, Крв херојска у нас ври, Ми не дамо земље наше Да је газе фашисти! Згазит ћемо издајице и прихватит' љути бој, спасит' куће, оранице, ослободит' народ свој.	Throughout forests and mountains of our proud country troops of Partisans are passing by, spreading the glory of struggle! We are children loyal to our family and all of us are as one ready, that in the fight for freedom we die consciously! Let the cursed foe know A bloody war is waged We will rather die Than give our land! We will punish the traitors And free all our people, We will tell the entire world That a bitter fight is fought! Black hordes don't scare us Heroic blood boils in our veins We don't allow our lands To be trampled by fascists! We will trample down the traitors and accept the furious battle, save houses, arable land, liberate our people.

Alternative version

Basil Davidson recites alternative lyrics as he heard them from Yugoslav Partisans in his 1946 book Partisan Picture:

Serbo-Croatian (Latin / Cyrillic)		English translation
Partizan sam tim se dičim: To ne može biti svak Umrijeti za slobodu, Može samo div-junak. Puška mi je drugarica, Mitraljez mi moji brat: Svakog časa odjim na straži, Da tiranu skršim vrat. Narodu sam zavjet dao, Ja, narodni partizan: Da ću čuvat' stijeg slobode, Boriti se noć i dan.	Партизан сам тим се дичим: То не може бити свак Умријети за слободу, Може само див-јунак. Пушка ми је другарица, Митраљез ми моји брат: Сваког часа одјим на стражи, Да тирану скршим врат. Народу сам завјет дао, Ја, народни партизан: Да ћу чуват' стијег слободе, Борити се ноћ и дан.	I'm a Partisan; of that I am proud. Not everyone can be that, To die for freedom Only a giant-hero can! The rifle is my friend, Machine gun my brother: Every hour I am on guard, To break the tyrant's neck. I made a vow to the people, I, the people's partisan: That I will guard the flag of freedom, Fight night and day.

Greek lyrics

Greek	Transliteration	English translation
Παρτιζάνοι προχωρείτε Μεσ' τους κάμπους, στα βουνά Να κερδίσουμε τη μάχη Ν' ανατείλει η λευτεριά. Από κάμπους και λαγκάδια κατεβαίνει η αγροτιά, μ'υψωμένα τα δρεπάνια χαιρετάει την εργατιά. Χρόνια τώρα εμείς σκυμμένοι σκάβουμε τη μαύρη Γης και τα πλούτη μας τα παίρνουν οι τυράννοι οι αστοί. Ό,τι βλέπουμε μπροστά μας απ'τα χρόνια τα παλιά, στη δουλειά μας τα χρωστάμε, ζήτω-ζήτω η εργατιά! Ας ξεχάσουμε τα μίση ολα εκείνα τα παλιά, κι ας υψώσουμε τα ξίφη όλοι για τη λευτεριά.	Partizánoi prochoreíte Mes' tous kámbous, sta vouná Na kerdísoume ti máchi N' anateíli i leuteriá. Apó cámbous kai langádia Katevaínei i agrotiá, M'ypsoména ta drapánia Chairetáei tin ergatiá. Chrónia tóra emeís skymménoi Scávoume ti maúri Gis Kai ta ploúti mas ta paírnoun oi tyránnoi oi astoí. Ó, ti vlépoume brostá mas ap'ta chrónia ta paliá, sti douleiá mas ta chrostáme, zíto-zíto i ergatiá! As xechásoume ta mísi óla ekeína ta paliá, ki as ypsósoume ta xíphi óloi gia ti leuteriá.	Partisans, move forward, in the meadows and the mountains so that we can win this battle for the freedom to rise. From plains and ravines comes down the peasant class, with sickles raised up they greet the working class. For years now we have bowed digging the black Earth and our riches are taken by the tyrrants the bourgeois. Everything we see in front of us from the old years, we owe it to our labour long live-long live the working class! Let us forget our grudges all these grudges of old, and let's raise our swords all of us for liberty!

Hebrew lyrics

Hebrew original	Romanization	English translation
היא עמדה אל מול גשר הנהר שעליו הפסיע אתמול גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר מכל גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר מכל את פניו הקפיא רוח הנהר ,אך ליבו עדיין בוער אלף נערות הכיר הוא .ואחת יפה יותר אלף נערות הכיר הוא .ואחת יפה יותר השדה שמעבר לנהר ,ערירי כאילו אשם אלף מצבות עומדות שם .ואחת מהן בלי שם אלף מצבות עומדות שם .ואחת מהן בלי שם האביב ממיס קרח בנהר ,ובשלל צבעיו מרתק אלף ילדים שרים לו .וילדון אחד שותק אלף ילדים שרים לו .וילדון אחד שותק הם עומדים אל מול גשר הנהר שעליו אי פעם צעד גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים .ואחד יקר לעד גדוד של אלף פרטיזנים ואחד יקר לעד	hi amda el mul gesher haNahar she'alav hifsia etmol gdud shel elef partizanim ve'echad yakar mikol gdud shel elef partizanim ve'echad yakar mikol et panav hikpi ruach haNahar akh libo adayin bo'er elef na'arot hikir hu ve'achat yaffa yoter elef nearot hikir hu ve'achat yaffa yoter hasadeh she me'ever haNahar ariri ke'illu ashem elef matzevot omdot sham ve'achat mehen bli shem elef matzevot omdot sham ve'achat mehen bli shem ha'Aviv memis kerach baNahar uBishlal tzva'av meratek elef yeladim sharim lo veYaldon echad shotek elef yeladim sharim lo veYaldon echad shotek Hem omdim el mul gesher haNahar she elav ei pa'am tza'ad gdud shel elef partizanim ve echad yakar la'ad gdud shel elef partizanim ve echad yakar la'ad	She stood in front of the river bridge, Which he stepped on yesterday A battalion of a thousand partisans And one most precious of all. A battalion of a thousand partisans And one most precious of all. His face froze in the river wind But his heart is still burning, A thousand girls he knew And one more beautiful. A thousand girls he knew And one more beautiful. The field across the river Barren as if guilty, A thousand tombstones stand there And one of them without a name A thousand tombstones stand there And one of them without a name Spring melting of ice in the river And a variety of fascinating colours, A thousand children sing it And one little boy is silent. A thousand children sing it And one little boy is silent. They stand in front of the river bridge On which a battalion of a thousand partisans A battalion of a thousand partisans And one precious forever. A battalion of a thousand partisans And one precious forever.

"Himn of the Spanish Maquis"

Spanish original

English translation

Por llanuras y montañas Guerrilleros libres van Los mejores luchadores Del campo y de la ciudad Los mejores luchadores Del campo y de la ciudad Ni el dolor ni la miseria Nos impedirán vencer Seguiremos adelante Sin jamás retroceder Seguiremos adelante Sin jamás retroceder Las banderas de combate Como mantos cubrirán A los bravos guerrilleros Que en la lucha caerán A las bravas guerrilleras Muertas por la libertad Que el futuro no se olvide De cual fue nuestra misión Acabar con el fascismo Que en España se instauró Acabar con el fascismo Que en España se instauró

Through plains and mountains Guerrillas roam free The best fighters From the countryside and the city The best fighters From the countryside and the city. Neither pain nor misery Will stop us from wining We will keep moving foward Without ever stepping back we will keep moving foward Without ever stepping back The battle flags Will cover like cloaks The brave guerrilla fighters That will fall in the struggle The brave guerrilla fighters Dead for the freedom May the future not not forget What our mission was To end the fascism That was established in Spain To end the fascism That was established in Spain

"The Guerrilla"

Spanish original

English translation

Por los valles y los Andes guerrilleros libres van los mejores luchadores del campo y la ciudad los mejores luchadores del campo y la ciudad Ni el dolor ni la miseria los harán desfallecer seguiremos adelante sin jamás retroceder seguiremos adelante sin jamás retroceder Nuestro pueblo nos ordena combatir hasta triunfar adelante camaradas nuestra consigna es vencer adelante camaradas nuestra consigna es vencer Venceremos al fascismo en la batalla final ¡Abajo el imperialismo! ¡Muera! ¡Viva nuestra libertad! ¡Abajo el imperialismo! ¡Muera! ¡Viva nuestra libertad! Las banderas de combate como mantos cubrirán a los bravos guerrilleros que en la lucha caerán a los bravos guerrilleros que en la lucha caerán

Through valleys and the Andes Guerrillas roam free The best fighters From the countryside and the city The best fighters From the countryside and the city. Neither pain nor misery Will stop us from wining We will keep moving foward Without ever stepping back we will keep moving foward Without ever stepping back Our people command us Combat until the triumph Go foward comrade Our slogan is win We will win the fascism In the final battle Death to the imperialism! Death! Long live our liberty! Death to the imperialism! Death! Long live our liberty! The battle flags Will cover like cloaks The brave guerrilla fighters That will fall in the struggle The brave guerrilla fighters That will fall in the struggle

See also

• List of socialist songs

External links

• French translation
• March of the Siberian Riflemen on YouTube
• Hymn of Spanish Maquis
• Hymn of Peruvian Shining Path Guerrilla Fighters