Jarama Valley (song)

This song from the Second Spanish Republic is also known as Jarama Valley and El Valle del Jarama. The tune is Red River Valley.

It refers to the Battle of Jarama, a Spanish Civil War battle. The battle was fought from 6–27 February 1937, in the Jarama river valley a few kilometres east of Madrid. The seasoned troops of Franco's Army of Africa assaulted positions held by the inexperienced volunteers of the International Brigades, in particular the British and the Dimitrov battalions. It ended in stalemate, with both sides entrenching. At the end of three weeks, in particular after a counter-attack on what became known as "Suicide Hill", the death count was high. The British Battalion lost 225 of its 600 men and the Lincoln Battalion lost 125 out of 500.

Original four-verse versions
The earliest known version of the lyrics was written by Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade and published in 1938 in The Book of the XV International Brigade by the Commissariat of War, Madrid, 1938. It is squarely a soldier's song; grumbling about the boredom, lack of leave and lack of female company. McDade was a labourer from Glasgow who became a political commissar in the XV International Brigade, responsible for the men's welfare. He was wounded at Jarama and died on 6 July 1937 at the Battle of Brunete. Perhaps McDade wrote the song to focus his comrades' minds on something other than the casualties, but "its humorous cynicism made it popular in all battalions". Although the provenance of the other early version is unknown it was probably written for (or evolved at) post-war veterans reunions. According to scholar Jim Jump, it was first published on 8 January 1939 in London in a booklet for a British Battalion reunion and "has continued to be sung at International Brigade commemorative events".

Woody Guthrie version
Jarama Valley

There's a valley in spain called Jarama

it's a place that we all know so well

it was there that we fought against the fascists

we saw a peaceful valley turn to hell.

From this valley they say we are going

but don't hasten to bid us adieu

even though we lost the battle at Jarama

we'll set this valley free 'fore we're through.

We were men of the Lincoln battalion

we're proud of the fight that we made

we know that you people of the valley

will remember our Lincoln brigade.

From this valley they say we are going

but don't hasten to bid us adieu

even though we lost the battle at Jarama

we'll set this valley free 'fore we're through.

You will never find peace with these fascists

you will never find friends such as we

so remember that valley of Jarama

and the people that'll set that valley free.

From this valley they say that we're going

Don't hasten to bid us adieu

even though we lost the battle at Jarama

we'll set this valley free 'fore we're through.

All this world is like this valley called Jarama

so green and so bright and so fair

no fascists can dwell in our valley

nor breathe in our new freedom's air.

From this valley they say that we're going

Do not hasten to bid us adieu

even though we lost the battle at Jarama

we'll set this valley free 'fore we're through.

Three-verse versions: Jarama Valley / El Valle del Jarama
This shorter (three-verse) version of the song—with variant versions, are something of an anthem for veterans, particularly those from the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger have recorded it. In addition to this version, other Spanish variants exist.

German version: In dem Tal dort am Rio Jarama (Lincoln-Bataillion)
Ernst Busch, the famous communist actor, singer and participant in the Spanish Civil War, wrote and sang a German text for this song, which is known under the title "In dem Tal dort am Rio Jarama" (In that valley there at Rio Jarama") or as "Lied des Lincoln Bataillions" (Song of Lincoln Battalion)

Russian version: Jarama valley (Батальон Линкольна)
There is a Russian version of "Jarama Valley" too. It is actually a poetical translation of Ernst Buch's text by Tatiana Vladimirskaya with another arrangement for music. The Russian variant is not very similar to the "canonical" text and is much more optimistic

Notes and references

 * Beevor, Antony. (2006). The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0-297-84832-5
 * Jump, Jim (ed) (2006). Poets from Spain: British and Irish International Brigaders on the Spanish Civil War London: Lawrence & Wishart. ISBN 978-1-905007-39-4
 * Ryan, Frank (ed.) [1938] (1975). The Book of the XV International Brigade Madrid: Commissariat of War [1938]. Newcastle upon Tyne: Frank Graham (facsimile edition 1975). ISBN B001A6IG7W