February 27, 2022

Last Night, On Saturday Night Live


The piece is "Молитва за Україну" ("Prayer for Ukraine") with lyrics by Oleksandr Konysky (1836-1900) and music by Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912).

As far as I can tell (I don't speak or read Ukrainian and I am only getting this from the score), the first and last stanzas of the anthem were sung last night:

Ukrainian:

Боже великий, єдиний,
Нам Україну храни,
Волі і світу промінням
Ти її осіни.

...

Дай йому волю, дай йому долю,
Дай доброго світу, щастя,
Дай, Боже, народу
І многая, многая літа.

English translation:

Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,
Protect our beloved Ukraine,
Bless her with freedom and light
Of your holy rays

...
 
Bless us with freedom, bless us with wisdom,
Guide into kind world,
Bless us, oh Lord, with good fortune
For ever and evermore.