| English: Hymn to the Flag | |
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National anthem of Albania |
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| Lyrics | Asdreni, 1912 |
| Music | Ciprian Porumbescu |
| Adopted | 1912 |
| Music sample | |
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Hymni i Flamurit (instrument)
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Himni i Flamurit (in English: Hymn to the Flag) is the national anthem of Albania. The words were written by the Albanian poet Asdreni (Aleksander Stavre Drenova). The hymn was first published as a poem in Liri e Shqipërisë (in English: Freedom of Albania), an Albanian newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 21, 1912. It was later printed in a volume of poems by Drenova titled Ëndra e lotë (in English: Dreams and tears), which was published in Bucharest.
The music of the anthem was composed by the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, originally for the song "Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire" (or "E scris pe tricolor unire").[1]
There are two versions of the anthem: a long and a short one. Below is the text for the long version. The second stanza is considered as refrain and is repeated at the end. The short version makes use of the first two stanzas only and repeats the last two verses of the 2nd stanza. Usually, in sportive events among national teams, the short version is the one officially used. (The original poem has three more stanzas that are not part of the anthem – which are added at the end.)
| Albanian lyrics | Translation |
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| First stanza | |
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Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar |
Around our flag we stand united, |
| Second stanza | |
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Prej lufte veç ai largohet |
From the struggle only he turns his back, |
| Third stanza (not usually to sung) | |
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Në dorë armët do t'i mbajmë, |
With weapons in our hands a-brandished, |
| Fourth stanza (not sung) | |
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Se Zoti vetë e tha me gojë |
For God himself proclaimed: |
| Fifth stanza (not sung) | |
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O Flamur, flamur, shenj' e shenjtë |
O Flag, flag, you sacred symbol |
| Sixth stanza (not sung) | |
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Trim burrë quhet dhe nderohet |
Brave man is named and honoured |