Relive the celebration with songs from the Birthday alley!
25 August 2022This year for Rimi Riga Marathon was truly special – not only we celebrate its 35th Jubilee, but also broke records!
A total of 40 122 runners (yes, can you imagine?), covering an impressive number of kilometers – many of them through the most festive part of the course: the Birthday Alley, powered by Shopping Centre Spice.
As you start thinking about which distance to choose for the next Rimi Riga Marathon on May 16–17, 2026, enjoy this playlist of songs performed by the choir at the Freedom Monument.
Manai dzimtenei
(R. Pauls/J. Peters)
The song Manai dzimtenei (For My Country) was written in 1972 for another special anniversary – celebrating the 100 years of Latvian Song Festival. As it was written during the Soviet era, it heavily resonated with the Latvians, expressing devotion to our homeland, national pride, yearning for national identity and love for the Latvia’s natural beauty.
Originally banned for its historical themes, “Manai dzimtenei” has since become a regular part of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.
Lyrics in English
The River Daugava told me,
Through its fateful meandering,
[That] the song is celebrating its festival,
Rising up together with my brother.
Thus sung my brother,
Standing against destiny,
In his song, the century
Took on the color of a lifetime.
There’ll yet be the fifth year [1905],
A rain of blood will fall,
And break the highest pines.
We’ll go serving as riflemen,
The song will sow a storm,
Forever will the Castle of Light
rejoice on the mountain.
May the weaving voices,
Travel across the region,
The song is celebrating its festival,
Rising up together with my brother.
Thus sung my brother,
Immortal just like Daugava,
In his song, the century
Took on the color of a lifetime.
The broken pine trees
Will grow through our hearts,
Fresh mornings will call us
On a new way.
Further into eternity
We’ll go singing our way
Forever will the Castle of Light
rejoice on the mountain.
Apliecinājums
(I. Kalniņš / V. Kalniņš)
Apliecinājums (Affirmation) is a philosophical and emotionally resonant song by one of Latvia’s most influential composers, Imants Kalniņš, with lyrics by his son, Viktors Kalniņš. Written during a period when art and music were subtle forms of resistance, the song reflects a quiet, inner strength and personal commitment to truth, love, and identity.
It has become a modern classic in Latvian choral repertoire, valued for its depth and sincerity.
Lyrics in English
With what will your song begin?
With what will it begin?
It begins with a quiet word,
A quiet word.
It begins with a quiet word,
It begins with a quiet syllable –
Your own will understand,
Your own will understand,
That the song is a scream.
Sing about low grass,
About low grass.
Sing about a bright ray,
A bright ray.
Sing about a bright ray,
Weave in a simple joke –
Your own will understand,
Your own will understand,
Your own will understand,
That the song is a scream.
Sing about rosy dreams,
About rosy dreams;
If you are told to sing,
If you are told to sing,
If you are told to sing,
Then sing, even out of fear –
Your own will understand,
Your own will understand,
That the song is a scream.
Lec, saulīte (R.Tiguls / R. Bugavičūte-Pēce)
(I. Kalniņš / V. Kalniņš)
This contemporary choral piece, Lec, saulīte (Rise, Sun), is a lyrical and symbolic song that connects Latvia’s ancient traditions with modern sensibilities. With a text by acclaimed poet and playwright Rasa Bugavičūte-Pēce, and music by composer Rihards Tiguls, it evokes the dawn as a symbol of renewal, hope, and the enduring vitality of the Latvian spirit.
It gained popularity through its inclusion in recent Song and Dance Festivals and reflects a growing movement of new choral works that honor the past while embracing the present.
Lyrics in English
I am the womb of the earth
And you – my sun
As Perkons (Thunder God) himself decided
The flow of the River of Destiny (Daugava)
Teach me to have a clear mind
Teach me the strength of the earth
This is what Laima (goddess of Destiny) decided
When writing our life
Rise, sun, shine brightly
Adorn the crops, adorn our homesteads,
Rise, sun, break the darkness
Make our land sacred again
I am the vault of the sky
And you – my sun
As Perkons himself decided
The flow of the river of destiny
Teach me the peace of the soul
Teach me the strength of the sky…
This is what Laima (goddess of Destiny) decided
When writing our life
Rise, sun, shine brightly
Adorn the crops, adorn our homesteads,
Rise, sun, break the darkness
Make our land sacred again
Rise, sun, shine brightly
Adorn the boys, adorn the girls,
Rise, sun, break the darkness
Unite all the people of Latvia!
Dvēseles dziesma
(Ē. Ešenvalds / A. Kārkliņa)
Dvēseles dziesma (Song of the Soul) is a meditative and emotionally profound choral composition by Ēriks Ešenvalds, one of Latvia’s leading contemporary composers. The lyrics by Andra Kārkliņa explore themes of inner peace, transcendence, and the human connection to nature and the divine. Known for his lush harmonies and ethereal textures, Ešenvalds creates a piece that resonates deeply with both performers and audiences, often moving listeners with its spiritual clarity.
Lyrics in English
Sings, my soul sings, through thousands of voices quietly.
God, my soul sings, which is full of fallen stars.
Mourns, my soul mourns, Like fishing nets by the seaside.
Mourns, my soul mourns, it mourns in Kurzeme.
Sings, my soul sings, through thousands of voices quietly.
God, my soul sings, which is full of fallen stars.
Cries, my soul cries, for the Staburags mute pain.
Cries, my soul cries, it cries in Vidzeme
Sings, my soul sings. through thousands of voices quietly.
God, my soul is singing, which is full of fallen stars.
Blooms, my soul blooms, like a sunflower in a wheat field.
Blooms, my soul blooms, it blooms in Zemgale
My song gleams,
My song prays,
My song loves,
In Latvia!
Sings, my soul sings, through thousands of voices quietly.
God, my soul sings, which is full of fallen stars.
Burns, my soul burns, like a milk jug in the kiln.
Burns, my soul burns, it burns in Latgale
My song gleams,
My song prays,
My song loves,
In Latvia!
Es izjāju Prūšu zemi
(Latvian Folk Song)
A traditional Latvian folk ballad, Es izjāju Prūšu zemi (I Rode Through the Land of the Prussians) draws from epic folklore and oral storytelling. The song speaks of a journey through foreign lands and reflects historical connections between ancient Baltic tribes. It is often interpreted as a metaphor for identity, courage, and resilience. As with many Latvian folk songs, it has been preserved through generations and arranged in various choral settings, keeping the nation’s oral heritage alive.
Lyrics in English
I rode through Prussian lands
Playing kokle, playing songs.
Prussian maidens wanted me
To stay as a junker (groom).
I won’t stay, Prussian maidens,
I, myself, in Curland (Kurzeme),
I, myself, in Curland,
Have a young bride.
So farewell, Prussian girls,
I’m riding back to Curland.
I’m riding back to Curland,
To my own bride.
Saule, pērkons, Daugava
(M. Brauns / Rainis)
Perhaps one of the most iconic choral pieces in Latvian history, Saule, Pērkons, Daugava (Sun, Thunder, Daugava) combines the powerful poetry of Rainis – a central figure in Latvian literature – with the intense, dramatic music of Mārtiņš Brauns. Originally composed for a theater production, the song became a symbol of the Singing Revolution in the late 1980s, when Latvians peacefully resisted Soviet rule. With its invocation of nature and mythic elements, it unites national pride with artistic grandeur, and is often considered an unofficial anthem of Latvia’s rebirth.
Lyrics in English
I rode through Prussian lands
Playing kokle, playing songs.
Prussian maidens wanted me
To stay as a junker (groom).
I won’t stay, Prussian maidens,
I, myself, in Curland (Kurzeme),
I, myself, in Curland,
Have a young bride.
So farewell, Prussian girls,
I’m riding back to Curland.
I’m riding back to Curland,
To my own bride.
Sasala jūrina
(R. Pauls / Latvian Folk Song)
Sasala jūrina (The Sea Froze Over) is a traditional Latvian folk song arranged by Raimonds Pauls, combining ancient lyrical themes with Pauls’ evocative and dramatic musical language. The song tells of a frozen sea – a poetic image that reflects hardship, emotional depth, and a connection to nature. Pauls’ arrangement elevates the folk elements with a sense of timelessness and artistry, making it a staple in choral and solo performances alike.
Lyrics in English
Now it froze, now it froze, oh how well it froze,
The sea froze all the way to the bottom.
Now it’s a good time to travel to the land of amber,
To go see the amber maidens.
In the land of amber, there are good maidens,
They build little bridges from flower blossoms.
In the land of amber – eh-eh-eh – there are good maidens – eh-eh-eh.
There my brother – eh-eh-eh – found his bride whom he took as his wife – eh-eh-eh.
In that land nobleman and soldiers were riding,
From that land my brother took his wife.
He brought home with him his amber wife,
Her whole dowry was pouring amber.
To every sister of her husband she gifted a shirt of amber,
To her mother-in-law – gloves and socks of amber.
Rikšiem bērīti es palaidu
(Latvian Folk Song)
This lively folk song, Rikšiem bērīti es palaidu (I Let My Little Horse Trot), is a joyful and rhythmic expression of traditional rural life. Often performed with energetic instrumentation or as a choral arrangement, the song reflects themes of youth, movement, and freedom. It captures the essence of Latvian folk culture — simple yet profound in its connection to daily life and the land.
Lyrics in English
I sent my bay horse trotting,
I sent my bay horse trotting,
Across the green thickets,
Across the green thickets.
Across the green thickets,
In search of a rich mother’s daughter.
But I found a noble girl, noble girl,
Arguing with her mother, with her mother.
I sent my bay horse trotting,
Across the green thickets.
Across the green thickets,
To a poor orphan girl, orphan girl.
I found the orphan girl
Sweeping the house room.
“Good morning, orphan girl, orphan girl,
Come and talk with me a little, talk with me.”
“Come and talk with me a little,
You shall be my bride,
The one who makes my bed, makes my bed,
The one who keeps the keys, keeps the keys.”
Zaļā zeme
(J. Strazds / J. Peters)
Zaļā zeme (The Green Land) is a patriotic and poetic homage to Latvia’s natural beauty and spiritual essence. With music by Jānis Strazds and lyrics by noted poet Jānis Peters, the song became particularly significant during Latvia’s path to independence. It celebrates the enduring connection between the Latvian people and their homeland – a theme deeply rooted in the cultural identity and political history of the nation.
Lyrics in English
I too am rich, I too possess much,
When my fatherland is called the green land.
So many homesteads here are green, and winter crops sprouting,
An old oak on the sea hill stands like eternity, so joyful.
Like a wheel of wax, the yellow solstice cheese rises,
And in the green grass, the cows – there is God’s peace.
The wind weaves white sails in boats from blooming trees,
And the boats glide past the sways, already into the sea.
When red-white-red waves above the green land,
Then fire, air, and water – and the Latvian – are alive.
Then fire, air, and water – and the Latvian – are alive.
A green forest wave rises, a green wave returns.
As many blue cornflowers, as green are the rye fields.
From pure gold, lightning strikes light into your eyes,
Along groves of green maples, the sacred bread path winds.
When red-white-red waves above the green land,
Then fire, air, and water – and the Latvian – are alive.
Then fire, air, and water – and the Latvian – are alive.
Varavīksne
(U. Stabulnieks / K. Dimiters)
Varavīksne (Rainbow) is a symbolic and emotionally uplifting song from the late Soviet era. Written by Uldis Stabulnieks with lyrics by Kārlis Dimiters, it expresses hope for a brighter future and a longing for spiritual and national freedom. The rainbow, as a metaphor, hints at an unreachable ideal — often interpreted as Latvia’s independence, which was still a dream when the song was first performed. It became especially meaningful during the Singing Revolution, when songs became tools of peaceful resistance.
Lyrics in English
Across the meadow, over lush elms, (x2)
Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.
Over the hill, across the swampy marshes, (x2)
Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.
Shining in hundreds, hundreds, hundreds of colors, (x2)
Our rainbow shines in hundreds of colors.
Shining in hundreds, hundreds, hundreds of colors, (x2)
Our rainbow shines in hundreds of colors.
It fades into the dew, it fades into the morning, (x2)
Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.
It fades into flowers, it fades into all colors, (x2)
Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.
Across the meadow, over lush elms, (x2)
Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.
