# Jarama Valley (song)

"Jarama Valley" also known as "El Valle del Jarama" is a song from the Second Spanish Republic. Referring to the Spanish Civil War Battle of Jarama, the song uses the tune of Red River Valley.
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 in hospital in Glasgow of wounds sustained 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".
| Early version There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama, That's a place that we all know so well, for 'tis there that we wasted our manhood, And most of our old age as well. From this valley they tell us we're leaving But don't hasten to bid us adieu For e'en though we make our departure We'll be back in an hour or two Oh, we're proud of our British Battalion, And the marathon record it's made, Please do us this one little favour And take this last word to Brigade: "You will never be happy with strangers, They would not understand you as we, So remember the Jarama Valley And the old men who wait patiently". | Reunion version There’s a Valley in Spain called Jarama, It’s a place that we all know so well, It is there that we gave of our manhood, And so many of our brave comrades fell. We are proud of the British Battalion, And the stand for Madrid that they made, For they fought like true sons of the soil. As part of the Fifteenth Brigade. With the rest of the international column, In the stand for the freedom of Spain We swore in the valley of Jarama That fascism never will reign. Now we’ve left that dark valley of sorrow And its memories of regret, So before we continue this reunion Let us stand to our glorious dead. |

## Woody Guthrie version

Lyrics:
   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.
| 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 gave of our manhood And so many of our brave comrades fell. We are proud of the Lincoln Battalion And the fight for Madrid that it made There we fought like true sons of the people As part of the Fifteenth Brigade. Now we're far from that valley of sorrow But its memory we ne'er will forget So before we conclude this reunion Let us stand to our glorious dead. | El Valle del Jarama Hay un valle en España llamado Jarama un lugar que conocemos muy bien, allí es donde dimos nuestro valor y donde muchos de nuestros valientes camaradas cayeron. Estamos orgullosos del Batallón Lincoln y de la lucha por Madrid que hicieron lucharon como verdaderos hijos del pueblo como parte de la Quinta Brigada. Ahora estamos lejos de ese valle del dolor pero su memoria nunca la olvidaremos Así que antes de que concluya esta reunión Pongámonos en pie por nuestros gloriosos muertos. |

## 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)
* In dem Tal dort am Rio Jarama
* In dem Tal dort am Rio Jarama
* Schlugen wir unsre blutigste Schlacht.
* Doch wir haben, auf Tod und Verderben
* Die Faschisten zum Stehen gebracht.
* Zeigt uns wie man mit alten Gewehren
* Einen Panzer-Angriff heil übersteht!
* Zeigt uns wie man in offner Feldschlacht
* Einem Tiefflieger-Angriff entgeht.
* Ja, wir haben die Stellung verlassen;
* Denn es half auch kein: Oh, Herr – mon Dieu!
* Kameraden der Inter-Brigaden
* Unsern Toten ein letztes Adieu!
* Eines Tages da stehn Campesinos
* Als die Sieger auf spanischem Feld!
* Und das Tal dort am Rio Jarama
* Wird gehören dem Mann, der’s bestellt!

## 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
* Батальон Линкольна
* Там, где бурные воды Харамы
* Мы докажем рабочую твердь
* И подняв наше красное знамя
* Победим и страданья и смерть!
* Пусть враги ухмыльнутся довольно
* Что у нас артиллерии нет,
* Но штыки батальона ЛинкОльна
* Не уступят фашистской броне!
* Там, где бурные воды Харамы
* Мы докажем рабочую твердь
* И подняв наше красное знамя
* Победим и страданья и смерть!
* Мы позиций своих не оставим,
* Неприступным наш будет форпост
* За победу стеною мы встанем,
* Даже смерти мы скажем Адьёс!
* Там, где бурные воды Харамы
* Мы докажем рабочую твердь
* И подняв наше красное знамя
* Победим и страданья и смерть!
* Здесь когда-нибудь вспомнят крестьяне,
* Тех, кто доблестно шёл на врага
* На далёкой испанской Хараме
* О бойцах добровольных бригад!