La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, has had connotations of revolution and progress around the world. With its lyrics calling to avenge tyranny, it’s made for a fitting theme song for dozens of political movements throughout history. One of them, the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) of the UK, adopted it in the early 20th century as the “Women’s Marseillaise” with new lyrics to rally women around the cause of suffrage. You can hear some of the women in How the Vote Was Won sing this tune as they prepare to fight for their cause.
The original lyrics in French and English:
| Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé! 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! |
Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived! Against us, tyranny’s Bloody standard is raised The bloody standard is raised 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, Let’s march, let’s march! Let an impure blood Water our furrows! |
Lyrics to The Women’s Marseillaise (with other suffrage tunes):
You can hear the melody in the video below. It features the Paris Commune Anthem, which has different lyrics that also fit with the progressive theme. The folk feel, as I (the dramaturg) have felt, might make it more suitable for a women’s anthem rather than a national one.