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 mujer by the Spanish playwright
Tirso de Molina and a sonnet of
William Wordsworth. In 2007, as set out by the 4/2007 Chartered Decision, the
General Assembly of Biscay declared it the district's official anthem. ==Lyrics==