Hey, Slavs: Difference between revisions

Hey, Slavs is an anthemic song dedicated to Slavic peoples. Its first lyrics was written in 1834 under the title Hey, Slovaks (Hej, Slováci) and it has since served as the anthem of the Pan-Slavic movement, the anthem of the Sokol physical education and political movement, as well as the anthem of the WWII Slovak Republic, Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. The song is also considered to be the second, unofficial anthem of the Slovaks. Its melody is based on Mazurek Dąbrowskiego, which has been also the anthem of Poland since 1926, but it is much slower and more accentuated.

It is called Hej, Slováci in Slovak, Hej, Slované in Czech, Хеј Словени/Hej, Sloveni in Serbian, Еј, Словени in Macedonian, Hej, Slaveni in Croatian, Hej, Sloveni in Bosnian, Hej, Slovani in Slovenian and Hej Słowianie in Polish, Хей, Славяни in Bulgarian Гей, Славяне in Russian.

Hey, Slovaks

The song was written by the Slovak priest, poet and historian Samuel Tomášik while he was visiting Prague in 1834. He was revolted that German was more commonly heard in the streets of Prague than Czech. He wrote in his diary:

... If mother Prague, the pearl of the Western Slav world, is to be lost in a German sea, what awaits my dear homeland, Slovakia, which looks to Prague for spiritual nourishment? Burdened by that thought, I rememberd the old Polish song Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, póki my żyjemy ("Poland has not yet perished as long as we live."). That familiar melody caused my heart to erupt with defiant Hej, Slovaci, ešte naša slovenska reč žije ("Hey, Slovaks, our Slovak language still lives")... I ran to my room, lit a candle and wrote down three verses into my diary in pencil. The song was finished in a moment. (Diary of Samuel Tomášik, Sunday, 2 November 1834)

Pan-Slavic anthem

He soon altered the lyrics to include all Slavs and Hey, Slavs became a widely known rallying song for Slav nationalism and Pan-Slavic sentiment, especially in Slavic lands governed by Austria. It was printed in numerous magazines and calendars and sung at political gatherings, becoming an unofficial anthem of the Pan-Slavic movement.

Its popularity continued to increase when it was adopted as the official anthem of the Sokol ("hawk")physical education movement, which was based on Pan-Slavic ideals and active across Austria-Hungary. In 1905, the erection of a monument to the Slovenian poet France Prešeren in Ljubljana was celebrated by a large gathering of people singing Hey, Slavs. During the First World War, the song was often used by Slav soldiers from the opposite sides of the frontline to communicate common nationalist sentiment and prevent bloodshed. Many Slovenian, Croatian and Serb members of Sokol conscripted into Austro-Hungarian army voluntarily surrendered to Serbian or Russian forces and often even changed sides. The song spread with them across the Balkans and Russia and remained popular in the inter-war period.

Slovak anthem

In Slovakia, the song "Hey, Slovaks" has been considered the unofficial song of the Slovaks throughout its modern history, especially at times of revolutions. Although after the First World War the song Nad Tatrou sa blýska became the official Slovak anthem in Czechoslovakia and then again in 1993 in the independent Slovak Republic, the song is still considered a "second" anthem by many (usually more nationalist) people. It was the official anthem of the wartime Slovak Republic (1939-1945).

Yugoslavia

First appearance of the Hey, Slavs on territory of Yugoslavia was in times of Illyrian movement. Dragutin Rakovac translated the song, and named it Hey, Illyrians (Croatian: Hej, Iliri). Until Second World War, the translation did not suffer many changes, except Illyrians became Slavs.

In 1941 the Second World War engulfed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Axis powers invaded in early April, and the Yugoslav royal army disintegrated and capitulated in just eleven days. Since the old Yugoslav anthem included references to the king and kingdom, the anti-royalist Partisan resistance led by Josip Broz Tito and his Communist party decided to avoid it and opted for Hey, Slavs instead. The song was sung at both the first and the second session of AVNOJ, the legislative body of the resistance, and it gradually became to be generally considered the national anthem of the new Yugoslavia.

The old anthem was officially abandoned after the liberation in 1945, but no new anthem was officially adopted. There were several attempts to promote other, more specifically Yugoslav songs as the national anthem, but none gained much public support and Hey, Slavs continued to be used unofficially. The search for a better candidate was finally abandoned, and in 1977 Hey, Slavs became the official national anthem of Yugoslavia.

Serbia and Montenegro

After the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991-92, when only Serbia and Montenegro remained in the federation, Hey, Slavs continued to be used as the anthem of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. That country was renamed to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 and was expected to adopt a new anthem, but since no agreement over national symbols could be reached, Hey, Slavs remained the anthem of the state union.

A hybrid of the Montenegrin national anthem "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" with the Serbian national anthem, "Bože Pravde" in alternating verses was proposed. However, this attempt was struck down after objections by the Serb People's Party of Montenegro and Socialist People's Party of Montenegro.

Since Montenegro and Serbia became independent states in 2006, this issue is moot, and Hey, Slavs is not used as an official anthem by any sovereign country anymore.

Lyrics

Slovak Hej, Slováci, ešte naša slovenská reč žije, Dokiaľ naše verné srdce za náš národ bije. Žije, žije, duch slovenský, bude žiť na veky, Hrom a peklo, márne vaše proti nám sú vzteky! Jazyka dar sveril nám Boh, Boh náš hromovládny, Nesmie nám ho teda vyrvať na tom svete žiadny; I nechže je koľko ľudí, toľko čertov v svete; Boh je s nami: kto proti nám, toho parom zmetie. I nechže sa aj nad nami hrozná búrka vznesie, Skala puká, dub sa láme a zem nech sa trasie; My stojíme stále pevne, ako múry hradné Čierna zem pohltí toho, kto odstúpi zradne!	Czech Hej Slované, ještě naše slovanská řeč žije, pokud naše věrné srdce pro náš národ bije. Žije, žije duch slovanský, bude žít na věky. Hrom a peklo, marné vaše, proti nám jsou vzteky. Jazyka dar svěřil nám Bůh, Bůh náš hromovládný. Nesmí nám ho tedy vyrvat na tom světě žádný. I nechať je tolik lidí, kolik čertů v světě. Bůh je s námi, kdo proti nám, toho Perun smete. I nechať se též nad námi, hrozná bouře vznese. Skála puká, dub se láme. Země ať se třese ! My stojíme stále pevně, jako stěny hradné. Černá zem pohltí toho, kdo odstoupí zrádně ...	Polish Hej Słowianie, jeszcze nasza Słowian mowa żyje, póki nasze wierne serce za nasz naród bije. Żyje, żyje duch słowiański, i żyć będzie wiecznie, Gromy, piekło - złości waszej ujdziem my bezpiecznie! Mowę naszę ukochaną Bóg nam zwierzył w darze, wydrzeć nam ją - nikt na świecie tego nie dokaże! Ilu ludzi, tylu wrogów, możem mieć na świecie, Bóg jest z nami, kto nam wrogiem, tego Bóg nasz zmiecie! I niechaj się ponad nami groźna burza wzniesie, skała pęka, dąb się łamie, ziemia niech się trzęsie. My stoimy stale, pewnie, jako mury grodu. Czarna ziemio, pochłoń tego, kto zdrajcą narodu!
Russian Гей, славяне, наше слово Песней звонкой льётся И не смолкнет, пока сердце За народ свой бьётся. Наше слово дал нам Бог На то Его воля! Кто заставит нашу песню Смолкнуть в чистом поле? Дух Славянский жив на веки В нас он не угаснет, Беснованье силы вражьей Против нас напрасно. Против нас хоть весь мир, что нам Восставай задорно. С нами Бог наш, кто не с нами — Тот умрёт позорно. Гей, Славяне, наше слово Песней звонкой льётся И не смолкнет, пока сердце За народ свой бьётся.	Slovenian Hej Slovani, naša reč slovanska živo klije dokler naše verno srce za naš narod bije Živi, živi, duh slovanski, bodi živ na veke, grom in peklo, prazne vaše proti nam so steke Naj tedaj nad nami strašna burja se le znese, skala poka, dob se lomi, zemlja naj se strese Bratje, mi stojimo trdno kakor zidi grada, črna zemlja naj pogrezne tega, kdor odpada!	Bosnian Hej Sloveni, jošte živi Riječ naših djedova Dok za narod srce bije Njihovih sinova Živi, živi duh slovenski Živjet će vjekov'ma Zalud prijeti ponor pakla Zalud vatra groma Nek se sada i nad nama Burom sve raznese Stijena puca, dub se lama Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!
Serbian Cyrillic Хеј Словени, јоште живи Дух наших дедова Док за народ срце бије Њихових синова Живи, живи дух словенски Живеће веков'ма Залуд прети понор пакла, Залуд ватра грома Нек' се сада и над нама Буром све разнесе Стена пуца, дуб се лама, Земља нек' се тресе Ми стојимо постојано Кано клисурине, Проклет био издајица Своје домовине!	Serbian Latin Hej Sloveni, jošte živi Duh (reč) naših dedova Dok za narod srce bije Njihovih sinova Živi, živi duh slovenski Živeće vekov'ma Zalud preti ponor pakla Zalud vatra groma Nek se sada i nad nama Burom sve raznese Stena puca, dub se lama Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!	Croatian Hej Slaveni, još ste živi Riječ naših djedova Dok za narod srce bije Njihovih sinova Živi, živi duh slavenski Živjet će vjekov'ma 'Zalud prijeti ponor pakla 'Zalud vatra groma Nek se sada i nad nama Burom sve raznese Stijena puca, dub se lomi Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!
Macedonian Еј, Словени, жив е тука зборот свет на родот штом за народ срце чука преку син во внукот! Жив е вечно, жив е духот словенски во слога. Не нè плашат адски бездни ниту громов оган! Пустошејќи, нека бура и над нас се втурне! Пука даб и карпа сура, тлото ќе се урне: Стоиме на стамен-прагот - клисури и бедем! Проклет да е тој што предал Родина на врагот!	Bulgarian Хей славяни, все още жив е духът на нашите предци Докато сърцето за народа бие на техни наследници. Жив е, жив е духът славянски ще живее с векове, Не ни плашат ни бездни адски, нито огнените гръмове. Нека сега и над нас със буря всичко да се разнесе Скала се пука, дъбът се цепи, Земята нек се разтресе. Ние стоим твърдо като крепост. Проклет да е предателят На своето отечество!	English Hey, Slavs, The spirit of our grandfathers is still alive, As long as the hearts of their sons Beat for the people. Lives, lives the Slavic spirit, It will live for ages! The Hell's abyss threatens in vain, The fire of thunder is in vain. Let all above us now be shattered by a storm. Cliffs crack, oaks break, Let the earth quake. We're standing firmly like mountains, Damned be the traitor of his homeland!

External links

• The story of Hej Slovaci, incl. an artistic translation of the original Slovak text
• Links to audio files of the anthem (Download section, at the bottom of the page).