"Bandiera Rossa" often also called Avanti Popolo for its first lines, is one of the most famous songs of the Italian labour movement. It glorifies the red flag

Red flag

In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...

, symbol of the socialist and later communist movement. The text was written by Carlo Tuzzi in 1908; the melody is taken from two Lombardian

Lombardy

Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...

 folk songs.

Apart from the first Italian text, there are several variants which are identified with certain socialist or communist parties. The last two lines "Evviva il comunismo e la libertà" were put in the text after the rise of Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....

; at the same time the original beginning "Compagni avanti alla riscossa" was changed to "Avanti o popolo, alla riscossa". In particular, the word "comunismo" at the end of the chorus is often replaced with "socialismo".

The song should not be confused with the British socialist song The Red Flag.

Excerpt from the text

First verse: Avanti o popolo, alla riscossa, Bandiera rossa, Bandiera rossa. Avanti o popolo, alla riscossa, Bandiera rossa trionferà. Refrain: Bandiera rossa la trionferà Bandiera rossa la trionferà Bandiera rossa la trionferà Evviva il comunismo e la libertà.

Literal Translation Forward people, to the revolt The red flag, the red flag Forward people, to the revolt, The red flag will triumph Refrain: The red flag will triumph, The red flag will triumph, The red flag will triumph, Long live communism and liberty