| English: We were born in a great hour | |
|---|---|
 The original sheet music of the anthem | |
Anthem of theOrganisation of Ukrainian Nationalists | |
| Lyrics | Oles Babiy [uk], 1929 |
| Music | Omelian Nyzhankivskyi [uk], 1929 |
| Adopted | 1932 |
| Audio sample | |
TheMarch of Ukrainian Nationalists is a Ukrainian patriotic song that was originally the official anthem of theOrganisation of Ukrainian Nationalists and theUkrainian Insurgent Army.[1] The song is also known by its first line "We were born in a great hour" (Ukrainian:«Зродились ми з великої години»,romanized: Zrodylys my z velykoyi hodyny). The song, written byOles Babiy [uk] to music byOmelian Nyzhankivskyi [uk] in 1929, was officially adopted by the leadership of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1932.[2] The song is often referred to as a patriotic song from the times of the uprising,[clarification needed][3] and aUkrainian folk song.[4]
It is still commonly performed today, especially at events honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army[5] and by nationalist organisations and party meetings, such as those ofVO Svoboda.[6]
In 1919, with the end of thePolish–Ukrainian War, which resulted in the takeover ofwestern Ukraine by theSecond Polish Republic, many former leaders of the Ukrainian republic were exiled.[7] As Polish persecution of Ukrainians during the interwar period increased, many Ukrainians (particularly the youth, many of whom felt they had no future) lost faith in traditional legal approaches, in their elders, and in the western democracies who were seen as turning their backs on Ukraine. This period of disillusionment coincided with the increase in support for theOrganisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). By the beginning of the Second World War, the OUN was estimated to have 20,000 active members and many times that number in sympathizers.[8] The song was written in 1929 during the midst of these political events and adopted by the organisation's leadership 3 years later.[2]
The March of the Ukrainian Nationalists is written and performed as amilitary march and acall to arms. The first verse of the song refers to "the pain of losing Ukraine",[9] referring to the short-lived independence of theUkrainian National Republic from 1917-1921. The republic was divided up among theSoviet Union and theSecond Polish Republic.[10] The song also mentions a popular Ukrainian national motto, "A United Ukrainian state... from the San to the Caucasus".[11] This is in line with theUkrainian irredentist concept of having Ukraine's western border start at theSan river in modern-day in westernUkraine and southeasternPoland and its eastern border at theCaucasus Mountains in modern-day southernRussia.
Зродились ми великої години, І ми йдемо в бою життєвому, Не хочемо ні слави ні заплати. Доволі нам руїни і незгоди, Велику правду — для усіх єдину, Веде нас в бій борців упавших слава. |
Zrodylyś my velykoi hodyny, I my jdemo v boju žyttievomu, Ne chočemo ni slavy ni zaplaty. Dovoli nam ruiny i nezhody, Velyku pravdu — dlia usich jedynu, Vede nas v bij borciv upavšych slava. |
We were born in a great hour, And here we walk in the battle of life— We want neither glory, nor payment. Enough of ruins and disagreements for us, A united nation one for us all is that one truth The glory of fallen fighters leads us into battle,
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TheMarch of the New Army (Ukrainian:Марш нової армії) is a modernized adaptation of the song that is used as a Ukrainian military march as well as a patriotic song with nationalist overtones. A modern text was adopted in 2017 at the initiative ofOleh Skrypka, lead singer of the Ukrainian rock bandVopli Vidopliassova. The new text honors the soldiers of theArmed Forces of Ukraine who fought and died in theAnti-Terrorist Operation Zone during theWar in Donbas. According to Skrypka, the text was conceived while at the front visiting a volunteer unit.[12]
The new march was presented for the first time in early 2017 on the eve of the Ukrainian Volunteer Day, and was performed by Skrypka in cooperation with the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On August 24, 2018, the modern version of the song was performed the first time at theKyiv Independence Day Parade dedicated to the 27th anniversary of independence and the 100th anniversary of the UPR.[13] In his opening address at the parade, PresidentPetro Poroshenko sang an excerpt of the song, describing it as one that "symbolizes the inextricable bond between different generations of fighters for freedom of the homeland."[14]
Зродились ми великої години, Ми йдемо в бій переможним ходом, Велику суть для усіх єдину, Веде нас в бій героїв наших слава. |
Zrodylyś my velykoi hodyny, My jdemo v bij peremožnym chodom, Velyku suť dlia usich jedynu, Vede nas v bij heroiv našych slava. |
We were born in a great hour, We go into battle with a triumphant march, The great essence for all is uniform, Let the glory of our heroes lead us to battle, |
When this song was used at the 2018Independence Day parade, slightly different lyrics were used.[15]
Зродились ми великої години, Ми йдемо в бій переможним ходом, Велику правду для усіх єдину, Веде нас в бій героїв наших слава. |
Zrodylyś my velykoi hodyny, My jdemo v bij peremožnym chodom, Velyku pravdu dlia usich jedynu, Vede nas v bij heroiv našych slava. |
We were born in the great hour, We go into battle with a triumphant march, The great truth for all is uniform, Glory of our heroes leads us to battle, |
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