Thoughts About The National Anthem Of Serbia

I am a big fan of national anthems and flags. My fondness for national anthems transcends my personal political bias. Israel, Germany and Taiwan all have nice anthems. Although I find Israel’s to be too secular, I like the music.

One of my all time favourite anthems is that of Serbia. It was the anthem of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and underwent slight modification to be suitable for a republic. Despite being of Croatian ancestry, I have included the lyrics in English translation with this article.

To give my readers an idea of how important the Serbian anthem is to Serbians, I am including a clip of Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic listening to the Serbian national anthem being played after she won a major tennis championship in 2008. She is clearly moved to tears by the playing of her country’s anthem. Her manifest love of her country eclipses any personal pride she may have felt at winning an international championship. Her attitude and its intensity are worthy of emulation.

One theme upon which I have contemplated on more than a few occasions is the word “Pravde”. In Serbian and in Croatian it is translated as “justice.” Its cognate in Russian is “Pravda” which is translated as “truth”. The interdependence of truth and justice is obvious upon reasoned reflection. To see the two tied together so closely in Slavic etymology is a movin matter upon which to reflect.

I certainly come to Serbian and Croatian history as an outsider. The resonance that the Serbian anthem has to me has a lot more to do with events in my live than it does with the historical events to which it alludes. But great art and music is like that. Certain universal themes transcend national boundaries.

 
B-ze Pravde - English Translation

God of Justice; Thou who saved us
when in deepest bondage cast,
Hear Thy Serbian children’s voices,
Be our help as in the past.

With Thy mighty hand sustain us,
Still our rugged pathway trace;
God, our hope; protect and cherish
Serbian lands and Serbian race!

Bind in closest links our kindred
Teach the love that will not fail,
May the loathed fiend of discord
Never in our ranks prevail.

Let the golden fruits of union
Our young tree of freedom grace;
God, our Master! guide and prosper
Serbian lands and Serbian race!

Lord! Avert from us Thy vengeance,
Thunder of Thy dreaded ire;
Bless each Serbian town and hamlet,
Mountain, meadow, heart and spire.

When our host goes forth to battle
Death or victory to embrace-
God of armies! be our leader
Strengthen then the Serbian race!

On our sepulchre of ages
Breaks the resurrection morn,
From the slough of direst slavery
Serbia anew is born.

Through five hundred years of durance
We have knelt before Thy face,
All our kin, O God! deliver,
Thus entreats the Serbian race!