Along with the other World War I song, Tamo daleko, it became a powerful symbol of Serbian culture and national identity and remains popular amongst Serbs in the Balkans and the diaspora.

[3] River is an important symbol of Serbian national identity, as there is a historic desire of Serbs in the Serbia to unite with brethren living in Bosnia.

[3] The Serbian defeat of Austro-Hungarian forces at the Battle of Cer in August 1914 was the first Allied victory over the Central Powers during World War I.

[11] That same year, the Socialist Party of Serbia used the song as the soundtrack for an important promotional spot prior to the 1992 Serbian general elections.

[13] Bosniak organizations responded to the performance by demanding that Jeremić be removed from his position as President of the United Nations General Assembly.

[13] He went on to say that "regrettable attempts at twisting the meaning of our musical gift offered to the world last Monday are deeply offensive to the Serbian people".

[14] Serbian lyrics to the song were written in 1964 in Socialist Yugoslavia by poet and journalist Miloje Popović to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cer.

English lyrics were added in 1964 by American songwriter Vaughn Horton for a recording by Patti Page under the title "Drina (Little Soldier Boy)".