Jan Palach - Compagnia dell'Anello

By 1969, Czechoslovakia had been under a Soviet puppet regime for 21 years. Soviet power was at its heyday, but all across the Warsaw Pact, people protested. On 20 august 1968, Soviet forces invaded Czechoslovakia, in order to roll back the reforms made by premier Alexander Dubček. This resulted in a number of protests, which were met with exceptional violence. A few months later, on 16 january 1969, a young activist named Jan Palach set himself on fire as a form of protest against Soviet occupation and demoralization of the Czech people. His funeral became a protest, and several other young men all across the Warsaw Pact joined him in self-immolation for freedom. On the 20th anniversary of his death, in 1989, Czech youths organized "Palach Week", a series of protests against Soviet occupation. Despite violent repression, Palach Week is considered a catalyst to the downfall of communism in Czechoslovakia, which happened 11 months later. We remember those who died for the freedom of their people from foreign occupation, even without help from the so-called "lovers of freedom". Lyrics: Fame, morte, schiavitù: il coraggio nasce a volte così Bandiere rosse su una città e in occidente c'è solo viltà Primavera di libertà, carri armati nelle strade: Il sangue a Praga è sparso al vento, quanto orrore in quel momento Quanti fiori sul selciato, quante lacrime avete versato Quante lacrime avete versato per Praga Volti grigi senza nome, soldati russi e terrore: Giù le mani dal mio paese, il mio sangue lavi le offеse Una piazza, strade vuote, solo un uomo е un altare; Sacrificio per l'onore, sul rogo un giovane muore Quanti fiori sul selciato, quante lacrime avete versato Quante lacrime avete versato per Praga E' morto sotto i carri armati il futuro che avete sognato Nella gola vi hanno cacciato le grida di un corpo straziato Quanti fiori sul selciato, quante lacrime avete versato Quante lacrime avete versato: Jan Palach, Jan Palach, Jan Palach!