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.