Hey, Slavs

Hej, Slaveni
Hej, Sloveni

English: Hey, Slavs
National anthem of former SFR Yugoslavia, former FR Yugoslavia, and former State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
Also known as	Hej, Slaveni Hej, Sloveni
Lyrics	Samuel Tomášik, 1834
Music	Composer unknown
Adopted	1977 (by law, temporary) 1988 (by the Constitution)
Relinquished	1991 2006
Audio sample
Hey, Slavs (instrumental) file help

Hey, Slavs is an anthemic song dedicated to Slavic peoples. Its first lyrics were written in 1834 under the title Hey, Slovaks (Hej, Slováci) by Samuel Tomášik and it has since served as the anthem of the Pan-Slavic movement, the anthem of the Sokol physical education and political movement, the anthem of the SFR Yugoslavia and the transitional anthem of the State Union of 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.

The name of the anthem in different Slavic languages is in: Czech – Hej, Slované, Polish – Hej, Słowianie, Slovak – Hej, Slovania, Sorbian (Lower) – Hej, Słowjany, Sorbian (Upper) – Hej, Słowjenjo, Belarusian – Гэй, Славяне, Russian – Гей, Славяне, Rusyn – Гий, Славляне, Ukrainian – Гей, Слов’яни, Bosnian – Hej, Slaveni, Bulgarian – Хей, Славяни, Croatian – Hej, Slaveni, Macedonian – Еј, Словени, Montenegrin – Hej, Sloveni (Хеј, Словени), Serbian – Хеј, Словени (Hej, Sloveni), Slovene – Hej, Slovani, Serbo-Croatian or Croato-Serbian – Hej, Slaveni or Hej, Sloveni (Хеј, Словени)

Hey, Slovaks

The song was written by the Slovak priest, poet and historian Samuel Tomášik while he was visiting Prague in 1834. He was appalled 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 remembered 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, Slováci, ešte naša slovenská 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 ("falcon") 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.

Tiso's Slovakia

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. Contrary to popular assumptions, however, it was not the official anthem of the wartime Slovak Republic (1939-1945), but it was greatly favored by the ruling party (Slovakia's official anthem remained Nad Tatrou sa blýska during that period).

Yugoslavia

Early use

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 two and a half weeks. 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 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia (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 continued up to 1988, while in 1977 the law only named the title of the national anthem, listing it as a temporary anthem until a new would had been adopted.

Yugoslav anthem

Hej, Slavs was the national anthem of SFR Yugoslavia from 1943 to 1991 (48 years). With formal adoption (inauguration) of the Amendment IX to the Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the anthem Hey, Slavs gained constitutional sanction on November 25 1988. After the 43 years of continued use as the de facto anthem, the delegates simply brought the law in line with the reality. The anthem was official in Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian and Slovene from 1943 to 1954, and after that in Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian and Slovene. In 1972 it was official in the Croatian literary language as well, and it was once more official in the Croatian language in the early 1990s, before Croatia declared independence from SFRY. On January 15, 1944 – AVNOJ declared Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, and Macedonian to be equal in the entire territory of Yugoslavia, the decision was re-published in 1945.

Serbo-Croatian

Croatian variant	Serbian variant	Cyrillic script	English translation
Hej Slaveni, jošte živi Riječ (duh) 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 lama Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!	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!	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!	Hey, Slavs, it still lives the word (spirit) of our grandfathers As long as the heart of their sons beats for our nation. It lives, it lives the Slavic spirit, It will live forever! Vainly threatens the abyss of Hell and the fire of the thunder. Let everything above us now be shattered by a storm wind. The cliff cracks, the oak breaks, Let the earth quake. We stand firmly like the mountains, Damned be the traitor of his homeland!

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 the State Union of 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 People's Party of Montenegro and Socialist People's Party of Montenegro. Also proposed was the former Montenegrin national anthem and patriotic song "Onamo, 'namo", however this also fell through and Hey, Slavs remained the national anthem.

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.

Slavic languages

West Slavic languages

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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! wer.1: Mowę naszą ukochaną, Bóg nam zwierzył w darze. Wydrzeć nam ją - nikt na świecie tego nie dokaże. wer.2: Dar języka zwierzył nam Bóg, Bóg nasz gromowładny. Nie śmie go nam tedy wyrwać na świecie człek żadny. wer.1: Ilu ludzi, tylu wrogów, możem mieć na świecie, Bóg jest z nami, kto nam wrogiem, tego Bóg nasz zmiecie! wer.2: Ilu ludzi, tylu wrogów, możem mieć na świecie, Bóg jest z nami, kto nam wrogiem, tego Piorun 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!

South Slavic languages

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Croatian Hej Slaveni, jošte 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 lama Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!	Croatian (World War II – Antifascist version) Oj Slaveni, zemlja tutnji s Volge do Triglava; istim glasom huče Visla, Jadran, Timok, Sava. Živi, živi duh slavenski, živjet ćeš vjekovma; zalud ponor prijeti pakla, zalud vatra groma! Gromko kliče drug nam Staljin iz ruskih nizina, odzivlje se drug mu Tito s bosanskih planina: Mi stojimo postojano kano klisurine, proklet bio izdajica svoje domovine! Za slobodu na braniku uvijek ćemo biti, naše zemlje neće nikad dušman pokoriti. Makar na nas navalile cijelog svijeta čete, mi smo složni, tko prot nama, s njime hajd pod pete!	Serbian (Latin script) 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!	Serbian (Cyrillic script) 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!
Bosnian Hej Slaveni, jošte živi Duh naših djedova Dok za narod srce bije Njihovih sinova Živi, živi duh slavenski Živjeće 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!	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!	Slovene 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!	Slovene (pre-Yugoslav version) 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. Bog pa gromo-vladni nam podal je dar jezika, Da pa nihče na tem svetu, nič nam ne podtika, Bo naj kolikor ljudi, tolikanj Čertov na sveti, Bog je z nami, kdor prot' nam, ga če Belin podreti. Naj tedaj nad nami strašna burja naj se znese, Skala poka, dob se lomi, zemlja naj se trese. Bratje! Mi stojimo trdno, kakor zidi grada; Črna zemlja naj pogrezne tega kdor odpada!
Bulgarian Хей славяни, все още жив е духът на нашите предци. Докато сърцето за народа бие на техните следовници. Жив е, жив е духът славянски ще живее с векове. Не ни плашат ни бездните 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!	Serbo-Croatian or Croato-Serbian Croatian variant Hej Slaveni, jošte živi Riječ (duh) 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 lama Zemlja nek se trese Mi stojimo postojano Kano klisurine Proklet bio izdajica Svoje domovine!	Serbian variant 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!

East Slavic languages

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Ukrainian Гей, слов’яни,наше слово Піснею лунає І не стихне, поки серце За народ страждає Наше слово дав Господь нам На те Його воля Хто примусить нашу пісню Змовкнути у полі? Дух слов’янський живе вічно В нас він не погасне Злої сили біснування Проти нас завчасне Проти нас хоч світ повстане Але нам те марно З нами Бог, а хто не знами- Згине той безславно.

Russian Эй, славяне, наше слово Песней звонкой льётся, И не смолкнет, пока сердце За народ свой бьётся. Дух Славянский жив на веки, В нас он не угаснет, Беснованье силы вражьей Против нас напрасно. Наше слово дал нам Бог, На то Его воля! Кто заставит нашу песню Смолкнуть в чистом поле? Против нас хоть весь мир, что нам! Восставай задорно. С нами Бог наш, кто не с нами– Тот умрёт позорно.

Russian (alternate version) Эй, славяне, эй, славяне! Будет вам свобода, если только ваше сердце бьётся для народа. Гром и ад! Что ваша злоба, что все ваши ковы, коли жив наш дух славянский! Коль мы в бой готовы! Дал нам бог язык особый– враг то разумеет: языка у нас вовеки вырвать не посмеет. Пусть нечистой силы будет более сторицей! Бог за нас и нас покроет мощною десницей. Пусть играет ветер, буря, с неба грозы сводит, треснет дуб, земля под ними ходенём заходит! Устоим одни мы крепко, что градские стены, проклят будь, кто в это время мыслит про измены!

Rusyn Гий Славляне, ищи жиє дух нашых дїдôв ! Кой за нарôд сирцё биє йих вірных сынôв  ! Живи, живи дух Славляньскый живи лем вікамы ! Нам нестрашны бездны адьскы прокляты бісамы ! Нич ся трафит кой над намы ся буря рознесе, Стїна пукне, дуб ся зломлит зимля ся розтресе Стойиме сьме, постояны гикой йсї скалины ! Проклят буде, уддаватиль своєй утцюзнины !

Other languages

English Hey, Slavs, our Slavic spirit is still alive As long as our faithful heart beats for our nation. Lives, lives the Slavic spirit, It will live forever! The thunder and the hell And your anger against us are useless. God to us our language entrusted, God, who sways the thunder; Who on earth then shall presume this gift from us to sunder! Though the earth were filled with demons, our rights assailing, We defy them. God is with us, His strong arm prevailing. 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!

Turkish Hey, Slavlar, Slav ruhumuz hala yaşıyor ! İnançlı kalbimiz hala milletimiz için çarptıkça. Yaşıyor, Slav ruhu yaşıyor, Ve sonsuza dek yaşayacak! Gök gürültüsü ve cehennem bize olan öfken işe yaramaz. Tanrı, bize dilimizi emanet etti; Tanrı, şimşekleri çaktıran; Bu dünyada kim cesaret edebilir bu emanetimizi bizden alıp parçalamaya! Gerçi dünya iblislerle dolu, haklarımıza saldıran, Onlara meydan okuyoruz. Tanrı bizimledir, O'nun güçlü eli hakim. Şimdi herşeye izin ver fırtınayla kırılsınlar. Uçurumlar yarılsın, meşeler kırılsın, izin ver yeryüzü sallansın. Dayanacağız kesinlikle dağlar gibi, Lanetlenen hainidir kendi anayurdunun!

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).
• The site of the Slovenian organization Hervardi, which mentiones the pre-Yugoslavian Slovenian version of Hey, Slavs, and also including a .MP3 of the rock version, as performed by their own band (they have a project, that consists in reviving old Slovenian songs).