Reprint edition of the Lviv journalMeta of 1863, the first publication of the poem (Old Ukrainian orthography)
TheState Anthem of Ukraine,[9][b] also known by its incipit "Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia"[1][8][c] and its original title "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina",[10][d] is one of the state symbols ofUkraine.
The lyrics are a slightly modified version of the first verse and chorus of the patriotic song "Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy", written in 1862 byPavlo Chubynskyi, an ethnographer fromKyiv. In 1863,Mykhailo Verbytskyi, a composer and Catholic priest, composed the music to accompany Chubynskyi's lyrics. The first choral public performance of the piece was in 1864 at theRuska Besida Theatre inLviv.[11]
In 1865, the song was performed in the Polish city of Przemyśl during a commemoration of Taras Shevchenko. This historic moment later became the foundation for Ukraine’s National Anthem Day, which is celebrated yearly on March 10.[12]
In the first half of the 20th century, during unsuccessful attempts to gain independence and create a state from the territories of theRussian Empire,Poland, andAustria-Hungary, the song was the national anthem of theUkrainian People's Republic, theWest Ukrainian People's Republic, andCarpatho-Ukraine. A competition was held for a national anthem following Ukraine's secession from theSoviet Union, with one of the songs being "Za Ukrainu" by the Ukrainian writer and actorMykola Voronyi. "Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy" was officially adopted by theVerkhovna Rada—Ukraine's parliament—on 15 January 1992.[7] The official lyrics were adopted on 6 March 2003 by the Law on the State anthem of Ukraine (Ukrainian:Закон «Про Державний гімн України»).[8]
The Ukrainian national anthem can be traced back to one of the parties of the Ukrainian ethnographerPavlo Chubynskyi that occurred during the autumn of 1862. Scholars think that the Polish patriotic song "Poland Is Not Yet Lost", which dates back to 1797 and later became the national anthem of Poland and thePolish Legions, also influenced Chubynskyi's lyrics.[14][15][16] The Polish patriotic song was popular among the nations of the formerPolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that were at that time fighting for their independence; theJanuary Uprising started a few months after Chubynskyi wrote his lyrics.[17] According to a memoirist who was present, Chubynskyi wrote the lyrics spontaneously after listening to Serbian students singingSvetozar Miletić's "Srpska pesma" (lit.'Serbian song')[18] during a gathering of Serbian and Ukrainian students in an apartment in Kyiv.[19]
The poem was first officially published in 1863 when it appeared in the fourth issue of theLviv-based journalMeta;[21][22] the journal mistakenly attributed the poem toTaras Shevchenko.[23] It became popular in the territories that now form part ofWestern Ukraine and came to the attention of a member of the Ukrainian clergy,Mykhailo Verbytskyi of theUkrainian Greek Catholic Church. Inspired by Chubynskyi's lyrics, Verbytskyi, then a prominent composer in Ukraine, decided to set it to music.[24] The lyrics were first published with Verbytskyi's sheet music in 1865.[25] The first choral public performance of the piece was in 1864 at theRuska Besida Theatre in Lviv.[11]
One of the first recordings of this anthem (then spelled "Szcze ne wmerła Ukrajiny ni sława, ni wola") in Ukrainian was released on a gramophone record byColumbia Phonograph Company during World War I in 1916.[26] As a folk song, it was performed by a Ukrainian emigrant from Lviv and New York resident Mykhailo Zazuliak in 1915.[27]
"Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" was not used as a state anthem until 1917 when it was adopted by theUkrainian People's Republic as its national anthem.[28][29] Still, even between 1917 and 1921, the song was not legislatively adopted as an exclusive state anthem as other anthems were also used at the time.
In 1922, theUkrainian SSR signed theTreaty on the Creation of the USSR with theRussian SFSR,Transcaucasian SFSR, andByelorussian SSR, which created the Soviet Union. Following the signing of the treaty, "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy" was banned by the Soviet regime.[citation needed] The authorities later decided that each separate Soviet republic could have its anthem, but "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy" was rejected in an attempt to help to suppress separatist sentiments held by Ukrainian nationalists. In 1939, "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy" was adopted as the official state anthem ofCarpatho-Ukraine.[30]
AfterJoseph Stalin ordered that "The Internationale" be replaced with theState Anthem of the Soviet Union in 1944, all the constituent republics of the union were forced to produce each of their representative regional anthem as well. The Ukrainian government established a commission on the anthem on 23 February 1944.[31] Soviet authorities, after a period of struggle, successfully persuaded public intellectuals to create an anthem with lyrics fitting their political interests and music sterile of any Ukrainian national elements.[32] On 23 February, the Ukrainian chairmanMykhailo Hrechukha started a meeting by reading a synopsis of the anthem-to-be in front of musicians and litterateurs: the Ukrainian nation's union with the Soviets were envisaged for the first stanza; the Ukrainian people, their struggles, and "freedom" underLenin and Stalin were envisaged for the second stanza; Ukraine's economic and political "flourishing" in the union were envisaged for the third stanza. The refrain was conceived to be used after each stanza, which was considered as apaean to the union of the Soviet peoples and the reunited Ukraine following theSoviet annexation of Eastern Galicia and Volhynia.[33]
Composers worked on the score before the decision on the lyrics; by February 1945, 11 composers were selected as finalists.[34] Anton Lebedynets' score won with an overwhelming majority vote,[35] and the score was adopted as the music of the new Soviet anthem in November 1949.[36] Earlier in January 1948, the lyrics ofPavlo Tychyna and co-authorMykola Bazhan won; due to plagiarism of his text, Oleksa Novytskyi demanded to be listed as a co-author, but to no avail.[37] On 21 November 1949, the new anthem of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted.[29] Borys Yarovynskyi edited and reorchestrated the anthem in 1979.[38]
On 15 January 1992, "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy" was adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament, as the state anthem[11] and was later instituted in the Ukrainian Constitution. However, the lyrics for the anthem were not officially adopted until 6 March 2003, when the Verkhovna Rada passed a law on the state anthem of Ukraine (Закон «Про Державний гімн України»), proposed by then-presidentLeonid Kuchma. The law proposed Mykhailo Verbytskyi's music and Pavlo Chubynskyi's first stanza and refrain of his poem "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy". However, the first line of the lyrics was to be changed fromŠče ne vmerla Ukraina, i slava, i volia toŠče ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia.[e] The law was passed with an overwhelming majority of 334 votes out of 450, with only 46 MPs opposing. Only the members of theSocialist Party of Ukraine and theCommunist Party of Ukraine refrained from voting. The national anthem that up until then had only officially consisted of Mykhailo Verbytskyi's music, would henceforth also include the modified lyrics of Pavlo Chubynskyi.
The popularity of the Ukrainian anthem has become particularly high in the wake of theOrange Revolution protests of 2004 andEuromaidan of 2013. Ukrainian composerValentyn Sylvestrov, who participated in Ukrainian protests in Kyiv, characterized the Ukrainian anthem thus:[40]
The Ukrainian anthem is amazing. At first it doesn't impress you at all, but that's only at first glance. Indeed, this anthem was created by Mykhailo Verbytskyi, a clerical composer of the mid-19th century. He lived under the Austrian monarchy and probably was fond of Schubert; he had a euphonic gift — it's clear from his liturgical compositions. He was a church composer. And this patriotic song, he created as a church composer. This chant is a Hallelujah. No other anthem has this! It's a unique piece: the anthem of Ukraine, which at the same time has all the characteristic features of a liturgy's beginning. Some memory of a liturgy, of an all-night vigil, has submerged in this anthem. It seems as if the wind blows in this simple chant, as if tree branches are singing.
Protests during the 2013/2014 New Year's celebration onMaidan Nezalezhnosti inKyiv; the protesters sing the national anthem.
During the Euromaidan protests of 2013, the anthem became a revolutionary song for the protesters. In the early weeks of the protests, they sang the national anthem once an hour, led by singerRuslana.[41] InWorld Affairs, Nadia Diuk argues that the national anthem was used as "the clarion call of the 'revolution'" during Euromaidan, which added weight to protests that previous ones, such as the Orange Revolution, lacked.[42] In a 2014 survey, after being asked "How has your attitude toward the following changed for the last year?", theKyiv International Institute of Sociology found that the attitude towards the Ukrainian national anthem had "improved a lot" in 25.3% of Ukrainians,[43] especially after the start of theRusso-Ukrainian War.[44]
After the start of theRussian invasion of Ukraine, several orchestras in Europe and North America performed the Ukrainian national anthem in order to show their solidarity with Ukraine.[45]
Theincipit "Šče ne vmerla Ukrainy" reminds Ukrainians about their struggle for national self-identity and independence.[46] It was sung as thede facto national anthem at the inauguration of Leonid Kravchuk, the first Ukrainian president, on 5 December 1991, but it was not until 6 March 2003 that Chubynskyi's lyrics officially became a part of the national anthem. The Constitution of Ukraine designated Verbytskyi's music for the national anthem on 28 June 1996:[9]
The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem set to the music of M. Verbytskyi, with words that are confirmed by the law adopted by no less than two-thirds of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
On 6 March 2003, the Parliament of Ukraine officially adopted the anthem's lyrics,[8] opting to use only the first stanza and refrain from Chubynskyi's original poem, while slightly modifying the first stanza.
Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля, Ще нам, браття молодії, усміхнеться доля. Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці. Запануєм і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.
𝄆 Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу, І покажем, що ми, браття, козацького роду. 𝄇
Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia. Shche nam, brattia molodii, usmikhnet'sia dolia. Zhynuť nashi vorizhen'ky, yak rosa na sontsi, Zapanuyem i my, brattia, u svoiy storontsi.
𝄆 Dushu y tilo my polozhym za nashu svobodu, I pokazhem, shcho my, brattia, kozats'koho rodu. 𝄇
[ʃt͡ʃɛ nɛ‿ˈu̯mɛɾ.ɫɐ ʊ.kɾɐ.ˈi.nɘ i ˈsɫɑ.ʋɐ i ˈwɔ.ʎɐ |] [ʃt͡ʃɛ nɑm ˈbɾɑt.tʲɐ mo.ɫo.ˈdi.ji | ʊs.mix.ˈnɛtʲ.sʲɐ ˈdɔ.ʎɐ ‖] [ˈzɦɪ.nʊtʲ ˈnɑ.ʃi wo.ɾi.ˈʒɛɲ.kɘ | jɑk ro.ˈsɑ nɑ ˈsɔn.t͡si |] [zɐ.pɐ.ˈnu.jem i mɪ ˈbɾɑt.tʲɐ | u swo.ˈij sto.ˈɾɔn.t͡si ‖]
The glory and will of Ukraine has not yet perished, And yet still upon us, brothers, fate shall smile once more. Our enemies shall melt away, like the dew in the sun. And we too shall rule, O brethen, the homeland of our own.
𝄆 Soul and body shall we lay down for our liberty, And we'll show, O brethen, that we're aCossack family! 𝄇
The first verse and chorus of the following lyrics constitute a more popular (commonly performed) version of the anthem. Differences from the official lyrics are italicized.
I Ще не вмерла Українині слава,ні воля. Ще нам, браття-українці, усміхнеться доля. Згинуть нашівороженьки, як роса на сонці, Запануєм і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.
Приспів: Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу, І покажем, що ми, браття, козацького роду!
II Станем браття, в бій кривавий, від Сяну до Дону В ріднім краю панувати не дамо нікому. Чорне море ще всміхнеться, дід Дніпро зрадіє, Ще на нашій Україні доленька наспіє.
Приспів
III А завзяття, праця щира[h] свого ще докаже, Ще ся волі в Україні піснь гучна розляже. За Карпати відіб’ється, згомонить степами, України слава стане поміж народами.
𝄆Приспів 𝄇
I Šče ne vmerla Ukrainyni slava,ni volia, Šče nam, brattia-ukrainci, usmichneťsia dolia. Zhynuť našivorožeńky, jak rosa na sonci, Zapanujem i my, brattia, u svoij storonci.
Pryspiv: Dušu j tilo my položym za našu svobodu, I pokažem, ščo my, brattia, kozaćkoho rodu!
II Stanem brattia, v bij kryvavyj, vid Sianu do Donu V ridnim kraju panuvaty ne damo nikomu. Čorne more šče vsmichneťsia, did Dnipro zradije, Šče na našij Ukraini doleńka naspije.
Pryspiv
III A zavziattia pracia ščyra svoho šče dokaže, Šče sia voli v Ukraini pisń hučna rozliaže. Za Karpaty vidibjeťsia zhomonyť stepamy, Ukrainy slava stane pomiž narodamy.
I The glory and will of Ukraine has not yet perished, And yet upon us, Ukrainians, fate shall smile once more. Our enemies shall melt away, like the dew in the sun. And we too shall rule, O brethen, the homeland of our own.
𝄆 Soul and body shall we lay down for our liberty, And we'll show, O brethen, that we're a Cossack family! 𝄇
II Brethren, let's join in a bloody fight, from theSian to theDon Ne'er shall we allow others to rule in our native land. TheBlack Sea will smile, and grandfatherDnipro will rejoice, For in our own Ukraine fortune shall flourish once again.
Chorus
III Our persistence and our sincere toils will be rewarded, And freedom's song will resound throughout all of Ukraine. Echoing off theCarpathians, and rumbling across the steppes, Ukraine's fame and glory shall be known among all nations.
The first stanza of Chubynskyi's original poem is somewhat similar to the first stanza of national anthems of Poland and Yugoslavia and "Hatikvah", the national anthem of Israel.[50]
I Ще не вмерла Україна, і слава, і воля! Ще нам, браття молодії, усміхнеться доля! Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці; Запануєм і ми, браття у своїй сторонці.
Приспів: Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу І покажем, що ми браття козацького роду. Гей-гей, браття миле, нумо братися за діло! Гей-гей пора встати, пора волю добувати!
II Наливайко, Залізнякъ и Тарасъ Трясило Кличуть насъ изъ-за могилъ на святеє діло. Изгадаймо славну смерть лицарства-козацтва, Щобъ не втратить марне намъ своєго юнацтва.
Приспів
III Ой Богдане, Богдане славний нашъ гетьмане! На-що віддавъ Украіну москалямъ поганимъ?! Щобъ вернути її честь, ляжемъ головами, Назовемся Украіни вірними синами!
Приспів
IV Наші браття Славяне вже за зброю взялись; Не діжде ніхто, щобъ ми по-заду зістались. Поєднаймось разомъ всі, братчики-Славяне: Нехай гинуть вороги, най воля настане!
Приспів
I Šče ne vmerla Ukraina, i slava, i volia! Šče nam, brattia molodii, usmichneťsia dolia! Zhynuť naši vorižeńky, jak rosa na sonci; Zapanujem i my, brattia u svoij storonci.
Pryspiv: Dušu j tilo my položym za našu svobodu I pokažem, ščo my brattia kozaćkoho rodu. Hej-hej, brattia myle, numo bratysia za dilo! Hej-hej, pora vstaty, pora voliu dobuvaty!
II Nalyvajko, Zalizniak y Taras Triasylo Klyčuť nas yz-za mohyl na sviateje dilo. Yzhadajmo slavnu smerť lycarstva-kozactva, Ščob ne vtratyť marne nam svojeho junactva.
Pryspiv
III Oj Bohdane, Bohdane slavnyj naš heťmane! Na-ščo viddav Ukrainu moskaliam pohanym?! Ščob vernuty ii česť, liažem holovamy, Nazovemsia Ukrainy virnymy synamy!
Pryspiv
IV Naši brattia Slaviane vže za zbroju vzialyś; Ne dižde nichto, ščob my po-zadu zistalyś. Pojednajmoś razom vsi, bratčyky-Slaviane: Nechaj hynuť vorohy, naj volia nastane!
I The glory and will of Ukraine has not yet perished, And yet upon us, Ukrainians, fate shall smile once more. Our enemies shall melt away, like the dew in the sun. And we too shall rule, O brethen, the homeland of our own.
Chorus: 𝄆 Soul and body shall we lay down for our liberty, And we'll show, O brethen, that we're a Cossack family! 𝄇 Hey, hey, dearest brothers, onward, take to battle Hey, hey, it's time to rise, time to gain liberty!
II Nalyvaiko,Zalizniak andTaras Triasylo Call us from the grave beyond to the battle holy. Recall the famous death of the ChivalrousCossacks So that we do not lose our youth vainly.
Chorus
III OBohdan, O Bohdan, our glorioushetman For what didst thougive Ukraine to those wretchedMoskals?! In returning her honor, we all lay our heads And we all shall call ourselves Ukraine's faithful sons!
Chorus
IV OurSlavic brethen have alreadytaken up arms So that no one will come attack us behind out backs. Let us all unite together, O Slavic brethen: So that enemies perish, and that freedom cometh!
The song "Slava Ukraini!", written as a "song of resistance" during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, is inspired by the opening motif of the Ukrainian national anthem.[53]
^There were attempts for attaining new lyrics through a commission sponsoring several contests as the Ukrainian government did not adopt Chubynskyi's lyrics due to them being considered outdated. The unsuccessful results have continued the association of the anthem with Chubynskyi's lyrics.[39]
^Grinevich, Victor (22 January 2009)."Павло Чубинський писав вірші «під Шевченка»" [Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote poems "under Shevchenko"].Gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian).Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved3 March 2022.
^Grabowska, Sabina (2016). "The Evolution of Polish National Symbols on the Example of the Flag and Anthem".Kultura I Edukacja (4). Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek: 183.ISSN1230-266X.
^Nordlinger, Jay (4 April 2022)."The End of Illusions".The National Review. Archived fromthe original on 4 April 2022.Before 2014, few people sang the national anthem, apart from ethnic Ukrainians. After 2014, everyone sang the national anthem. This is something thatVitaly Portnikov, a prominent Ukrainian journalist, pointed out to me. When he said, 'Now everyone sings the national anthem,' I first thought he was speaking metaphorically, or poetically. But he meant it literally.
Hang, Xing (2003).Encyclopedia of National Anthems. Lanham: Scarecrow Press.ISBN978-0-8108-4847-4.
Hrytsak, Yaroslav (2005). "On Sails and Gales, and Ships Driving in Various Directions: Post-Soviet Ukraine as a Test Case for the Meso-Area Concept". In Matsuzato, Kimitaka (ed.).Emerging Meso-areas in the Former Socialist Countries: histories revised or improvised?. Hokkaido University.ISBN978-4-938637-35-4.
Khrebtan-Hörhager, Julia (3 July 2016). "Collages of Memory: Remembering the Second World War Differently as the Epistemology of Crafting Cultural Conflicts between Russia and Ukraine".Journal of Intercultural Communication Research.45 (4):282–303.doi:10.1080/17475759.2016.1184705.S2CID147896427.
Klid, Bohdan (2008). "Songwriting and Singing: Ukrainian Revolutionary and Not So Revolutionary Activities in the 1860s".Journal of Ukrainian Studies:264–277.
