Unofficial anthem of Iran Former national anthem of the Interim Government of Iran
Lyrics
Hossein Gol-e-Golab, 1944
Music
Ruhollah Khaleghi, 1944
Adopted
1979
Relinquished
1979
Audio sample
Instrumental rendition in E minor
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"Ey Iran"[a] is an Iranian patriotic song, often regarded as the de facto national anthem of Iran. The music was composed by Ruhollah Khaleghi, and the lyrics were written by Hossein Gol-e-Golab.[1] It was first performed by Gholam-Hossein Banan in 1944.
History
People singing Ey Iran at Oberhausen Arena in March 2014
The anthem was created during World War II.[2] In September 1941, Allied forces occupied Iran following the Anglo-Soviet invasion that overthrew Reza Shah. Hossein Gol-e-Golab was inspired to write a poem on Iranian nationalism when he saw Allied flags waving from an Iranian military barracks in Tehran.[3] Shortly afterwards, Hossein Gol-e-Golab witnessed Allied flags raised over a military barracks in Tehran, an image that strengthened his resolve to compose a patriotic piece reflecting Iranian spirit in spite of the occupation
According to Gol-e-Golab, a confrontation between a British soldier and an Iranian officer further encouraged him to write the poem. Khaleghi later set it to music, and Banan recorded the vocal performance.[4]
Gol-e-Golab later said:
In 1944, the footsteps of the invading armies in the streets were enough to rattle any patriot and inspired me to write this anthem. Professor Ruhollah Khaleghi wrote the music and, despite all the political opposition, it found its way into the heart and soul of the people.[5]
During the transitional period in the immediate aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the composition briefly served as the country's de facto national anthem under the interim government.
Performances
The piece was first performed over two consecutive nights on 27 October 1944 at the military primary school on Istanbul Street, with Banan as the soloist. The audience response was enthusiastic, leading to several encores. Its popularity prompted the Minister of Culture to commission a studio recording, which was subsequently broadcast daily on Radio Tehran.
After the Islamic takeover in 1979, several people involved in its preparation were imprisoned, and public performance of the song was discouraged. Despite this, the melody continued to circulate and served as a morale-boosting symbol during the Iran–Iraq War.[6]
In 1990, Golnoush Khaleghi, daughter of the composer, arranged a new version while in Tehran for the 25th anniversary of her father's death. This recording appeared on the album "May Nab"[b] released by Sorush Publications, featuring a monologue performed by Rashid Vatandoust.[7]
Lyrics
The lyrics of the anthem are presented below in Farsi (original Perso-Arabic script, Latin script, and IPA transcription), alongside an English translation.[8][9][10][11]
،ای ایران، ای مرز پر گهر
.ای خاکت سرچشمه هنر
،دور از تو اندیشه بدان
.پاینده مانی تو جاودان
،ای دشمن، ار تو سنگ خارهای، من آهنم
.جان من فدای خاک پاک میهنم
:برگردان
،مهر تو چون شد پیشهام
.دور از تو نیست اندیشهام
در راه تو، کی ارزشی دارد این جان ما؟ 𝄇
𝄆 .پاینده باد خاک ایران ما
،سنگ کوهت در و گوهر است
.خاک دشتت بهتر از زر است
مهرت از دل کی برون کنم؟
برگو، بیمهر تو چون کنم؟
،تا گردش جهان و دور آسمان به پاست
.نور ایزدی همیشه رهنمای ماست
برگردان
،ایران ای خرم بهشت من
.روشن از تو سرنوشت من
،گر آتش بارد به پیکرم
.جز مهرت در دل نپرورم
،از آب و خاک و مهر تو سرشته شد گلم
.مهر اگر برون رود تهی شود دلم
برگردان
UniPers romanisation
Ey Irān, ey marz-e por gouhar,
Ey khākat sarcheshme-ye honar.
Dur az to andishe-ye badān,
Pāyandeh māni to jāvedān.
Ey doshman, ar to sang-e khārei, man āhanam,
Jān-e man fadā-ye khāk-e pāk-e mihanam.
Bargardân:
Mehr-e to chon shod pisheam,
Dur az to nist andisheam.
𝄆 Dar rāh-e to key arzeshi dārad in jān-e mā?
Pāyandeh bād khāk-e Irān-e mā. 𝄇
Sang-e kuhat dorr-o-gouhar ast,
Khāk-e dashtat behtar az zar ast.
Mehrat az del key borun konam?
Bargu, bi mehr-e to chun konam?
Tā gardesh-e jahān-o-dour-e āsemān be pāst,
Nur-e izadi hamishe rahnamā-ye māst.
Bargardân
Irān, ey khorram behesht-e man,
Roushan az to sarnevesht-e man.
Gar ātash bārad be peykaram,
Joz mehrat dar del naparvaram.
Az āb-o-khāk-o mehr-e to sereshte shod gelam,
Mehr agar borun ravad tohi shavad delam.
Bargardân
UN romanisation
Ey Irān, ey marz-e por gohar,
Ey xākat sarčešme-ye honar.
Dur az to andiše-ye badān,
Pāyandeh māni to jāvedān.
Ey došman, ar to sang-e xāre-i, man āhanam,
Jān-e man fadā-ye xāk-e pāk-e mihanam.
Bargardān:
Mehr-e to čon šod pišeam,
Dur az to nist andišeam.
𝄆 Dar rāh-e to, key arzeši dārad in jān-e mā?
Pāyandeh bād xāk-e Irān-e mā. 𝄇
Sang-e kuhat dorr o gowhar ast,
Xāk-e daštat behtar az zar ast.
Mehrat az del key borun konam?
Bargu, bi-mehr-e to čun konam?
Tā gardeš-e jahān o dowr-e āsemān be pāst,
Nur-e izadi hamiše rahnamā-ye māst.
Bargardān
Irān ey xorram behešt-e man,
Rowšan az to sarnevešt-e man.
Gar ātaš bārad be peykaram,
Joz mehrat dar del naparvaram.
Az āb o xāk o mehr-e to serešte šod gelam,
Mehr agar borun ravad tohi shavad delam.
O Iran, the land of gems abound,
O the wellspring of arts is your ground.
Far from you may the thoughts of evil be,
Long may you last and eternal be.
O enemy, if you are of rock, I am of iron,
May my life be sacrificed for my homeland's pure soil.
Refrain:
Since your love became my calling,
Never far are my thoughts from you.
𝄆 In your cause, when do our lives have value?
Eternal may the land of Iran be. 𝄇
The stones of your peaks are jewels and pearls,
Greater than gold are your valleys' soils.
When would I ever doff your ardour?
Tell me what I'd do without your fervour?
As long as the earth revolves and the sky cycles,
The light of the Divine will always guide us.
Refrain
Iran, O my gorgeous paradise,
Bright is my destiny because to you.
Even if fire on my body rains,
I'll cherish naught but my love for you.
I am made of your love, your waters and your earth,
If your love leaves my heart, empty it will become.
Refrain
See also
Imperial Anthem of Iran
National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Notes
^Persian: ای ایران, romanised: Ey Irân, pronounced[ˌʔejʔiːˈɹɒːn]; lit.'O Iran'
^Persian: می ناب, romanised: Mey-e Nâb, lit.'Pure Wine'
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