In a former post we discussed the peculiar origin of the “God Save The King”, the British anthem.
Today, let’s talk about another famous anthem: “La Marseillaise”.
25 April 1792
The Strasbourg's mayor is desperate for something to cheer up the populace, as the Austro-Hungarian army is about to invade the city.
The enemy's intent is to roll back the French Revolution and restore Louis XVI to full power. That night he begged Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle to write a song that would lift people’s spirit.
Rouget de Lisle does it in only a few hours…
The song's title is "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine).
Its purpose is to rally the troops against the enemy. This explains why the lyrics are quite bloodthirsty (see the video at the end of this post) and highly patriotic.
A battalion from Marseille
When the government issues a call for volunteers to go fight the invaders, 516 young men from Marseille answer by forming a battalion. They are called “The Fédérés”.
They decide to march on to Paris.
The Fédérés leave Marseille on July 3 and walk for 26 days until they reach their destination. As they marche, they sing their favorite song: the "War song for the Army of the Rhine". The Fédérés are young, and being from Marseille, they are loud, enthusiastic and outgoing.
They make a strong impression on the people they meet on their way to Paris. The war song becomes known as “The song of the Marseillais” (in short, “La Marseillaise”).
The song is so popular throughout France that it becomes the national anthem in 1795.
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Rouget de Lisle (1760-1836) was born in Lons-le-Saunier, France. He joins the army as an engineer, participating in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.
Because of his career in the military and his association with the French Revolution, Rouget de Lisle's is arrested and imprisoned several times.
After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, he is exiled from France. He returns in 1818 and lives the rest of his life in obscurity.
Lyrics: a never ending story!
The anthem was initially considered a revolutionary song, and the lyrics altered to suit the political climate of the times.
For example, references to the king and the aristocracy are removed, and new verses added to reflect the views of the revolution.
After the fall of Napoleon, the anthem changes again to reflect the restoration of the monarchy. All references to the Revolution are stripped away.
During the Third Republic (1870-1940), and after WWII, the lyrics are once again modified to reflect the values of the French Republic .
Tributes
A lot of artists, like Tchaikovsky (in his famous 1812 Overture), Wagner, The Beatles, Debussy or Serge Gainsbourg, have used the French anthem in their own way.
For instance, Gainsbourg’s tribute to the French anthem caused quite a stir when it was released “reggae style” in his album “Aux Armes et Caetera” (1979). Some called it a blasphemy!
Great album by the way. Highly recommended!
It wasn’t the first time Serge Gainsbourg was involved in a media scandal.
In 1967, his song "Je t'aime… moi non plus", originally written for Brigitte Bardot (Gainsbourg’s former lover), but ultimately recorded with Jane Birkin, was banned in several countries and denounced by the Vatican, for its sexual content.
Despite this scandal, or because of it, the song became a huge international success…If you don’t know the song, look it up on YouTube.
The Real Marseillaise!
(with lyrics in French and English)
A very powerful version in my opinion.
Missing translation of the last words:
March, march!
Let an impure blood
Water our furrows!