La Marseillaise Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

''This article is about the anthem "La Marseillaise". A sculpture popularly called "La Marseillaise" is part of the sculptural programme of the Arc de Triomphe.

La Marseillaise is the national anthem of France.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Unofficial versions 3 Fiction 4 Music 5 Lyrics 6 External links 6.1 Official French government sites 6.2 Other sites

History

"La Marseillaise" is a song written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle on April 24, 1792. Its original name is Chant de guerre de l'Armée du Rhin (Marching song of the Rhine Army). It became the rallying call of the French Revolution and was so-called because it was first sung on the streets by troops (fédérés) from Marseille upon their arrival in Paris.

"La Marseillaise" was rearranged by Hector Berlioz around 1830.

In 1917, after the collapse of the tsarist regime "La Marseillaise" became the national anthem of Russia, the Russian lyrics (Otrechemsya ot starogo mira) being very different from the French lyrics. It was soon replaced with The Internationale by the Bolsheviks.

The song was banned in Vichy France and German occupied areas during World War II and singing it was an act of resistance (see also: Chant des Partisans).

In France itself, the anthem (and particularly the lyrics) has become a somewhat controversial issue since the 1970s. Some consider it militaristic and xenophobic, and many propositions have been made to change the anthem or the lyrics. However, "La Marseillaise" has been associated throughout history with the French Republic and its values, making a change unlikely.

Recently, and despite the lyrics, it was largely sung by anti-racist protesters after the accession of Jean-Marie Le Pen to the second turn of presidential election in 2002.

Unofficial versions

• Django Reinhardt "Echoes Of France"
• The Beatles
• In 1978, Serge Gainsbourg recorded a reggae version of "La Marseillaise", "Aux Armes et cetera", with Bob Marley's band in Jamaica, which resulted in him getting death threats from right wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence.

Fiction

The song was part of a famous scene in Casablanca in which French resistance sympathizers used the song to drown out the Nazi soldiers who were singing "Die Wacht am Rhein". These two songs were juxtaposed in exactly the same way five years earlier, in Jean Renoir's 1937 film "La Grande Illusion."

Music

There are various versions of the music. Sheet music can be found at [1]. An official version from the website of the French President can be accessed as a RealAudio File (116 KB), Wave File (660 KB), or .

Lyrics

Note only the first verse (and sometimes the 6th and 7th) and the first chorus are sung nowadays in France.

French lyrics 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 vos bras Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes! Refrain 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! Refrain Quoi ces cohortes étrangères! Feraient la loi dans nos foyers! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fils guerriers! (bis) Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres des destinées. Refrain 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 France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre Refrain 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! Refrain 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! Refrain 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! Refrain

English Translation Arise children of the fatherland The day of glory has arrived Against us tyranny's Bloody standard is raised Listen to the sound in the fields The howling of these fearsome soldiers They are coming into your midst To cut the throats of your sons and consorts Chorus To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! March, march Let impure blood Water our furrows What do they want this horde of slaves Of traitors and conspiratorial kings? For whom these vile chains These long-prepared irons? Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage What methods must be taken? It is us they dare plan To return to the old slavery! Chorus What! These foreign cohorts! They would make laws in our courts! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would cut down our warrior sons Good Lord! By chained hands Our brow would yield under the yoke The vile despots would have themselves be The masters of destiny Chorus Tremble, tyrants and traitors The shame of all good men Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will receive their just reward Against you we are all soldiers If they fall, our young heroes France will bear new ones Ready to join the fight against you Chorus Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors Bear or hold back your blows Spare these sad victims That they regret taking up arms against us But not these bloody despots These accomplices of Bouillé All these tigers who pitilessly Ripped out their mothers' wombs Chorus We shall enter into the career When our elders will no longer be there There we shall find their ashes And the mark of their virtues We are much less jealous of surviving them Than of sharing their coffins We shall have the sublime pride Of avenging or joining them Chorus Drive on sacred patriotism Support our avenging arms Liberty, cherished liberty Join the struggle with your defenders Under our flags, let victory Hurry to your manly tone So that in death your enemies See your triumph and our glory! Chorus

External links

Official French government sites

• French President website
• Foreign affairs website
• National Defence website

Other sites

• Sheet music, history, and music files
• Adminet-France

This is an Article on La Marseillaise. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About La Marseillaise

	Web www.E-paranoids.com