First adopted in 1918 as the anthem of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia, it was subsequently banned after the country was invaded by then incorporated into the Soviet Union.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of sovereignty in 1991, the song was re-adopted as the national anthem, albeit with slightly modified lyrics.

The lyrics of "Our Fatherland" were derived from "The Song of an Italian Girl" (Armenian: Իտալացի աղջկա երգը Italatsi aghjka yergė), a poem written by Mikael Nalbandian in 1861.

[3][5] In November 1920, the Red Army invaded Armenia, in spite of the Treaty of Sèvres – which granted the country international recognition as a sovereign state – having been signed only three months earlier.

[1][11] As an intrinsic element of civic education in Armenia, the anthem is one of several national symbols which are featured in classrooms of the country's schools.

[13] The Italian violist Marco Misciagna composed the "Introduction and Variations on Mer Hayrenik” for viola solo, and in 2018, he played it during a concert at the Komitas Chamber Music House.

[5][16] Specifically, some members of the National Assembly are of the opinion that the song – written at the time of the first fight for independence – does not accurately reflect the present era of triumph and success.

Ահա եղբայր քեզ մի դրոշ, Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի 𝄆 Գիշերները ես քուն չեղա, Արտասուքով լվացի։ 𝄇

Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ մեռնի, 𝄆 Բայց երանի՝ որ յուր ազգի Ազատության կը զոհվի։ 𝄇 Mer Hayreniq, azat ankakh, Vor aprel e daredar 𝄆 Yur vordiqė ard kanchum en Azat, ankakh Hayastan.

Aha yeghbayr qez mi drosh, Vor im dzerrqov gortzetsi 𝄆 Gishernerė yes qun chegha, Artasuqov lvatsi.

Ահա՛, եղբայր, քեզ մի դրoշ, Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի, Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ, Արտասուքով լուացի։

Aha, yeghbayr, qez mi drosh, Vor im dzerrqov gortzetsi, Gishernerė yes qun cheghay, Artasuqov luatsi.