# What song do the Soviet sailors sing in "The Hunt for Red October"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, music\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935 "2005-12-16T16:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/1 "2005-12-16T16:57:06Z")
In the movie, Sean Connery, er, Capt. Ramius gives a rousing speech and the sailors all resume their duties with renewed determination. What song do they sing? Anyone have a link to a performance of it (need not be the actual movie version)? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/2 "2005-12-16T16:59:18Z")
I should add, I already checked [IMBD.com](http://IMBD.com), and it doesn’t mention the name of the song in the “Trivia” section. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/3 "2005-12-16T17:07:28Z")
When I read this title, I wondered if you were talking about “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” in the film Das Boot. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/4 "2005-12-16T17:13:59Z")
It’s the Soviet National Anthem. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/5 "2005-12-16T17:15:22Z")
Oops. Forgot the [link](http://www.funet.fi/pub/culture/russian/html_pages/soviet.html). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/6 "2005-12-16T17:49:15Z")
Unfortunatly the song played over the opening credits apparently isn’t a real soviet song, but created for the film. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/7 "2005-12-16T17:52:58Z")
According to the movie’s soundtrack, the title song is called “Hymn to Red October.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/8 "2005-12-16T18:11:51Z")
It’s the Soviet national anthem. Lyrics translate as follows – [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet\_national\_anthem#English\_lyrics\_.28the\_official\_CPSU\_version.29:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_national_anthem#English_lyrics_.28the_official_CPSU_version.29:) > [@](#): > > Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics, > Great Russia has welded forever to stand. > Created in struggle by will of the people, > United and mighty, our Soviet land! > CHORUS: > Sing to the Motherland, home of the free, > Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong. > O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people, > To Communism’s triumph lead us on! > Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us, > Along the new path where great Lenin did lead. > To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples, > Inspired them to labour and valourous deed. > CHORUS > In the vict’ry of Communism’s deathless ideal, > We see the future of our dear land. > And to her fluttering scarlet banner, > Selflessly true we always shall stand! > CHORUS ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/9 "2005-12-16T19:08:08Z")
Well, there’s a song (played during the de-boating scene for instance) that is not the Soviet National Anthem. I don’t know what it’s called but the lyric “Da svedanya, Rodina” can be clearly heard, which means “Goodbye Motherland\*.” Quite fitting for a defection scene. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/10 "2005-12-16T20:07:39Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > Well, there’s a song (played during the de-boating scene for instance) that is not the Soviet National Anthem. I don’t know what it’s called but the lyric “Da svedanya, Rodina” can be clearly heard, which means “Goodbye Motherland\*.” Quite fitting for a defection scene. That’s the one. However, from what I’ve been able to find out, that song was created for the film. Too bad, since I do rather like it. And I’d be happy to be proved wrong. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/11 "2005-12-16T21:21:01Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > According to the movie’s soundtrack, the title song is called “Hymn to Red October.” Written by Basil Poledourus, who also wrote the score for _Red Dawn, Free Willy,_ and _Conan the Barbarian._[The Hunt for Red October - Music](http://www.kerzap.com/hfro/music.html) And here’s the lyrics (in Russian, transliterated into Roman letters): [Filmtracks: Lyrics to Hymn to Red October](http://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/red_october/index.cgi?read=2) But the song the soldiers sang on the bridge was the Soviet national anthem, I’m pretty sure. I’ve heard it before and recognize the melody. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/12 "2005-12-16T21:23:35Z")
BTW, the present Russian national anthem uses the same tune as the Soviet one, with different lyrics. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian\_national\_anthem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_national_anthem) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/13 "2005-12-17T04:47:33Z")
Thanks, everybody. I now see that [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) has excerpts from the THFRO soundtrack (although several customers complain that the soundtrack album leaves out a lot of good stuff): [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002O7C/qid%3D1134794599/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr\_11\_1/002-5474682-2924835](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002O7C/qid%3D1134794599/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-5474682-2924835) ---
**Author:** ![ronrafajko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@ronrafajko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronrafajko)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/14 "2020-10-11T01:15:56Z")
The Hymn to Red October is sung at the beginning of the movie and when the crew leaves. To see the Russian words view: [Hymn to Red October - Basil Poledouris - Original Lyrics - YouTube](https://youtu.be/YUU-IvSZTN0) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/16 "2020-10-11T04:21:30Z")
There have been different versions of it over the years. When I learned it back in the early '70s, it was Stalin who “brought us up to be true to the people,” and the third verse was _Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle,_ _barbarian invaders, we’ll swiftly strike down!_ _In combat we settle the fate of the future,_ _our country we’ll lead to eternal renown._ The other third verse given above is obviously more … bright and cheerful. 🥺 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-the-soviet-sailors-sing-in-the-hunt-for-red-october/335935/17 "2020-10-11T22:39:39Z")
**Nitpick:** The line is _Do svidaniya, bereg rodnoi_ (“Farewell, native shore”). And no, I haven’t been able to find another song with that phrase in it either. The English translation of the _Hymn to Red October_ is: Cold, overcast, and gloomy in spirit [or soul], how could I know that you would die? Farewell, native shore! How difficult it is for us to imagine that this is not a dream… Motherland, native home, farewell, Motherland! Hey! And on campaign we go, and on campaign we go! The rolling sea awaits us, and will not wait for long. The far reaches of the sea are calling us, as are the breaking waves! A salute to our fathers and grandfathers, always true to their vows. Now nothing will stop the victorious stride of [our] native land. Sail, sail dauntlessly, you, the pride of the northern seas Revolutions are the hope, an accumulation of the faith of all people. [Repeat last two verses; then] In October, in October, we report our victory. In October, in October, our fathers gave us a new world. [Repeat previous verses, then] In October, a new world…