Weird Song of the Week - Ukraine

 Ukraine

Friday 4 March 2022

Throughout the years here at Weird Song, we have featured some national anthems.  So far, we have covered France, England, United States, Israel and South Africa.  I think I mentioned the anthem of Japan as well.  Given what is happening in the world today, I wanted to talk about the National Anthem of Ukraine.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDeQVaoTvJM

 

This anthem has an interesting history and even more interesting lyrics.  The grand and stately music was formally recognized in 1992, but the lyrics did not join the music until 2003. 

 

Videos like this one have gone viral in the wake of the Russian invasion.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GipDG6CWUjU

 

Kyiv has a very long history.  The Russian Orthodox Church began life there and it was there that Greek monks devised the Cyrillic alphabet which characterize the languages of Russia and Ukraine.  But Ukraine as a distinct nation began in the 16^th century when peasants ran away from their Russian overlords and set up shop in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine.  These rebels became known as Cossacks.  They were sort of like bandits who raided and plundered but managed to become a genuine army.  They combined forces with the people of Ukraine that were already in the region and who were themselves oppressed and revolted against their Polish overlords.

 

This culminated in the Polish Cossack war which ran from 1648 to 1657.  A lot of blood was spilled, and a number of other powers were dragged into it, but in the end, Ukraine was forged into a more or less independent nation.  Specifically, Ukraine was a protectorate of Russia but one with autonomy. 

 

In 1962, a Hollywood blockbuster Taras Bulba burst upon the big screen.  Here is the trailer.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGIJM4aO0hw

 

This movie centers around a love story between a Cossack warrior and a Polish lady. 

 

What we now call Ukraine came under Russian control under Catherine the Great who concluded yet another Crimea war in 1783.  In doing so, she brutally slaughtered thousands of Ukrainian peasants who rebelled.  Catherine the Great issued a decree allowing Russian nobility to literally own peasants and the long period of Ukrainian oppression accelerated.  A number of wars were fought in Crimea and Ukraine and the territory passed from one empire to another until it finally staggered into independence in 1991 when the Soviet Union fell.  That is a long period of subjugation. 

 

Here is the National Anthem of Ukraine with English lyrics.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHzHlSLhtmM

 

It is when you read the lyrics that you get a true sense of what these people have gone through.  The formal title of the National Anthem is The State Anthem of Ukraine, but its actual title is, in English, “Ukraine has not yet Perished.”  In the English lyrics of the YouTube link above, the lyrics are rendered as the freedom of Ukraine is not yet lost, but based on my limited knowledge of the language, I think it is better understood as Ukraine has not yet perished.” 

 

Just think about that opening lyric for a moment.  Basically, their opening refrain is “we’re not dead yet.”  If you are unaware of their history, this opening line would be considered strange, I might even say weird.  But in light of centuries of bloodshed, brutalization, and oppression, these lyrics make perfect sense.  The rest of the lyrics are telling as well.  They speak of enemies and of freedom.  Now that Ukraine finally has freedom after 400 years of subjugation, they don’t want to lose it quickly. 

 

The song also emphasizes the Cossack heritage of Ukraine and all it stands for.  Apparently, or so legend has it, the Cossacks were fierce warriors and fierce party animals.  One can only hope that the people of Ukraine will be able to stop being fierce fighters shortly, and spend more time being party animals.  We need peace for that.

 

The Russian people have also known brutality and oppression on a scale which is hard for us to imagine here in the West.  I sincerely hope that Russians remember they have more in common with Ukraine than they have differences and stop this terrible war.  In the meantime, Ukraine has not perished yet.”  Let’s hope it stays that way.  Glory to Ukraine!

 

And finally, a musical development due to the current war which probably has next to no bearing on what is happening is worth noting.  Twisted Sister has given permission for Ukraine to use their iconic song We’re Not Going to Take It as a fighting anthem.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9AbeALNVkk

 

And speaking of Twisted Sister, I would like to use them to deliver a message to all those who destroy human life for the sake of their own selfish gain.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_atqPcXvcr0