- Joanne Lobo
Original:
Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Translation:
Let's go children of the Fatherland
The day of glory has come!
The calm before the storm? Affirmative.
Nonetheless, this enthusiastic beginning does not foreshadow the gory lyrics that follow-
Original:
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé
L'étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens
Formez vos bataillons
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
Translation:
Against us from the tyranny
Bloody standard is raised, (repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They're coming right into your arms
To cut the throats of your sons, your women!
To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
March, march!
Let an impure blood
Water our furrows!
National anthems are written with inspiration, motivation and patriotism for the country. Just like India proudly sings the Jana Gana Mana, the French find glory in La Marseillaise. While it fills the surroundings with an uplifting and nationalistic aura, this anthem is also undeniably violent.
Originally titled ‘Chant de guerre de l’armée du Rhin’, this War Song of the Army of the Rhine was banned thrice by Napoleon, Louis XVIII and Napoleon III. The constant banning and reinstating of La Marseillaise as the national anthem of France manifests the conclusion of its problematic nature.
In one of the pages of our history textbook remains an age-old phrase that solves the mystery behind the origin of this intense anthem and that is the French Revolution. While the lyrics can be viewed as preposterous, they played a prominent role.
It was composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a French army officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. War was declared on Austria, by France in 1792. It was then that the then mayor of Strasbourg, Baron Philippe Friedrich Dietrich prompted Rouget de Lisle to conceive patriotic songs, of which La Marseillaise went on to become the national anthem of France.
Rouget de Lisle
La Marseillaise was sung with great pride at the Battle of Valmy after the French gained a victory against the Prussians who had retreated without impetus.
Battle of Valmy
Ironically the BBC News dubbed La Marseillaise as ‘The Greatest National Anthem in the World, Ever'. They claim that this anthem is a great example of courage and solidarity when facing danger. According to them, that’s what makes it invigorating and the greatest national anthem in the world.
Are the lyrics too sanguinary? Compared to the national anthems of other countries, it is. However, this anthem predominantly paints a picture of the valour depicted by the determined soldiers who sought to bring back their lost freedom to the colonised French.
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