My small contribution, on Bastille Day, à la Résistance. This is one of the best political anthems I've ever heard. It's stirring, even if you know not an ounce of French. Damien Saez wrote this in 2002, as a response to the election that saw Jean-Marie Le Pen, the super-rightwing racist, place second in the French national elections.
But the song is universal — it works for all who believe in the rights of man, and in resistance. The inactive and disconsolate need not apply.
First the clip, then my meager translation, for those who wish to follow along.
- Sons of France
Damien Saez
"40% of voters 18-25 years old didn't vote. Unimaginable!"
I saw, with tears in my eyes, this morning in the news
20% for the horror, 20% for the fear.
Drunk with unawareness, all of them sons of France
In the land of Enlightenment, suicidal forgetfulness.
No-no-no no no
No-no-no no no
We are, we are . . . the land of the Rights of Man
We are, we are . . . the nation of Tolerance
We are, we are . . . the land of Enlightenment
We are, we are . . . at the hour of Résistance
For all the dreams we had, for those that we will dream
For the fist that we have lifted, and the fist that we will make
We march for utopia, we march for a better we,
Allons marchons together, enfants de la patrie.
Sons of France!
. . .
Behind us there are shadows, traitors and their plots
The banners that they fly, their anthems and their shouts.
And then there is you, my brother — you, who believes no more
And there are all our prayers, and our lost causes too.
Shame on our country, shame on our patrie
Shame on us, the young, shame on the tyranny
Shame on our country — look, the old enemy!
Allons marchons together, enfants de la patrie.
We are, we are . . . the land of the Rights of Man
We are, we are . . . the nation of Tolerance
We are, we are . . . the land of Enlightenment
We are, we are . . . at the hour of Résistance !
Powerful stuff. À la Résistance !
GP
