Psssst! Scroll down for the video to listen to the French anthem!
The story goes that La Marseillaise, the French anthem [or French national anthem], was composed during the French Revolution (April 24, 1792) in only ne night - by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle. de Lisle was a captain of the engineers and amateur musician stationed in Strasbourg in 1792, and played his new anthem at a patriotic banquet at Marseilles; he printed copies and handed them out to the revolutionary forces who were then marching on Paris. The troops entered Paris singing this song, and sang it whilst they marched to the Tuileries on August 10th.
Incidentally, Rouget de Lisle was himself a royalist - he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new constitution, and was imprisoned. He barely escaped the guillotine.
He originally called the song, Chant de guerre de l'armeé du Rhine (War Song of the Army of the Rhine), and it eventually became named La Marseillaise because it was often sung by volunteer army units from Marseilles.
It was finally accepted as the French anthem in a Decree passed July 14, 1795. Napoleon Bonapart banned La Marseillaise, as did Louis XVIII on the Second Restoration (1815), because of its perceived revolutionary associations. It was finally authorized after the July Revolution of 1830, but was again banned by Napoleon III. This French Anthem has had such a checkered histored, and was rightfully reinstated in 1879.
Several of the stanzas are no longer sung, but I've included them here so you can read them.
La Marseillaise : French Anthem
La Marseillaise is the name of the French Anthem [or French National Anthem], and it was composed in 1792 by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle. It wasn't declared the French national anthem until 1795, and the tune is of course memorable.
Let's go children of the fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny's Bloody flag is raised! (repeat) In the countryside, do you hear The roaring of these fierce soldiers? They come right to our arms To slit the throats of our sons, our friends!
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Grab your weapons, citizens! Form your batallions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields!
=== This bit below isn't sung any more ===
This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings, What do they want? For whom these vile shackles, These long-prepared irons? (repeat) Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult! What emotions that must excite! It is us that they dare to consider Returning to ancient slavery!
What! These foreign troops Would make laws in our home! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would bring down our proud warriors! (repeat) Good Lord! By chained hands Our brows would bend beneath the yoke! Vile despots would become The masters of our fate!
Tremble, tyrants! and you, traitors, The disgrace of all groups, Tremble! Your parricidal plans Will finally pay the price! (repeat) Everyone is a soldier to fight you, If they fall, our young heros, France will make more, Ready to battle you!
Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors, Bear or hold back your blows! Spare these sad victims, Regretfully arming against us. (repeat) But not these bloodthirsty despots, But not these accomplices of Bouillé, All of these animals who, without pity, Tear their mother's breast to pieces!
=== the bit above isn't sung anymore ===
Sacred love of France, Lead, support our avenging arms! Liberty, beloved Liberty, Fight with your defenders! (repeat) Under our flags, let victory Hasten to your manly tones! May your dying enemies See your triumph and our glory!
We will enter the pit When our elders are no longer there; There, we will find their dust And the traces of their virtues. (repeat) Much less eager to outlive them Than to share their casket, We will have the sublime pride Of avenging them or following them!
French Anthem in French
Allons 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 nos bras Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes !
...
Aux armes, citoyens ! Formez vos bataillons ! Marchons ! Marchons ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons !
=== the bit below isn't sung anymore ===
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 !
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 ploiraient ! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées !
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 tout prêts à se battre !
Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez 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 !
=== the bit above isn't sung anymore ===
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 !
...
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 !
French Anthem : can you sing it now?
So now you have the words, you should be able to sing the French anthem, and if you're really keen, try singing it in both French AND English.
Here is a video for you to watch, and sing along ...
PS: If you can't see the video, you can click this link:
