Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

"", better known in English as "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors", is a song by Ukrainian singer Alina Pash. The song was scheduled to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, after winning Vidbir 2022, Ukraine's national final. However, following controversy surrounding Pash's status as a legitimate participant of , she ultimately withdrew. Background The song shares the name of a 1965 movie, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. The music video features artwork of the characters, along with Ukrainian writers Lesya Ukrainka and Iryna Vilde. The first verse talks about the history of Ukraine, featuring a long history of war that plagued the country. Ancient Slavic gods Perun and Dazhbog heard cries of the Ukrainian people, peace was eventually brought to the country. With peace, new communities would form and rise. The chorus brings a message of unity to the people in Ukraine. The song then compares Ukraine's past to Dante's Divine Comedy, saying that Dante could have instead written a Divine Tragedy. The song ends with a message that says that peace is the only way out, and that Ukrainians can create a better future for themselves instead of being dependent on the tragedies of the past. Vidbir 2022