"When the War Broke Out in Kosovo" is a composition by Rauf Dhomi that was a candidate as a national anthem of Kosovo. In 2000 former President of Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova tried to pass a bill in making this the state anthem, but his proposal was thrown out the window. Other proposals made by others included the actual European Union hymn "Ode to Joy as well as the current Albanian anthem "Himni i Flamurit". "Europa" was chosen instead.
Lyrics[]
Albanian original[]
Kur ka ra kushtrimi në Kosovë
Janë bashkuëqytete, katunde
Dhe bjeshkët me malësorë
Mirë luftojkan Pejë e Gjakovë
Mirë luftoi Prizreni, Prishtina e Llapi me Rugovë
Mirë luftoi Prizreni, Drenica e Llapi me Rugovë
Çëna u mbush kjo tokë me dëshmorë
Të na rrnojë e jona Kosovë, të na rrnojë o përgjithmonë
English translation[]
- When the war broke out in Kosovo
- United are the towns and villages
- Together with mountains and highlanders
- Peja and Gjakova battle well
- Prizren, Prishtina, Llap, and Rugova battled bravely
- Prizren, Drenica, Llap, and Rugova battled bravely
- What a land filled with martyrs
- May our Kosovo live forever, may it always endure