"Lightning over the Tatras" is the national anthem of Slovakia. The song is about a storm over the Tatra Mountains that symbolized danger to the Slovaks, which prompts them to resolve the threat. The lyrics were written by Slovak poet Janko Matúška in 1844, and the music is derived from a Slovak folk song called "Kopala studienku". It was first adopted in 1918 as the national anthem of Czechoslovakia until its fall in 1993.[1]
It, along with "Kde domov můj", were the national anthems of the former Czechoslovakia.
Lyrics[]
National Anthem- Slovakia - Nad Tatrou sa blýska
Only the first two stanzas have been legislated as the national anthem.
Slovak original[]
Latin script | Cyrillic script | IPA transcription |
---|---|---|
𝄆 Nad Tatrou sa blýska |
𝄆 Над Татроу са блыска |
𝄆 [nat ta.trɔʊ̯ sa ˈbliːs.ka] |
English version[]
𝄆 Far above the Tatras
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. 𝄇
𝄆 Slovakia's now risen,
Ripping off her chains 𝄇
𝄆 Hey, dear family
The hour has struck
Alive is Mother Glory. 𝄇
𝄆 Firs are still growing
On slopes of Krivan 𝄇
𝄆 Who feels to be Slovak
May he grab a blade
And among us stand. 𝄇
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Slovak Flag & Slovak Anthem slovakia.com