Saule, Pērkons, Daugava

The text originates from the 1916 poem Daugava by the Latvian poet Rainis, while the musical part is composed by Mārtiņš Brauns.

In 1990 it was performed at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival and quickly became a musical symbol of the Singing Revolution.

After Latvia regained its independence, the song remained highly popular and there was even a discussion of it becoming the new national anthem.

[1] In 2014, an adapted version of the song with lyrics of Miquel Martí i Pol, titled Ara és l'hora [ca] became the official anthem of the Catalan independence movement.

Saule Latvi sēdināja Baltas jūras maliņā, Vēji smiltis putināja — ko lai dzēra latvju bērni?

Latvia was laid down by the Sun On the white sea’s land, Wind blew over the sand.

Sun was our mother, Daugava the nanny of our pain, Thunder was the devil’s striker, That was our father[1]