U boj, u boj

"U boj, u boj" (Croatian: "To battle, to battle") is a Croatian patriotic song. It was written by Franjo Marković and composed by Ivan Zajc in 1866, who later incorporated it as an aria into his opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski (1876) where it is sung by a male choir.

The choir version of the song enjoys a wide popularity in Japan, where for a long time it was thought to be a Czech folk song. After the end of World War I, an American ship Hefron, evacuating Czech and Slovak soldiers from Siberia, perhaps with a few Croats on board, was damaged by a storm and was forced to settle in the Kobe harbour for 2 months for repair. During that period, the soldiers transmitted the tune to the members of the oldest and the most renowned Japanese male choir of the Kwansei Gakuin University, established in 1899. Their repertoire hosts the song (which is learned not in Japanese, but in genuine Croatian) to this day, ending with it each of their public performances.^[1]

The lyrics "U boj, u boj" can also be heard during sports events in which Croatian national teams participate. Croatian supporters version has also second verse "Za narod svoj!", so in complete it goes: "To the fight, to the fight, for your people/nation"

Libretto

Croatian		English translation
U boj, u boj! Mač iz toka, braćo, nek dušman zna kako mremo mi! Grad naš već gori, stiže do nas već žar: rik njihov ori, bijesan je njihov jar! K'o požar taj grudi naše plamte, utiša rik mača naših zvek! K'o bratac brata Zrinskog poljub'te svi! Za njim na vrata, vjerni junaci vi!		To battle, to battle! Unsheathe your swords, brethren, Let the enemy know how we die! Our city already burns, The heat is already reaching us: Their roar resounds, Their rage is rampant! Our chests flare up as that fire, The roar is silenced by the rattling of our swords! All of you, kiss Zrinski As brethren would kiss one another! Follow him to the gates, You, faithful heroes!
Sad, braćo! Pun'mo puške, samokrese, naše grome, naše trijese, neka ore, ruše, more! Brus'mo ljute naše mače, neka sijeku jače, jače! Pun'mo puške, samokrese, naše grome, naše trijese, neka ore, ruše, more!	Sad zbogom bud', dome naš zauvijek, oj, zbogom, od svud i svud na te dušman ide prijek. I već u grob sveti trup sklada tvoj, al' neće! Za te sin svak u boj se kreće! Dome naš, ti vijekom stoj!	Now, brethren! Load the rifles, pistols, Our thunders, our bang, Let them roar, topple, harry! Let us grind our fierce swords, Make them cut harder, harder! Load the rifles, pistols, Our thunders, our bang, Let them roar, topple, harry!	Good bye and be well, Our home of old, Oh, good bye, From everywhere The grim enemy comes Already they plan To bury your sacred body, But they won't! All your sons move to the fight for you! Our home, you will stand forever!
Hajd' u boj, u boj! Za dom, za dom sad u boj! Ma paklena množ' na nj diže svoj nož; Hajd' u boj! Nas mal, al' hrabar je broj! Tko, tko će ga strt'? Smrt vragu, smrt! Za dom, u boj, za dom u boj Za domovinu mrijeti kolika slast! Prot dušmaninu! Mora on mora past'!		Into the fight, to the fight! For the home, for the home now to the fight! Even if the infernal might Raises its knife at it; To the fight! We are few, but courageous! Who, who will bring him down? Death to the devil, death! For the home, to the fight, For the home, to the fight To die for your homeland - such a delight! Against the enemy! They shall die!

Notes

1. Štambuk (2009)

References

• Štambuk, Drago (January 15, 2009), "Danas je istina u egzilu", Vijenac (in Croatian) (399)

External links

• Youtube video of Japanese choir composed of 1000 singers conducted by maestro Katsuaki Kozai singing U boj, u boj in the Kokugikan Hall in Tokyo on February 26, 2006
• U boj, u boj, by Darko Žubrinić