A complicated “soap opera” that has lasted for centuries: the different proposals, regional differences… and Franco. There are other rarities.

Among the almost 200 countries we have on our planet, there are some countries that have national anthem without lyrics. Few, very few.

In fact, in our research, we only found four: Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino and yet Kosovo, country with limited global recognition.

Let’s focus on the case that is closest to us and, at the same time, is the longest, the one that started the longest ago: Spain.

A “Royal March” of Spain has no lyrics. Since it was created in 1761.

For several reasons: firstly, because it began as a march (originally military/ceremonial) and, throughout contemporary Spanish history, there has never been enough political and social consensus to establish a letter “for all”.

In fact, this musical work was born – like others – born to be used as music for ceremony/parade, where the lyrics were not necessary. A tradition as a march (and later anthem) that began in the aforementioned 18th century.

Throughout these centuries, there were unofficial letters in different periods. The version of the Franco dictatorship, “Long live Spain!” stood out. – what it was abandoned when the Franco regime ended.

More recently, even in the 21st century, there were attempts – which also failed, due to lack of agreement.

At the beginning of 2008, the possible verses were revealed, following an initiative by the Spanish Olympic Committee – fed up with not seeing their athletes sing the anthem when they won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

The verses were as follows:

Long live Spain!
With different voices and a single heart, let’s all sing.
Long live Spain!
From lush green valleys to the vast sea.

But these four verses lasted… five days. Public accusations were repeated: these verses reminiscent of Franco’s dictatorship and did not represent the (evident) regional differences.

In fact, this is a reason often associated with the absence of lyrics in the Marcha Real: It is difficult to achieve a result that represents the 17 autonomous communities from Spain. Because Galicia is not Catalonia; Madrid is not the Valencian Community; because the Basque Country is very different from the Canaries.

A few years ago, in 2018, singer Marta Sánchez surprised at a concert in Madrid: she sang the anthem with lyrics.

Today I sing to you to tell you
How proud I am of myself
That’s why I can’t resist
My love grows every time I leave
But don’t forget that without you I don’t know how to live
Red and yellow colors
That shine in my heart

Greater Spain
I thank God for being born here
I will honor you until the end
As your daughter, I will accept this honor
And I will fill every corner with your sunshine
And if one day I can’t go back
Save a place for me
So that you can rest in peace

But it stopped there.

Perhaps the Royal March really ends there: its function was never more than providing a rhythm for the military marches. And so it will be.

A complicated “soap opera” that has lasted for centuries: the different proposals, regional differences… and Franco. There are other rarities.

Among the almost 200 countries we have on our planet, there are some countries that have national anthem without lyrics. Few, very few.

In fact, in our research, we only found four: Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino and yet Kosovo, country with limited global recognition.

Let’s focus on the case that is closest to us and, at the same time, is the longest, the one that started the longest ago: Spain.

A “Royal March” of Spain has no lyrics. Since it was created in 1761.

For several reasons: firstly, because it began as a march (originally military/ceremonial) and, throughout contemporary Spanish history, there has never been enough political and social consensus to establish a letter “for all”.

In fact, this musical work was born – like others – born to be used as music for ceremony/parade, where the lyrics were not necessary. A tradition as a march (and later anthem) that began in the aforementioned 18th century.

Throughout these centuries, there were unofficial letters in different periods. The version of the Franco dictatorship, “Long live Spain!” stood out. – what it was abandoned when the Franco regime ended.

More recently, even in the 21st century, there were attempts – which also failed, due to lack of agreement.

At the beginning of 2008, the possible verses were revealed, following an initiative by the Spanish Olympic Committee – fed up with not seeing their athletes sing the anthem when they won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

The verses were as follows:

Long live Spain!
With different voices and a single heart, let’s all sing.
Long live Spain!
From lush green valleys to the vast sea.

But these four verses lasted… five days. Public accusations were repeated: these verses reminiscent of Franco’s dictatorship and did not represent the (evident) regional differences.

In fact, this is a reason often associated with the absence of lyrics in the Marcha Real: It is difficult to achieve a result that represents the 17 autonomous communities from Spain. Because Galicia is not Catalonia; Madrid is not the Valencian Community; because the Basque Country is very different from the Canaries.

A few years ago, in 2018, singer Marta Sánchez surprised at a concert in Madrid: she sang the anthem with lyrics.

Today I sing to you to tell you
How proud I am of myself
That’s why I can’t resist
My love grows every time I leave
But don’t forget that without you I don’t know how to live
Red and yellow colors
That shine in my heart

Greater Spain
I thank God for being born here
I will honor you until the end
As your daughter, I will accept this honor
And I will fill every corner with your sunshine
And if one day I can’t go back
Save a place for me
So that you can rest in peace

But it stopped there.

Perhaps the Royal March really ends there: its function was never more than providing a rhythm for the military marches. And so it will be.