French national anthem
He should write a song that would stir up patriotism and enthusiasm in the hearts of the soldiers and the people of France – and lead their nation into victory. So, Rouget de Lisle was given a formidable task. Whenever anyone would ask Ben about the progress of the American War of Independence he would answer, “ Ça ira, ça ira.” This barely optimistic song title had been inspired by Benjamin Franklin when he was ambassador to France during the American Revolution. They had been revolting to a song called Ça ira, ça ira (It Will Be Fine, It Will Be Fine). He thought the French Revolution needed a more rousing anthem than the current one.
The mayor knew that Rouget de Lisle wrote songs and poems, so he asked him to write a song that would stir the hearts of the soldiers and inspire them as they went into battle. Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L'opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre !įrançais, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, À regret s'armant contre nous.Among the banqueting soldiers was Captain Rouget de Lisle, a thirty-two-year-old military engineer from eastern France. Quoi ! des 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 ! 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 ! What are the French lyrics to La Marseillais?Īllons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!Īux armes, citoyens, Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons! (Children's Verse) We shall enter the (military) career When our elders are no longer there, There we shall find their dust And the trace of their virtues (repeat) Much less keen to survive them Than to share their coffins, We shall have the sublime pride To avenge or follow them. Sacred love of the Fatherland, Lead, support our avenging arms Liberty, cherished Liberty, Fight with thy defenders! (repeat) Under our flags may victory Hurry to thy manly accents, So that thy expiring enemies See thy triumph and our glory! (repeat) But these bloodthirsty despots, These accomplices of Bouillé, All these tigers who mercilessly Tear apart their mother's breast! Tremble, tyrants and you traitors The shame of all parties, Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will finally receive their prize! (repeat) Everyone is a soldier to combat you, If they fall, our young heroes, Will be produced anew from the ground, Ready to fight against you!įrenchmen, as magnanimous warriors, Bear or hold back your blows! Spare those sorry victims, For regretfully arming against us. What! Foreign cohorts Would make the law in our homes! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would strike down our proud warriors! (repeat) Great God! By chained hands Our brows would yield under the yoke! Vile despots would themselves become The masters of our destinies! What does this horde of slaves, Of traitors and conspiring kings want? For whom have these vile chains, These irons, been long prepared? (repeat) Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage What furious action it must arouse! It is to us they dare plan A return to the old slavery! To arms, citizens, Form your battalions, Let's march, let's march! Let an impure blood Water our furrows!
What are the lyrics to La Marseillais in EnglishĪrise, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us, tyranny's Bloody standard is raised, (repeat) Do you hear, in the countryside, The roar of those ferocious soldiers? They're coming right into our arms To cut the throats of our sons, our women! Plus, of course, it famously introduces ‘All you need is love’ by the Beatles. These include the German Robert Schumann, who features it in his Hermann und Dorothea Overture, and the Russian Tchaikovsky, who parodies it in his 1812 Overture, a work celebrating Napoleon’s failed invasion of his country. The French composer Hector Berlioz arranged La Marseillaise for orchestra, chorus and soprano in around 1830, while a number of other composers have included the melody in their music.