"Gernikako Arbola is the title of a song in bertso form presented both in Madrid (1853) and by the shrine of Saint Anthony at Urkiola (1854) by the Basque bard José María Iparraguirre, celebrating the Tree of Gernika and the Basque liberties. The song is the unofficial anthem of the Basques, but only the first stanza is sung as the Basque anthem. In 2007, the General Assembly of Biscay declared it the district's official anthem.

The song was popularized by Iparraguirre throughout the Basque Country and the Basque diaspora in the Americas during his emigration to the continent. It was thus adopted and sung by the Basques during critical and significant historic chapters, like the end of the last Carlist War, the Gamazada, or the Spanish Civil War.

History The popularity of the song quickly expanded (sung by the bard in Madrid venues) on the heat of the pro-fueros movement in the run-up to their definite suppression (1876) and the political unrest following it. Its echo quickly spread to the French Basque Country, where it took hold spurred by the Lore Jokoak festivals, the "Floral Games".

The song was chosen for the solemn end to the demonstration held at Pamplona in 1893, and sang along by the crowds, after widespread indignation sparked at the Spanish government's breach of fiscal terms concerning Navarre—protests known as the Gamazada.

The local newspaper La Voz de Fitero (southern fringes of Navarre) reported on the cheerful official reception in honour of the district MP Ramon Lasanta held on 30 April 1913, where an enthusiast audience sang the "Gernikako Arbola along, and demanded an encore from the music band.

The anthem was often rendered in performances by Pablo de Sarasate and Julián Gayarre. It has been called the "Marseillaise of the Basques". The tree has also inspired a passage of La prudencia en la mujerLa prudencia en la mujer, Acto 1, Tirso de Molina. Referred as the Arbol de Garnica [sic]. by the Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina and a sonnet of William Wordsworth.The Oak of Guernica , William Wordsworth, 1810.

In 2007, as set out by the 4/2007 Chartered Decision, the General Assembly of Biscay declared it the district's official anthem.

Lyrics There are versions with four, eight or twelve stanzas. Also, Iparragirre as a bertsolari would introduce changes during his performances.Gernikako Arbola véritable hymne basque, French-language paper by Jean Haritschelhar. However, only the first stanza became widespread and popular as an anthem. Original Gipuzkoan textGuernicaco Arbola, by Jose Maria Iparragirre, Colección de aires vascongados, Ed. Sendoa, San Sebastián, 1981.Text in Standard Basque EnglishFirst stanza Guernicaco arbolaDa bedeincatubaEuscaldunen arteanGuztiz maitatuba:Eman ta zabaltzazuMunduban frutuba,Adoratzen zaituguArbola santuba. Gernikako arbolaDa bedeinkatuaEuskaldunen arteanGuztiz maitatua:Eman ta zabal zazuMunduan frutua,Adoratzen zaituguArbola santua. The Tree of Guernicais blessedamong the Basques;absolutely loved.Give and deliverthe fruit unto the world.We adore you,holy tree.Second stanza Milla urte ingurudaEsaten dutelaJaincoac jarrizubelaGuernicaco arbola:Saude bada zuticanOrain da dembora,Eroritzen baceraArras galduguera.Mila urte inguru daEsaten dutelaJainkoak jarri zuelaGernikako arbola:Zaude bada zutikanOrain da denbora,Eroritzen bazeraErraz galdu gera.About one thousand years,they say,since God planted it,the Guernica tree:Stand, so,now is the timeIf you fallwe will perish easily.Third stanza Etzera eroricoArbola maitea,Baldin portatzen badaVizcaico juntia:Lauroc artuco deguSurequin partiaPaquian bici dedinEuscaldun gendia. Ez zara erorikoArbola maitea,Baldin portatzen badaBizkaiko juntua:Laurok hartuko duguZurekin parteaBakean bizi dedinEuskaldun jentea. You will not fall,dear tree,if the Biscay assemblybehaves:We four will takeyour partyso that the Basque peoplelive in peace.Fourth stanza Betico bicidedinJaunari escatzecoJarri gaitecen danocLaster belaunico:Eta biotzeticanEscatu esqueroArbola bicico daOrain eta guero.Betiko bizi dedinJaunari eskatzekoJarri gaitezen denokLaster belauniko:Eta bihotzetikanEskatu ez geroArbola biziko daOrain eta gero.So that it lives forever,to ask the Lord,let us allkneel down quickly:and from the heart,by asking,the tree will livenow and forever.Fifth stanza Arbola botatziaDutela pentzatuEuscal erri guztiyanDenac badakigu:Ea bada gendiaDembora orain degu,Erori gabetanicIruqui biagu.Arbola botatzeaDutela pentsatuEuskal Herri guztianDenak badakigu:Ea bada jenteaDenbora orain dugu,Erori gabedanikIruki biagu.That they have thoughtto fell the treein the Basque Countrywe all know.So, people, now is the time!We have to hold it upand not let it fall.Sixth stanza Beti egongoceraUda berricua,Lore ainciñetacoMancha gabecoa:Erruquisaitez badaBiotz gurecoa,Dembora galdu gabeEmanic frutuba.Beti egongo zaraUdaberrikoa,Lore aintzinetakoMantxa gabekoa:Erruki zaitez badaBihotz gurekoa,Denbora galdu gabeEmanik frutua.You will always beof spring,without the stainof the flowers of old.Have mercy,you of our heart,losing no time,give fruit.Seventh stanza Arbolac erantzun duContuz bicitzeko,Eta biotzeticanJaunari escatzeco:Guerraric nai ez deguPaquea betico, Gure legue zuzenacEmen maitatzeco.Arbolak erantzun duKontuz bizitzeko,Eta bihotzetikanJaunari eskatzeko:Gerrarik nahi ez duguBakea betiko,Gure lege zuzenakEmen maitatzeko.The tree answeredthat we should live carefullyand in our heartsask the Lord:We do not want wars [but] peace forever,to love hereour fair laws.Eighth stanza Erregutu diogunJaungoico jaunariPaquea ematecoOrain eta beti:Bay eta indarrareCedorren lurrariEta bendiciyoaEuscal erriyari.Erregutu diogunJaungoiko jaunariBakea ematekoOrain eta beti:Bai eta indarra ereZetorren lurrariEta benedizioaEuskal Herriari.We askof the Lord Godthat he gives us peace,now and forever:and strength as wellto His landand the blessingfor the Basque land.Ninth stanza Orain cantaditzagunLaubat bertzo berriGure provinciarenAlabantzagarri:Alabac esaten duSu garrez betericNere biotzecuaEutzico diat nic.Orain kanta ditzagunLaubat bertso berriGure probintziarenAlabantzagarri:Arabak esaten duSukarriz beterikNere bihotzekoaEutsiko diat nik.Now let us singfour new versesin praiseof our province:Alava saysfull of feverthe one of my heartI will keep.Tenth stanza Guipúzcoa urrenaArras sentituricAsi da deadarrezAma Guernicari:Erori etzeitzenArrimatu neriZure cendogarriyaEmen nacazu ni.Gipuzkoa hurrenaArras sentiturikHasi da deiadarrezAma Gernikari:Erori etzeitzenArrimatu niriZure zendogarriaHemen naukazu ni.Gipuzkoa next,very moved,has started with the callto mother Guernica:Do not fall:come near me!Your strengtheneryou have in me!Eleventh stanza Ostoa verdia etaZañac ere fresco,Nere seme maiteacEz naiz erorico:Beartzen banaiz ereEgon beti prontoNigandican etzayacItzurerazoco.Hostoa berdea etaZainak ere fresko,Nere seme maiteakEz naiz eroriko:Behartzen banaiz ereEgon beti prontoNigandikan etsaiakItzularaziko.The green leaf andthe fresh veins,my dear sons,I will not let fall:If I need it tobe always readythe enemies around meto force into retreat.Twelfth stanza Guztiz maitagarriaEta oestarguiñaBeguiratu gaitzasuCeruco erreguiñaGuerraric gabetanicBici albaguiña.Oraindaño izandeguGuretzaco diña."Guztiz maitagarriaEta ostarginaBegiratu gaitzazuZeruko erreginaGerrarik gabedanikBizi ahal bagina.Oraindaino izan duguGuretzako dina."Always lovableand sky light,look at us,Queen of Heavenwithout warso that we can.She has been until nowgood to us.

In film A tune based on the anthem can be heard in a test bullfight scene of The Happy Thieves, a film shot in Spain in 1961.

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