The French anthem
La Marseillaise
Claude Joseph ROUGET DE LISLE
Lyrics
Allons enfant de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé! (bis)
Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils, nos compagnes.
Chorus
Aux armes, citoyens, formez vos bataillons!
Marchons! Marchons!
Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons!
Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis)
Français! Pour nous, ah! Quel outrage!
Quels transports il doit exciter!
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer
De rendre à l'antique esclavage!
Chorus
Quoi! ces cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers!
Quoi! ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! (bis)
Grand Dieu! par des mains enchaînées
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient ;
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres de nos destinées!
Chorus
Tremblez, tyrans! et vous, perfides,
L'opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leur prix! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre.
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros,
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tous prêts à se battre! |
Chorus
Français, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups!
Epargnez ces tristes victimes,
A regret s'armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère!...
Chorus
Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs!
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents!
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Chorus
Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus ;
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre!
Chorus
...
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The history of la Marseillaise
- The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was composed in the midst of national revolution.
Threatened by the allies of the ancient regime, the people consolidate, and French peasants from all over the country vow to protect the revolution in every forthcoming battle.
On April 25, 1792, Claude Joseph Rouget de l'Isle, Army Captain and composer, was garrisoned in Strasbourg, just a few days after the King's declaration of war on Austria. It was then, at a social gathering hosted by the Mayor of Strasbourg, Phillipe de Dietrich, that Rouget first sang this famous melody. At that time, the song was named "Chant de guerre de l'armée du Rhin" (War song for the Rheine Army).
- This patriotic song was written for the soldiers of the Rheine Army on the German border, who were going to battle. But, with the music and lyrics soon in print, the song travelled quickly throughout France.
- It was also chanted by soldiers from Marseilles during the inurrection at the King's residence, the Tuileries in August 1792. Prior to this time, General François Mireur, returning from his station in Egypt back to France to recruit soldiers, renamed the song "Chant de guerre aux armées aux frontières" (War song for the border armies) and encourages his troops to sing the song.
- It was finally, on July 30, 1792, when the people of Marseilles marched to Paris, that the Parisian people named it "la Marseillaise".
- La Marseillaise became a success, and is was subsequently National Song for the Convention on July 14, 1795. However, both Napoleon and Louis XVIII forbade it during the Empire and the Second Restauration periods, respectively. After the revolution of 1830, the Marseillaise was honoured back into the French culture, but was later banned once more by Napoleon III.
- Later, under the IIIrd Republic of 1879, la Marseillaise was declared the official anthem of France, and eight years later, a commission was set up to modify the text and the melody, and finalise its official version. It was later adopted by the Ministry of War. On July 14, 1915, the ashes of Rouget de l'Isle were transferred to the Invalides, built on the orders of Louis XIV.
- In September of 1944, after the liberation of Paris from German occupation, the Marseillaise was sung in schools to celebrate liberation and the martyrs of war. The Marseillaise was then confirmed as the National Anthem in constitutions of 1946 and 1958.
- Later, by request of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the rhythm of the anthem was slowed down to bring it closer to the traditional version. Currently, the version of 1887 is played at official ceremonies with only the 1st, 6th and 7th verses plus the chorus being sung.
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