Allons enfants de la Patrie…
Did you know that “La Marseillaise”, France’s national anthem, was actually composed in Strasbourg in 1792, not in Marseilles as we might assume?
The song was originally entitled ‘Chant de guerre de l’armeé du Rhin’ (War Song of the Army of the Rhine), and written as a response to the invasion of France by Prussian and Austrian forces, later defeated at the Battle of Valmy.
Sung in Marseille at a patriotic banquet where printed copies were handed out, the song spread through the city and when French revolutionaries from Marseilles entered Paris, they marched to the Tuilleries singing the anthem to be.
From then on it was known as La Marseillaise
Ironically, this patriotic and passionate song adopted by the Revolution was written in one night by staunch royalist Rouget de Lisle!
After being banned several times because of it’s revolutionary associations, La Marseillaise was finally reinstated in 1879, and has been the official French National Anthem ever since.
LISTEN
Or here it is in full for those who wish to learn it off by heart! 🙂
LA MARSEILLAISE
| FRENCH | ENGLISH |
| Allons enfants de la Patrie | Let us go, children of the fatherland |
| Le jour de gloire est arrivé. | Our day of Glory has arrived. |
| Contre nous, de la tyrannie, | Against us stands tyranny, |
| L’étandard sanglant est levé, | The bloody flag is raised, |
| L’étandard sanglant est levé, | The bloody flag is raised, |
| Entendez-vous, dans la compagnes. | Do you hear in the countryside |
| Mugir ces farouches soldats | The roar of these savage soldiers |
| Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras | They come right into our arms |
| Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes. | To cut the throats of your sons, your country. |
| REFRAIN | CHORUS |
| Aux armes citoyens! | To arms, citizens! |
| Formez vos bataillons, | Form up your battalions |
| Marchons, marchons! | Let us march, Let us march! |
| Qu’un sang impur | That their impure blood |
| Abreuve nos sillons. | Water our fields |
| Amour sacré de la Patrie, | Sacred love of the fatherland |
| Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs, | Guide and support our vengeful arms. |
| Liberté, liberté cherie, | Liberty, beloved liberty, |
| Combats avec tes defénseurs; | Fight with your defenders; |
| Combats avec tes defénseurs; | Fight with your defenders; |
| Sous drapeaux, que la victoire | Under our flags, so that victory |
| Acoure à tes mâles accents; | Will rush to your manly strains; |
| Que tes ennemis expirants | That your dying enemies |
| Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire! | Should see your triumph and glory |
| REFRAIN | CHORUS |
