La marseillaise – France National Anthem
“La marseillaise – France National Anthem” is the national anthem of France. It was written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle after the declaration of war by France against Austria, and was originally titled “Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin” (“War Song for the Rhine Army”).
The Marseillaise was a revolutionary song, an anthem to freedom, a patriotic call to mobilize all the citizens and an exhortation to fight against tyranny and foreign invasion. The French National Convention adopted it as the Republic’s anthem in 1795. The song acquired its nickname after being sung in Paris by volunteers from Marseille marching to the capital. The song is the first example of the “European march” anthemic style. The anthem’s evocative melody and lyrics have led to its widespread use as a song of revolution and its incorporation into many pieces of classical and popular music.
Song : La marseillaise
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Allons enfants de la patrie, | Let’s go children of the fatherland, |
| Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! | The day of glory has arrived! |
| Contre nous de la tyrannie | Against us tyranny’s |
| L’étendard sanglant est levé ! (bis) | Bloody flag is raised! (repeat) |
| Entendez-vous dans les campagnes, | In the countryside, do you hear |
| Mugir ces féroces soldats ? | The roaring of these fierce soldiers? |
| Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras | They come right to our arms |
| Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes ! | To slit the throats of our sons, our friends! |
| Aux armes, citoyens! | Grab your weapons, citizens! |
| Formez vos bataillons! | Form your battalions! |
| Marchons! Marchons! | Let us march! Let us march! |
| Qu’un sang impur | May impure blood |
| Abreuve nos sillons! | Water our fields! |
| Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, | This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings, |
| De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? | What do they want? |
| Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, | For whom these vile shackles, |
| Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) | These long-prepared irons? (repeat) |
| Français ! pour nous, ah ! quel outrage ! | Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult! |
| Quels transports il doit exciter ! | What emotions that must excite! |
| C’est nous qu’on ose méditer | It is us that they dare to consider |
| De rendre à l’antique esclavage ! | Returning to ancient slavery! |
| Aux armes, citoyens! | Grab your weapons, citizens! |
| Formez vos bataillons! | Form your battalions! |
| Marchons! Marchons! | Let us march! Let us march! |
| Qu’un sang impur | May impure blood |
| Abreuve nos sillons! | Water our fields! |
| Amour sacré de la patrie, | Sacred love of France, |
| Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs! | Lead, support our avenging arms! |
| Liberté, Liberté cherie, | Liberty, beloved Liberty, |
| Combats avec tes defenseurs! | Fight with your defenders! (repeat) |
| Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire | Under our flags, let victory |
| Accoure tes males accents! | Hasten to your manly tones! |
| Que tes ennemis expirants | May your dying enemies |
| Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire! | See your triumph and our glory! |
| Aux armes, citoyens! | Grab your weapons, citizens! |
| Formez vos bataillons! | Form your battalions! |
| Marchons! Marchons! | Let us march! Let us march! |
| Qu’un sang impur | May impure blood |
| Abreuve nos sillons! | Water our fields! |
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