Chemistry - Lijepa nasa domovino

Lijepa naša domovino ("Our Beautiful Homeland") is the national anthem of Croatia. It was the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, and became that of the Republic of Croatia upon the declaration of independence in 1991.

The original lyrics were written by Antun Mihanović and first published under the title Horvatska domovina ("Croatian homeland") in 1835. The music was composed by Josip Runjanin in 1846. According to some sources, the melody is taken from "Lucia di Lammermoor" by Gaetano Donizetti.

The complete song was reportedly scored and harmonized by Vatroslav Lichtenegger in 1891, and it was first performed as the Croatian anthem in the same year, under the title "Lijepa naša". Since then it has come to be known under the slightly longer present title and a few minor adjustments have been made to the lyrics.

Lyrics

Croatian

English

Lijepa naša domovino,

Oj junačka zemljo mila,

Stare slave djedovino,

Da bi vazda sretna bila!

Mila kano si nam slavna,

Mila si nam ti jedina,

Mila kuda si nam ravna,

Mila kuda si planina!

Teci Dravo, Savo teci,

Nit'ti Dunav silu gubi!

Sinje more, svijetu reci,

Da svoj narod Hrvat ljubi!

Dok mu njive sunce grije,

Dok mu hrašće bura vije,

Dok mu mrtve grobak krije,

Dok mu živo srce bije!

Our beautiful homeland,

O so fearless and gracious.

Our fathers' ancient glory,

May you be happy forever.

Dear, you are our only glory,

Dear, you are our only one,

Dear, where you are a plain,

Dear, where you are a mountain.

Drava, Sava, keep on flowing,

Danube, do not lose your vigour,

Deep blue sea, tell the world,

That a Croat loves his homeland.

Whilst his fields are warm in sunshine,

Whilst his oaks are whipped by wild winds,

Whilst his dead ones are hidden in graves,

Whilst his live heart beats.

External links

Categories: Croatia | National anthems