In 1919, during the brief existence of the , the government sought to establish national symbols. Prominent composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov , often called the "father" of Azerbaijani classical music, composed the stirring melody. He collaborated with the revolutionary poet Ahmad Javad , who penned the lyrics that remain iconic today.

The story of the (March of Azerbaijan) is a tale of a nation's struggle for independence, lost and then rediscovered 70 years later. The Birth of a Symbol (1919)

As the Soviet Union collapsed, Azerbaijan looked back to its first era of independence to reclaim its identity.