Its music was composed by Manuel María Gutiérrez Flores, who dedicated the score to French adventurer Gabriel-Pierre Lafond de Lurcy [fr].

[2] Musician and Director of the Costa Rican Military Band, Manuel María Gutiérrez [es], then 22 years old, was asked to compose an anthem.

[2] The first lyrics of the national anthem were written by a Colombian poet living in Costa Rica, José Manuel Lleras, and premiered in 1873.

In the context of looming threats by other states to overthrow then president Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez, as well as a threat of the instrumental anthem becoming forgotten by non–military band members, Lleras wrote long lyrics that included high praise of President Guardia, intended to encourage Costa Ricans in the event of war:[2] Coro: ¡Ciudadanos!

Su esplendor nos infunda el aliento de vencer por la Patria o morir!

La ambición de un oscuro extranjero someterla al yugo intentó, indignados se alzaron los pueblos, y gritaron: «atrás invasor!»

I nos retan a lid fraticida preparando el traidor arcabuz; ¡vengan, pues, que jamá la injusticia vencerá nuestra noble actitud!

Si el clarín sanguinario resuena, Costa Rica, con noble altivez, ´guerra, guerra´ dirán sus cornetas, «¡Ciudadanos, morir o vencer!»

Coro Chorus: Citizens, the sun of the free has risen radiantly to the zenith: its splendour gives us the breath to win for the Fatherland or die.

Costa Rica broke the chains that bound her to foreign power; she let loose her own flag to the wind and founded the empire of law.

The ambition of a suspicious foreigner tried to submit her to the yoke, outraged, the peoples rose up, and they cried: "Back off, invader!"

And Walker's enraged troops listened, tempering their voices, for over them, the heroic battles, Costa Rica nailed her banner.

The greed of jealous brothers agitated in constant restlessness: let us not consciously live in peace, progress and light;

If the bloodthirsty clarion resounds, Costa Rica, with noble pride, 'War, war' will say its horns, "Citizens, death or victory!"

"Our soil does not mark the plant of a fierce cowardly alliance, As long as the holy spark shines, in the people, of warlike ardour"

[2] In 1879, the anthem began to be sung with shorter lyrics written by seminarian Juan Garita y Guillén, which premiered on 24 June that year at the Colegio Seminario (Seminary College).

Tocaré con placer el clarín del afán, honor cantaré a tu gloria y valor.

After being distributed in schools and colleges, they were sung for longer[2] and were made official: Coro: De la patria el amor nos inspira, elevémosle un himno triunfal De Tirteo en la bélica lira celebremos su gloria inmortal.

Nuestra voz acordada resuene viril desde el Ande gigante a la mar; y repitan los valles, cual trueno rugiente, 𝄆 las bélicas notas del patrio cantar.

Nuestros bosques frondosos aliento nos dan, Con su dulce fragancia sutil; Y del valle la verde llanura florida, 𝄆 Enérgico impulso de ardor juvenil.

Our accordant voice resounds virile from the giant Andes to the sea; and the valleys repeat, like roaring thunder, the singing of the warlike notes of the fatherland.

Let us defend our home without fear of battle since the laurel awaits us when we win; and if we may fall lying on the ground, death gives us splendid glory.

Over the extensive countryside, say to the homeland, that we will never leave the corpse of the good, and to the ground, entrusting his mortal body, we will sing the triumphal hymn to the hero.

Our lush forests give us breath, With their sweet, subtle fragrance; And from the valley, the green flowery plain, An energetic impulse of youthful ardour.

Chorus Although Fernández Ferraz's composition had literary merit, its language was somewhat too elevated to take root in the people,[2] in addition to not adapting well to the music of the anthem, and adjustments had to be made to the original score by maestro Gutiérrez.

Your beautiful flag shows us the expression of your life; under the limpid blue of your sky, white and pure, rests peace.

In the tenacious struggle, of fecund labour, that reddens the man's face; your children, simple farmhands, conquered 𝄆 eternal prestige, esteem and honour.

Costa Rica, your beautiful flag gives us expression of your life; under the blue cloak of your sky, white and pure, rests peace.