In the last Anthemology post, I made reference to the militaristic music and belligerent lyrics of the Mexican national anthem. It turns out that this is pretty standard fare in its family of anthems, what nationalanthems.info calls the Latin American epic anthem.
These are the longest anthems in the world, operatic behemoths that can stretch to over a dozen verses (Uruguay). The music is largely influenced by Italian operas of the mid to late 1800s, as evidenced by the multiple sections and scenes, ranging from stoic to bombastic.
Although national anthems the world over tend to have quite patriotic streaks (obviously, I suppose), the Latin American epics take this to new heights. Argentina's anthem memorably opens by commanding us mere mortals to hear "the sacred cry", before discussing pestiferous bile and bloody standards. The spectacular battle described in Colombia's anthem features, among other things, a river that "runs with blood and weeping".
For sheer wishful thinking, though, Paraguay takes the cake. The lyricist gets caught up in the moment and claims that
“With applause, Europe and the Whole World
greet and also acclaim her (Paraguay);
that invincible bastion of heroism,
that magnificent Eden of riches.
When Discord roared all around
and fatally devoured other Peoples,
Paraguayans, the sacred ground
was covered by an angel with its wings.
(Con aplauso la Europa y el Mundo
la saludan, y aclaman también;
de heroísmo: baluarte invencible,
de riquezas: magnífico Edén.
Cuando entorno rugió la Discordia
que otros Pueblos fatal devoró,
paraguayos, el suelo sagrado
con sus alas un ángel cubrió.)”
So remember: The next time Discord swings by, make your way to Paraguay; the angels will take care of you.
-Andrés