Le Chant des Girondins

"Le Chant des Girondins" ('The Chant of the Girondins') was the national anthem of the French Second Republic, written for the drama Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge by the writer Alexandre Dumas with Auguste Maquet. The lines of the refrain were borrowed from "Roland à Roncevaux", a song written in Strasbourg by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, the author of "La Marseillaise".^[1] The music is by conductor-composer Alphonse Varney.^[2]

Le Chant des Girondins

English: 'The Chant of the Girondins'
Music cover to "Chant of the Girondins", featuring Lamartine
Former national anthem of France
Lyrics	Alexandre Dumas Auguste Maquet Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Music	Alphonse Varney
Adopted	1848
Relinquished	1852
Preceded by	"La Parisienne"
Succeeded by	"Partant pour la Syrie"
Audio sample
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Lyrics

French original

English translation

I Par la voix du canon d’alarmes La France appelle ses enfants, – Allons dit le soldat, aux armes ! C’est ma mère, je la défends. Refrain : Mourir pour la Patrie Mourir pour la Patrie C’est le sort le plus beau, le plus digne d’envie C’est le sort le plus beau, le plus digne d’envie II Nous, amis, qui loin des batailles Succombons dans l’obscurité, Vouons du moins nos funérailles A la France, à la liberté. Refrain III Frères, pour une cause sainte, Quand chacun de nous est martyr, Ne proférons pas une plainte, La France, un jour doit nous bénir. Refrain IV Du Créateur de la nature, Bénissons encore la bonté, Nous plaindre serait une injure, Nous mourons pour la liberté. Refrain

I By the voice of the alarm gun France calleth her children, – "Come," said the soldier, to arms! It's my mother, her do I defend. Refrain: Dying for the Homeland Dying for the Homeland It's the most beautiful, most desirable fate It's the most beautiful, most desirable fate II We friends who far from battles Succumbing in the darkness, Let us at least take our funeral To France, to freedom. Refrain III Brothers, for a holy cause, When each of us is martyred, Make not a complaint, France, one day ought to bless us. Refrain IV From the Creator of Nature, Let us bless the goodness still, Complaining would an insult be, For freedom we die. Refrain

References

1. "France (1848-1852) – nationalanthems.info".
2. "IMSLP: Chant des Girondins".

External sources

• Music Sheet (Page 1) (in French)
• Music Sheet (Page 2) (in French)