The original song dates in the oral tradition to 1640, based on the events of June 1640 known as Corpus de Sang ("Corpus of Blood") during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Spain, England, France and Austria, the event that started the Reapers' War or Guerra dels Segadors, also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution,[3] where Catalans fought against the Count-Duke of Olivares, the chief minister of King Philip IV of Spain, and eventually led to an open war and the establishment of a Catalan Republic under French protection.

The song describes the events, an uprising of peasants due to the large and burdensome presence of the Spanish Royal army in the Principality of Catalonia, as they were required to lodge and provision the troops, thus leading to a large tension and discomfort and the outbreak of episodes such as religious sacrileges, destruction of personal properties, and rape of women by the soldiers.

The second part of the song tells the arrival of the rebel reapers in Barcelona, who kill various guards, the royal officers and the viceroy of Catalonia, Dalmau de Queralt, ending with the exhortation to Catalans to take the arms, as they are at war.

In the 19th century, the text was compiled in the Romancillero Catalán, a book of folk traditions written by Manuel Milà i Fontanals.

[3] Its modern lyrics were written by Emili Guanyavents, who won a competition convened by the political party Unió Catalanista in 1899, simplifying the text to three verses.

At the time, the change of lyrics caused some controversy among conservative elements, as Guanyavents, coming from sectors close to anarchism, gave them a revolutionary tone.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, "Els Segadors" became one of the most relevant symbols of Catalanism and Catalonia itself, increasing its popularity during the Second Spanish Republic and the Civil War.

Despite an early attempt of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan autonomous government) in 1931 to replace it with another song, "El Cant del Poble", "Els Segadors" remained highly popular, often treated by Catalan government and population as the national anthem.

The dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939–1975) banned the public use of Catalan national symbolism as part of the broad anti-Catalanist policies, among them "Els Segadors".

Tolerated songs, such as the "Virolai" or "La Santa Espina", were often played in its place to express Catalan identity.

Per quand vendrà un autre junh amolam plan ben las asinas.

Coma dalham espigas d'aur, quand nos cal segam cadenas.

Que tiemble el enemigo al ver nuestra enseña: como hacemos caer espigas de oro, cuando conviene segamos cadenas.

Ara el rei nostre senyor declarada ens té la guerra.

n'han cremada una església que Santa Coloma es deia, cremen albes i casulles los calzes i les patenes.

En daven part al virrei del mal que aquells soldats feien:

“Llicència els he donat io molta més se'n poden pendre”.

De tres guàrdies que n'hi ha ja n'han morta la primera.

Lo bisbe els va beneir amb la mà dreta i esquerra:

They killed a knight at the door of the church, Don Lluís de Furrià and the angels are making him a big feast.

Ay, dichosa Cataluña quién te ha visto rica y llena.

Ahora el rey nuestro señor declarada nos tiene la guerra.

El gran Conde de Olivares siempre le hurga la oreja: "Ahora es la hora, rey nuestro ahora es hora que hagamos guerra".

han quemado una iglesia que Santa Coloma se llamaba, queman albas y casullas los cálices y las patenas.

De ello daban parte al Virrey, del mal que esos soldados hacían:

"Licencia les he dado yo mucha más se pueden tomar".

entran como segadores ya que estaban en tiempos de siega.

De tres guardias que hay ya han matado a la primera.

El obispo los bendijo con la mano derecha e izquierda:

Contemporary Catalan composer Jordi Savall made a version of the folk song,[11] using the original narrative (which dates back to the 17th century) combined with the modern lyrics and refrain, which were added later.