Three Popular Songs of the French Revolution
How Songs and Lyrics Reflected Change in Revolutionary France
May 13, 2009
During the French Revolution there were numerous ways in which people kept track of current events - speeches, newspapers, pamphlets, cartoons and festivals - but only singing was accessible to all.
The Importance of Popular Song in Revolutionary France
Popular songs were vital to the sans-culottes, or working poor, of Paris, not only because they lifted the people's spirits, but singing let others know which side they supported and even warned enemies to stay away from their area.
As events changed, new lyrics were created using popular sentiments of the day. Often these lyrics would be printed and pasted up on walls and lampposts for the literate to read.
1. Ça Ira - A Popular Song of Early Revolutionary Paris
A street singer called Ladré put lyrics to a popular tune of the day, Ça Ira, when he discovered that Ça Ira, or 'We Will Win',was Benjamin Franklin's favourite phrase during the American Revolution. It became extremely popular. These were the early days of the Revolution. The year was 1789; the Bastille had fallen. Hopes were high for a bright future.
When the Revolution lost sight of its original intentions, the lyrics to Ça Ira changed ominously. The people felt that the Revolution was in danger and new lyrics reflected their anger.
In spite of the traitors all will succeed.
Let's string up the aristocrats on the lampposts!
We will win, we will win, we will win.
2. La Marseillaise - The French National Anthem
This song became popular with French soldiers in Marseille. Its composer was a well-educated army captain called Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a Royalist. When he composed the song in 1792 he called it War Song of the Army of the Rhine, but his rousing anthem was taken up by the volunteer Marseille soldiers who sang it as they marched into Paris to support the Revolution.
Ye sons of France, awake to glory!
Hark! Hark! The people bid you rise...
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
on liberty or death.
Unlike Ça Ira, which specifically targeted an aristocratic class as the enemy, La Marseillaise appeals to emotional needs, protection of families, peace, and liberty from tyranny. Therefore, it was popular with various groups involved in the Revolution. Today it is the French National Anthem.
As for Mr Rouget de Lisle, he was thrown into jail as a Royalist enemy, even though most of Paris was singing his song!
3. La Réveil du Peuple - Pacifist French Revolutionary Song
Whilst La Marseillaise was being sung all over Paris the Revolution had turned extremely violent. The King himself was executed on January 21st 1793.
Two people who were not in favour of violence and terror, the playwright J M Souriguieres and his friend, actor Pierre Gavaux, wrote La Réveil due Peuple (The Alarm of the People).
French people, people of brothers,
Can you watch, without shuddering in horror?
As crime unfurls its banners
Of carnage and terror?
Gangs of youths roamed the streets of Paris singing La Réveil du Peuple. If they heard the sound of The Marseillaise coming from any public place they would enter armed with clubs. Soon there were public battles between the two groups of singers. Eventually, those found singing La Réveil du Peuple were arrested.
The Revolution inspired great paintings and books, thousands of leaflets were pasted onto the walls of Paris, and great music was composed. But for the sans-culottes of Paris popular song was perhaps the most significant creation of all.
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