Nad Tatrou sa blýska

Nad Tatrou sa blýska is the national anthem of Slovakia. The song arose in 1844 during a campaign of the students of the Evangelic Lutheran Lyceum of Bratislava to the town of Levoča in protest against the deprival of Ľudovít Štúr by Hungarian authorities.

The text was written by Janko Matúška in 1844 during the campaign, but the melody was taken from the folk song Kopala studienku (She was digging a little well). It became popular during the Slovak Volunteer campaigns of 1848/1849. However, it was published in print only in 1851. In 1920 the first verse became part of the Czechoslovak anthem, which consisted of the present-day Czech anthem Kde domov můj followed by the first part of the present-day Slovak anthem. In 1993, the first two verses became the national anthem of independent Slovakia.

Only the first two verses are in the Slovak anthem.

Lyrics

Nad Tatrou sa blýska

hromy divo bijú.

Zastavme ich* bratia,

ved' sa ony stratia,

Slováci ožijú.

To Slovensko naše

posiaľ tvrdo spalo.

Ale blesky hromu

vzbudzujú ho k tomu,

aby sa prebralo.

Už Slovensko vstáva

putá si strháva

Hej rodina milá

hodina odbila,

žije matka Sláva

Ešte jedle rastú

na krivánskej strane

Kto jak Slovák cíti,

nech sa šable chytí,

a medzi nás stane

(* This is the original - and also nowadays used - version. But during a long period between cca 1914 and 1990 the words "zastavme ich" (let us stop them) was replaced by the words "zastavme sa" (let us stop). The veracity of one or another correction is still matter of discussions in some circles.)

Literal translation:

There is lightning over the Tatra,

thunderclaps are striking ferociously.

Let us stop them, brothers, (or Let us stop, brothers, in the version with "sa")

(you will see that) they will disappear,

the Slovaks will revive.

This, our Slovakia

has long been fast asleep.

But the lightning of the thunder

is rousing it

to wake up.

Already Slovakia is waking up,

throwing off its bonds

Hey dear family

the hour has ticked away

Mother Glory is alive (Glory = Sláva, the word, which according to some forms the base of the words Slovaks and Slavs)

Firs yet grow

on the slopes of Kriváň

Whoever considers himself a Slovak,

may he take a sabre

and rise with us.

More literal translation:

Lightning flashes atop the Tatras,

thunderclaps wildly beat.

Let us stop them, brothers,

See them disappear,

the Slovaks revive.

This, our Slovakia

long slept soundly.

But the strokes of the thunder

are rousing it

to awaken.

Already Slovakia arises,

throwing off its bonds

Hey dear family

the hour has struck

Mother Glory is alive

Firs yet grow

on the slopes of Kriváň

Whoever feels like a Slovak,

let him take a sabre

and join our ranks.

A looser translation of the first two verses

Far above the Tatra

lightning bolts are pounding.

These bolts we shall banish,

brothers, they will vanish;

Slovaks are rebounding.

Our Slovakia was,

until now, quiescent.

But the lightning flashing

and the thunder crashing

made it effervescent.

External links

• Sound file (mp3)
• Slovakia National Anthem: lyrics, sheet music and music files
• Slovakia National Anthem(WMA File)

bg:Химн на Словакия

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