Although the King's Singers are almost exclusively acappella in their live performances, they sometimes use one or two musical instruments to provide minimal accompaniment in their studio recordings.
La guerre
The King's Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La victoire du noble roy Françoys.
Et orrez, si bien escoutez,
Des coups ruez de tous costez.
Phiffres, soufflez,Frappez.
Tambours toujours!
Ensemble croisez vos bastons,
Bendez soudain, gentilz Gascons,
Nobles, sautez dens les arçons,
La lance au poing hardiz et promptz,
Comme lyons!
Haquebutiers, faictes voz sons!
Armes bouclez, frisques mignons,
Donnez dedans! Frappez dedans!
Alarme, alarme.
Soyez hardiz, en joye mis.
Chascun s'asaisonne,
La fleur de lys,
Fleur de hault pris,
Y est en personne.
Suivez Françoys,
Le roys Françoys,
Suivez la couronne!
Sonnez trompetes et clarons,
Pour resjouyr les compagnons.
Fan frere le le fan,
Fan fan feyne,
Fa ri ra ri ra,
A l'estandart,
Tost avan,
Boutez selle,
gens d'armes à cheval,
Frere le le lan.
Bruyez, tonnez,
Bombardes et canons,
Tonnez gros courtaux et faulcons,
Pour secourir les compaignons.
Von pa ti pa toc,
Ta ri ra ri ra ri ra reyne,
Pon, pon, pon, pon,
Courage, courage,
Donnez des horions.
Chipe, chope, torche, lorgne,
Pa ti pa toc,
Tricque, trac zin zin,
Tue! à mort; serre,
Courage prenez,
Frapez, tuez.
Gentilz gallans, soyez vaillans,
Frapez dessus, ruez dessus,
Fers émoluz, chiques dessus,
Alarme, alarme!
Ils sont confuz, its sont perduz,
Ils monstrent les talons.
Escampe toute frelore,
La tintelore,
Ilz sont deffaictz.
Victoire au noble roy Françoys,
Escampe toute frelore bigot.
The lyrics to The King's Singers's song La Guerre are a call to arms, rallying the soldiers to fight for their noble king and country. The opening lines urge the Gallois to listen and celebrate the victory of the noble King Françoys. The words "Phiffres, soufflez, Frappez" evoke the sounds of the fifes and drums, urging the soldiers to continue playing their instruments and pounding their drums. The next lines call on the adventurers and good companions to join together and cross their swords, as they prepare to take up arms against the enemy. The words "La lance au poing hardiz et promptz, Comme lyons!" emphasize the bravery that the soldiers must possess when charging into battle.
As the song progresses, the lyrics call for everyone to be courageous and fight bravely against the enemy. The words "Donnez dedans! Frappez dedans!" and "Frapez dessus, ruez dessus" call for the soldiers to be relentless in their attacks as they go to battle. The use of onomatopoeia in the words "Von pa ti pa toc" and "Pon, pon, pon, pon" signify the sounds of the cannons and gunfire, adding to the intensity and urgency of the song. The final lines declare the victory of the noble King Françoys, urging the defeated soldiers to escape and leave the battlefield.
Overall, the lyrics of La Guerre emphasize the bravery and courage needed by soldiers when going to war. It portrays the battlefield as chaotic and frenzied, with soldiers giving their all in the fight for their country and king.
Line by Line Meaning
Escoutez, tous gentilz galloys, La victoire du noble roy françoys.
Listen, all noble French people, to the victory of the noble king of France.
Et orrez, si bien escoutez, Des coups ruez de tous costez.
And hear, truly hear, the blows coming from all sides.
Phiffres, soufflez, Frappez. Tambours toujours!
Flutes, blow; drums, beat! Always maintain the rhythm!
Avanturiers, bons compagnons, Ensemble croisez vos bastons, Bendez soudain, gentilz gascons, Nobles, sautez dens les arçons, La lance au poing hardiz et promptz, Comme lyons!
Adventurers, good companions, cross your batons together! Gascons, be ready and noble, jump into your saddles! Hold your lances with courage and promptness, like lions!
Haquebutiers, faictes voz sons! Armes bouclez, frisques mignons, Donnez dedans! Frappez dedans! Alarme, alarme. Soyez hardiz, en joye mis.
Musket men, make your sounds! Arm yourselves, brisk lads, attack! Strike inside! Alarm, alarm! Be courageous, full of joy.
Chascun s'asaisonne, La fleur de lys, Fleur de hault pris, Y est en personne.
Everyone is ready, the fleur de lys, a flower of high honor, is represented by each person.
Suivez françoys, Le roys françoys, Suivez la couronne!
Follow Francois, the king Francois, follow the crown!
Sonnez trompetes et clarons, Pour resjouyr les compagnons.
Blow trumpets and horns, to rejoice the companions.
Fan frere le le fan, Fan fan feyne, Fa ri ra ri ra, A l'estandart, Tost avan, Boutez selle, gens d'armes à cheval, Frere le le lan.
Make the flag wave, quickly advance! Saddle up, cavalrymen! Join together and charge!
Bruyez, tonnez, Bombardes et canons, Tonnez gros courtaux et faulcons, Pour secourir les compaignons.
Make noise, thunder! Cannons and bombards, big short guns and falcons. Help your companions!
Von pa ti pa toc, Ta ri ra ri ra ri ra reyne, Pon, pon, pon, pon, Courage, courage, Donnez des horions.
Beat the rhythm! Courage, courage, give blows!
Chipe, chope, torche, lorgne, Pa ti pa toc, Tricque, trac zin zin, Tue! à mort; serre, Courage prenez, Frapez, tuez.
Stab, attack, torch, look, beat the rhythm! Take courage, strike, kill.
Gentilz gallans, soyez vaillans, Frapez dessus, ruez dessus, Fers émoluz, chiques dessus, Alarme, alarme!
Noble men, be brave! Strike and push forward! Polish your swords and strike! Alarm, alarm!
Ils sont confuz, its sont perduz, Ils monstrent les talons. Escampe toute frelore, La tintelore, Ilz sont deffaictz.
They are confused, they are lost, they show their heels. Runaway in fear, they are defeated.
Victoire au noble roy françoys, Escampe toute frelore bigot.
Victory to the noble king of France, all bigoted cowards run away in fear.
Contributed by Parker F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jem5254
Lyrics:
Escoutez, tous gentilz Galloys,
La victoire du noble roy Françoys.
Et orrez, si bien escoutez,
Des coups ruez de tous costez.
Phiffres, soufflez,Frappez.
Tambours toujours!
Avanturiers, bons compagnons,
Ensemble croisez vos bastons,
Bendez soudain, gentilz Gascons,
Nobles, sautez dens les arçons,
La lance au poing hardiz et promptz,
Comme lyons!
Haquebutiers, faictes voz sons!
Armes bouclez, frisques mignons,
Donnez dedans! Frappez dedans!
Alarme, alarme.
Soyez hardiz, en joye mis.
Chascun s'asaisonne,
La fleur de lys,
Fleur de hault pris,
Y est en personne.
Suivez Françoys,
Le roys Françoys,
Suivez la couronne!
Sonnez trompetes et clarons,
Pour resjouyr les compagnons.
Fan frere le le fan,
Fan fan feyne,
Fa ri ra ri ra,
A l'estandart,
Tost avan,
Boutez selle,
gens d'armes à cheval,
Frere le le lan.
Bruyez, tonnez,
Bombardes et canons,
Tonnez gros courtaux et faulcons,
Pour secourir les compaignons.
Von pa ti pa toc,
Ta ri ra ri ra ri ra reyne,
Pon, pon, pon, pon,
Courage, courage,
Donnez des horions.
Chipe, chope, torche, lorgne,
Pa ti pa toc,
Tricque, trac zin zin,
Tue! à mort; serre,
Courage prenez,
Frapez, tuez.
Gentilz gallans, soyez vaillans,
Frapez dessus, ruez dessus,
Fers émoluz, chiques dessus,
Alarme, alarme!
Ils sont confuz, its sont perduz,
Ils monstrent les talons.
Escampe toute frelore,
La tintelore,
Ilz sont deffaictz.
Victoire au noble roy Françoys,
Escampe toute frelore bigot.
@KayHarpaGone
Escoutez, tous gentilz Galloys,
La victoire du noble roy Françoys.
Et orrez, si bien escoutez,
Des coups ruez de tous costez.
Phiffres, soufflez, frappez
Tambours toujours !
Avanturiers, bons compagnons,
Ensemble croisez vos bastons,
Bendez soudain, gentilz Gascons,
Nobles, sautez dens les arçons,
La lance au poing hardiz et promptz,
Comme lyons !
Haquebutiers, faictes voz sons !
Armes bouclez, frisques mignons,
Donnez dedans ! Frappez dedans !
Alarme, alarme.
Soyez hardiz, en joye mis.
Chascun s'asaisonne,
La fleur de lys,
Fleur de hault pris,
Y est en personne.
Suivez Françoys,
Le roys Françoys,
Suivez la couronne!
Sonnez trompetes et clarons,
Pour resjouyr les compagnons.
Fan frere le le fan,
Fan fan feyne,
Fa ri ra ri ra,
A l'estandart,
Tost avan,
Boutez selle,
gens d'armes à cheval,
Frere le le lan.
Bruyez, tonnez,
Bombardes et canons,
Tonnez gros courtaux et faulcons,
Pour secourir les compaignons.
Von pa ti pa toc,
Ta ri ra ri ra ri ra reyne,
Pon, pon, pon, pon,
Courage, courage,
Donnez des horions.
Chipe, chope, torche, lorgne,
Pa ti pa toc,
Tricque, trac zin zin,
Tue ! à mort, serre,
Courage prenez,
Frapez, tuez.
Gentilz gallans, soyez vaillans,
Frapez dessus, ruez dessus,
Fers émoluz, chiques dessus,
Alarme, alarme!
Ils sont confuz, its sont perduz,
Ils monstrent les talons.
Escampe toute frelore,
La tintelore,
Ilz sont deffaictz.
Victoire au noble roy Françoys,
Escampe toute frelore bigot.
@capnhawkins
human singing at its finest! I've never seen a group of men having this much fun together.
@rosejuliet4113
Their rhythm is impeccable! The nuances and old french are very clear. And despite the difficulty of the piece they are comfortable enough to make it a bit of a show ;)
@tenor0590
Spectacular singing, these guys are the best singers i ever heard (and i heard a lot). Simply how they flow harmoniously with the music, and it felt as if this is exactly how Janequin wanted it to be. They perfected this song. Thanks for posting...
@clauded3220
Merveilleux ! ❤👍👍👍
@labananiere
Excellente intereprétation, fort belle musique que je connais depuis longtemps...
@akacentimetre
Heard them perform this last week in Boston - so accomplished, so humorous, just gorgeous. Their new bass Jonathan Howard (not the guy in this video) in particular has an utterly remarkable voice.
@catinabox3048
This gave me the shivers! That guy on the alto part was just splendid, holding his own against everyone else at the end (loser against the winners of the war). I also loved how the sped up the parts with the cannonshot onomatopoeia, which really gave that war effect.
@erciasico
This is the best batch of the King's Singers. I love them. I have their DVD Concert Performance "From Byrd to Beatles" and I should say they did a magnificent show. Very entertaining, too.
@frenchiecocorico1
There are not words enough to say how this rendition is great and imaginative. The pronunciation is quite right and respectful of the french renaissance uses. Even for french people it is intelligible.Ten thousand times Bravo.
@fortepianowalter
Fantastic!!!