The State Anthem of Turkmenistan was adopted as the national anthem of Turkmenistan in 1996, replacing the Anthem of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. After the death of Saparmurat Nyýazow in 2006, the lyrics were modified in 2008 by removing his title of "Türkmenbaşy" in the refrain. The music was composed by Weli Muhadow, who also composed the music for the Soviet-era anthem. The lyrics were originally written by the first president of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Nyýazow (better known as Türkmenbaşy), who died on 21 December 2006. Less than two years after his death, references to him in the chorus were replaced with "the people", and both the third and final verse and the chorus at the start of the piece were removed. The national anthem is played at the start of radio and television broadcasts at 6:55 a.m. local time and played again when radio and television stations sign off.

History

Until 1996, Turkmenistan, which received independence a few years earlier, used the Turkmen SSR anthem without words as the state anthem. The new anthem was adopted on 27 September 1996 by the People's Council of Turkmenistan in Bayramali. The anthem, known by the first sentence of the chorus, "The great creation of Turkmenbashi", in reference to the country's first leader Saparmurat Nyýazow, was used from 1997 to 2008, when it was given minor changes when his successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, ordered to do so following Nyýazow's death in 2006.

Lyrics

Current official

I I'm ready to shed blood for you, my native land, A spirit in the hearts of our brave forebears. 'Tis the light of a neutral, independent land, The flag is flying high over the whole world. Chorus: Eternal great creation by the Turkmen folk, My strong and great nation, my great sovereign land. You are the very light and song of the soul, Long live and prosper, my Turkmenistan! II My nation unified in the veins of tribes, The undying blood of our forefathers' flows. Ne'er shall storms and discord of times dread us, Generations will gather to guard our glory. Chorus

Original version

Chorus: Eternal great creation by Turkmenbashi, My strong and great nation, my great sovereign land. You are the very light and song of the soul, Long live and prosper, my Turkmenistan! I I'm ready to shed blood for you, my native land, A spirit in the hearts of our brave forebears. 'Tis the light of a neutral, independent land, The flag is flying high over the whole world. Chorus II My nation unified in the veins of tribes, The undying blood of our forefathers' flows. Ne'er shall storms and discord of times dread us, Generations will gather to guard our glory. Chorus III Mountains, rivers and beauty of steppes, Love and destiny, revelation of mine! Let my eyes go blind for any cruel look at you, Motherland of ancestors and heirs of mine!