[2] During the interwar period, the youth of Western Belarus (at the time part of the Second Polish Republic) sang this poem to the tune of the French Marseillaise.
Mikola Ravienski, Aliaksiej Turankoŭ [be-tarask] and Vladimir Mulyavin also made covers of this song as well as other Belarusian musicians and bands.
The poem “Pahonia” was written by Maksim Bahdanovič in the middle of WWI in 1916 in front-line wartime Minsk, Belarus.
Through the image and motif of the ancient Lithuanian Pahonia, the poet considers the contradictory present and the uncertain future of Belarus during World War I.
Толькi ў сэрцы трывожным пачую За краiну радзiмую жах, Успомню Вострую Браму святую I ваякаў на грозных канях.
Мо яны, Беларусь, паняслiся За тваiмi дзяцьмi наўздагон, Што забылi цябе, адраклiся, Прадалi i аддалi ў палон?
Tolki w sercy tryvožnym pačuju Za krainu radzimuju žach, Uspomniu Vostruju Bramu sviatuju I vajakaw na hroznych kaniach.
Mo jany, Biełaruś, paniaslisia Za tvaimi dziaćmi nawzdahon, Što zabyli ciabie, adraklisia, Pradali i addali w pałon?
As soon as in my anxious heart I hear Fear for my native country, I remember the holy Gate of Dawn And warriors on fearsome horses.
In white foam the horses race, Darting, dashing and heavily wheezing, Ancient Lithuanian Pahonia Cannot be crushed, cannot be stopped, cannot be restrained!