Marie Marshall

Traditional (anon.), tr. Marie Marshall

Young Missus Veto said to me
She’d slit the throat of all Paree.
Young Missus Veto said to me
She’d slit the throat of all Paree.
But see the plan she laid
Spoilt by our cannonade!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

Old Mister Veto said to me
He’d give his realm fidelity.
Old Mister Veto said to me
He’d give his realm fidelity.
But this he failed to do,
We’ll give no quarter too!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

Antoinette said “Let it pass
The common crowd falls on its arse.”
Antoinette said “Let it pass
The common crowd falls on its arse.”
But in the market-place
She fell flat on her face!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

Louis the King thought he had won
But we’re the champions, every one.
Louis the King thought he had won
But we’re the champions, every one.
Cry-baby Louis – weep
From your palace to the keep!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!  

When Antoinette was shown her cell
She began to weep as well.
When Antoinette was shown her cell
She began to weep as well.
She fainted and fell down,
All because she’d lost her crown!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

The bloody Switzers* made a vow
They’d gun down our comrades now.
The bloody Switzers made a vow
They’d gun down our comrades now.
But look at how they prance,
Our bullets make ‘em dance!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

Comrades, forever we’ll unite
No matter who comes here to fight.
Comrades, forever we’ll unite
No matter who comes here to fight.
Attack us if they dare,
We’ll give ‘em such a scare!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

Comrades, remember their renown,
The Sans-Culottes from our town.
Comrades, remember their renown,
The Sans-Culottes from our town.
We’ll raise a glass and sing,
The bells of freedom ring!

Let’s dance the Carmagnole
– hear ‘em roar, hear ‘em roar!
All dance the Carmagnole
– hear how loud the cannons roar!

__________

* ‘Switzers’ here refers to Swiss mercenaries in the pay of the King of France.

There are several variants of this song. The words have been translated very freely and are possibly more ‘jokey’ than the original. As with all the better-known songs of the French Revolutionary period, this is actually a very rousing piece of music. If you would like to sing along, you will find the tune here.