La guerre
Clément Janequin Lyrics
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La victoire du noble roi François
Et orez, si bien escoutez,
des coups ruez de touts costés.
Fifres soufflez, frappez tambours,
Soufflez, jouez, sonnez toujours,
Tournez, virez, faites vos tours,
Avanturiers, bons compagnons,
Ensemble croisez vos bastons.
La lance au point, hardis et prompts,
Nobles sautez dans les arçons,
Hardis comme lyons.
Donnez dedans, frappez, criez
Allarme, allarme, allarme.
Chacun s’asaisonne, chacun se saisonne.
La fleur de lys, fleur de haut prix,
Y est en personne.
Sonnez trompettes et clairons
Pour réjouir les compaignons.
A l’étendard tost avant
Boutez selle, boutez selle.
Bruyez bombardes et canons
Pour secourir les compaignons.
Courage, donnez des horions
Tue, tue, tue, chipe, chope, torche,
A mort, à mort, donnez dessus
Frappez dessus, ruez dessus,
Ils sont perdus, ils sont confus.
Victoire au noble roi François!
The song La guerre by Clément Janequin is a French Renaissance song that celebrates the victory of King Francois I in a battle against the Welsh. In the song, the singer invites the Gallois, or the Welsh, to listen to the news of the victory and to hear the sounds of the battle. The use of musical instruments, such as fifes and drums, highlights the atmosphere of the battlefield, while the lyrics encourage the soldiers to be brave and fight with honor. The use of agricultural metaphors, such as "chacun s’asaisonne, chacun se saisonne" (each one seasons him/herself), is a clever way to attribute virtues of the natural world to the soldiers.
The lyrics also mention the importance of the emblem of the French monarchy, the fleur de lys. The singer points out that the flower is present in person, which could mean that it is carried by a flag bearer, a soldier, or even the king himself. The song ends with a call for victory to King Francois, and the repetition of the phrase "victoire au noble roi François" reinforces the importance of the king's bravery and leadership.
Line by Line Meaning
Escoutez tous, gentils Gallois,
Listen everyone, kind Welsh people,
La victoire du noble roi François
About the victory of the noble King Francois
Et orez, si bien escoutez,
And listen well,
des coups ruez de touts costés.
About blows being dealt on all sides.
Fifres soufflez, frappez tambours,
Play the flutes, beat the drums,
Soufflez, jouez, sonnez toujours,
Blow, play, and ring out constantly,
Tournez, virez, faites vos tours,
Rotate, turn, and do your tricks,
Soufflez, jouez, sonnez toujours.
Blow, play, and ring out constantly.
Avanturiers, bons compagnons,
Adventurers, good companions,
Ensemble croisez vos bastons.
Together, clash your weapons.
La lance au point, hardis et prompts,
With your lances at the ready, bold and prompt,
Nobles sautez dans les arçons,
Nobles, jump on your horses,
Hardis comme lyons.
As bold as lions.
Donnez dedans, frappez, criez
Charge in, strike, and shout,
Allarme, allarme, allarme.
Alarm, alarm, alarm.
Chacun s’asaisonne, chacun se saisonne.
Everyone prepares and gears up.
La fleur de lys, fleur de haut prix,
The fleur-de-lis, a flower of high value,
Y est en personne.
Is there in person.
Sonnez trompettes et clairons
Blow the trumpets and bugles,
Pour réjouir les compaignons.
To cheer up the companions.
A l’étendard tost avant
Quickly to the banner,
Boutez selle, boutez selle.
Mount your horses, mount your horses.
Bruyez bombardes et canons
Pump the bombs and cannons,
Pour secourir les compaignons.
To aid the companions.
Courage, donnez des horions
Courage, give them a blow,
Tue, tue, tue, chipe, chope, torche,
Kill, kill, kill, grab, grab, torch,
A mort, à mort, donnez dessus
To death, to death, strike them down,
Frappez dessus, ruez dessus,
Hit them, strike them,
Ils sont perdus, ils sont confus.
They are lost, they are confused.
Victoire au noble roi François!
Victory for the noble King Francois!
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Orbilius Magister
A piece from a time when war was the rule and peace the exception.
Absolutely breathtaking amount of virtuosism is shown to match such tongue-twisting lyrics with rhytmically challenging counterpoint. The King's Singers can turn this into a spectacular musical painting: that's what madrigals were written for.
Inspector Patricia
This is the best performance of this peace imo! I have to listen to this for my music school, but this one is actually remarkable and enjoyable on its own!
M. Faceless
C'est magnifique ! Je suis transporté par cette oeuvre ! J'éprouve alors le sentiment d'être né à la mauvaise époque ! J'adore cet artiste
RoseofGilead
Thank you for this. This is one of my favorite pieces.
Raphaël Vanhoutte
c'est vraiment pas ouf désolé
en plus c'est en français des années 1500
eduardo cruz
que coisa maravilhosa. parabéns.
C. Saint-Saëns
Great work as usual.
Lamdur Toci
Comment je kiffe ce son !
nael marotte
trop c du rap pur
quelqu'un
wow ! interprétation de malade ! les king's singers comme par hasard...