Composed the night of April 24, 1792, this revolutionary song par excellence was originally entitled "Chant de guerre de l'armeé du Rhin" (War Song of the Army of the Rhine). The tune became "La marseillaise" after it was adopted by Revolutionary troops from Marseille who stormed the Tuileries in Paris on August 10, 1792.

Stationed in Strasbourg, de Lisle (1760-1836) was a captain of engineers and amateur musician. In an ironic twist, he was imprisoned and almost executed on the guillotine because, as a royalist, he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new constitution.

The Convention decreed "La marseillaise" to be the national anthem on July 14, 1795, but it was soon banned by Napoleon during the Empire, and by Louis XVIII during the Second Restoration of 1815, because of its sentiments and revolutionary associations. It was re-accepted after the 1830 July Revolution only to be banned again by Napoleon III. It was permanently adopted in 1879.

The well-known tune, usually in G major, has a trumpet-call character which is harmonized mostly with basic tonic and dominant chords until the frightening images of the middle section which, almost operatically, usher in chords of the parallel minor. The refrain restores the strong patriotic tone.



(1) Allons enfants de la Patrie

Le jour de gloire est arrivé.

Contre nous, de la tyrannie,

L'étandard sanglant est levé,

l'étandard sanglant est levé,

Entendez-vous, dans la compagnes.

Mugir ces farouches soldats

Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras

Egorger vos fils,

vos compagnes.



(standard translation)

Let us go, children of the fatherland

Our day of Glory has arrived.

Against us stands tyranny,

The bloody flag is raised,

The bloody flag is raised.

Do you hear in the countryside

The roar of these savage soldiers

They come right into our arms

To cut the throats of your sons,

your country.



(translation by Percy Bysshe Shelley)



Ye sons of France, awake to glory,

Hark, hark, what myriads bid you rise:

Your children, wives and grandsires hoary,

Behold their tears and hear their cries,

see their tears and hear their cries!

Shall hateful tyrants mischief breeding

With hireling hosts, a ruffian band

Affright and desolate the land,

While peace and liberty lie bleeding?



(Refrain) Aux armes citoyens!

Formez vos bataillons,

Marchons, marchons!

Qu'un sang impur

Abreuve nos sillons.



(standard translation)

To arms, citizens!

Form up your battalions

Let us march, Let us march!

That their impure blood

Should water our fields



(2) Amour sacré de la Patrie,

Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs,

Liberté, liberté cherie,

Combats avec tes defénseurs;

Combats avec tes défenseurs.

Sous drapeaux, que la victoire

Acoure à tes mâles accents;

Que tes ennemis expirants

Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!



Sacred love of the fatherland

Guide and support our vengeful arms.

Liberty, beloved liberty,

Fight with your defenders;

Fight with your defenders.

Under our flags, so that victory

Will rush to your manly strains;

That your dying enemies

Should see your triumph and glory



(Refrain) Aux armes citoyens, etc.



To arms, citizens, etc.

© All Music Guide