The song was written for the comedy Fidlovačka aneb Žádný hněv a žádná rvačka (Fidlovačka, or No Anger and No Brawl) in 1834. "Fidlovačka" was a traditional spring festivity held by Prague shoemakers in the city part of Nusle (where today you can find the street, park, and theatre named Na Fidlovačce). In the play - written by Josef Kajetán Tyl and composed by František Škroup - the song is performed by the blind violinist Mareš. During the Austrio-Hungarian Empire, it became an informal anthem of the nation seeking to revive its identity within the Habsburg Monarchy, and after 1918, it became the national anthem - together with the first verse of the Slovak anthem, Nad Tatrou sa blýska (Lightning over the Tatras).
Its lyricism and somewhat plaintive melody may strike as a contrast to the proud, heroic, or even revolutionary themes of many national anthems, and even some Czechs criticize it for it. However, in my personal opinion, I think it is a great representation of the more noble Czech ideals - humanism, peacemaking, and a love of the beautiful nature.
Fun fact #1: There's a joke that goes: "Do you know what would happen if the Jaslovské Bohunice powerplant (a nuclear powerplant in Slovakia) exploded? The Czechs and Slovaks would switch their anthems: Slovaks would sing "Where Is My Home" and Czechs "Lightning over the Tatras". Gotta love the darker side of Czech humour :-)
Fun fact #2: A German version of the anthem was also used between 1918 and 1938 (see Alternate translations).
Kde domov můj
Kde
where
domov
home
můj,
my, of mine
kde
where
domov
home
můj,
my, of mine
Where is my home, where is my home,
voda
water
hučí
roars, hums
po
on, across
lučinách,
meadows, grassland
Water roars across the meadows,
bory
pine woods
šumí
rustle, chatter
po
on, across
skalinách,
rocks, crags
Pinewoods rustle on the crags,
v
in
sadě
orchard
skví se
glitters, sparkles, shines
jara
[of] spring
květ,
flower, blossom, bloom
A spring blossom glitters in the orchard,
zemský
earth's, terrestrial
ráj
paradise, heaven
to
it [is]
na
on, upon
pohled!
sight, view, look
Paradise on earth it is on sight,
A
and
to
this
je
is
ta
the, that
krásná
beautiful
země,
land, country
And this is that beautiful land,
země
land, coutry
česká
Czech
domov
home
můj,
my, of mine
The Czech land [is] my home,
země česká domov můj!
The Czech land [is] my home!
In 2008, four new official versions were made, all conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek - instrumental, choir, soprano solo, and bass-baritone solo. You can listen to all of them on the official government website. My favourite version is, of course, the one with the bass-baritone ;-) Adam Plachetka was only 23 at the time it was recorded, and has since performed at the Vienna State Opera or the Metropolitan Opera:
An alternative, slightly unorthodox rendition that I also enjoy for its lightness and beautiful scenery in the background:
Alternate translations:
Where is my home, where is my home,
Streams are rushing through the meadows,
Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves,
Orchards decked in spring's array,
Scenes of Paradise portray.
And this land of wondrous beauty,
Is the Czech land, home of mine,
Is the Czech land, home of mine!
German poetic:
Wo ist mein Heim, mein Vaterland,
Wo durch Wiesen Bäche brausen,
Wo auf Felsen Wälder sausen,
Wo ein Eden uns entzückt,
Wenn der Lenz die Fluren schmückt:
Dieses Land, so schön vor allen,
Böhmen ist mein Heimatland.
Böhmen ist mein Heimatland.
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