Lyrics of Sarajevo by Sabaton
For decades, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been
A powerful influence in the heart of Europe
Resting on a legacy, their house kept stability, order, and peace
But not everyone bowed to this power
In the summer of 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the empire
Is visiting Sarajevo, unaware of the assassins awaiting him
And what will come
Two shots are fired, and the Archduke is dead
The Empire cannot let this go unpunished
And the first declaration of war is made
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
Chaos and shockwaves spread from the Balkans across the globe
Alliances are put to the test, threats exchanged
And armies are put on high alert
In the East, the Russian Tsar is trying to calm the situation
With his cousin, the Kaiser of Germany
But it is all in vain, the situation is out of control
War is unavoidable
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
From a shot that would change the world
Tensions rise and a war is unfurled
Nothing like what had come before
It’s the war that will end all war
The Battle of the Frontiers starts in August
As soldiers cross borders and bullets are fired in rage
War begins
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the start of World War I.
Sarajevo – The Shot That Shook the World
Some wars begin with conquest. Others start with a single bullet.
Sarajevo by Sabaton tells the story of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand—the event that triggered World War I.
This is how one act of violence led to a conflict that engulfed the entire world.
June 28, 1914 – A Fateful Visit
“For decades, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been a powerful influence in the heart of Europe.”
At the turn of the 20th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a dominant force in Central Europe.
But tensions were rising:
- The empire ruled Bosnia, but many Serbs wanted it to join neighboring Serbia.
- Nationalist groups, such as The Black Hand, were plotting against Austro-Hungarian rule.
- On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand—heir to the empire—visited Sarajevo, unaware that assassins awaited him.
The Assassination – A Shot That Changed History
“Two shots are fired, and the Archduke is dead.”
The first assassination attempt failed—a bomb thrown at the Archduke’s car bounced off and exploded behind him.
But later that day, Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb, spotted the Archduke’s car at a turn in the road.
- He fired two shots.
- Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were killed.
- The world was changed forever.
The Domino Effect – War is Unavoidable
“The Empire cannot let this go unpunished, and the first declaration of war is made.”
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination and declared war on July 28, 1914.
What followed was a chain reaction:
- Russia (Serbia’s ally) mobilized against Austria-Hungary.
- Germany (Austria’s ally) declared war on Russia and France.
- Britain joined after Germany invaded Belgium.
- By August 1914, World War I had begun.
“From a shot that would change the world, tensions rise and a war is unfurled.”
The world plunged into chaos, and millions would die.
Want to Learn More?
- 🎥 Sabaton History – Sarajevo (Documentary) – The historical background of the song explained.
- 📖 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Wikipedia) – How a single act led to war.
- 📖 Gavrilo Princip (Wikipedia) – The assassin who fired the fateful shots.
- 📖 The Black Hand (Wikipedia) – The secret nationalist group behind the attack.
- 🎥 How World War I Started (YouTube) – A documentary on the whole war week by week.
- 📖 World War I (Wikipedia) – The full history of the war that followed.
The Lesson?
Some wars are carefully planned. Others explode from a single moment in history.
And in 1914, on the streets of Sarajevo, two gunshots led to four years of global devastation.
