French military songs and marches

[Vergennes]

Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend) or Le Prisonnier de Hollande. (The prisonner of Holland)

The text was inspired by Louis XIV’s campaign against Holland (1672-78),and was allegedly written by André Joubert du Collet, Lord of the Collet, a native of Bourgneuf-en-Retz and lieutenant in the French Royal Navy. It could however be derived from a song dating from the sixteenth century.

He was captured by the Dutch during a raid on the island of Noirmoutier during the war they engaged against the French and the English between 1672 and 1679 (War of Holland).
The Dutch kept him two years in captivity with other prisoners of this raid. The French prisoners were released only by the payment of a ransom by King Louis XIV. To thank the King,André Joubert then offered him this song he wrote in captivity,Au près de ma blonde,in memory of his wife. It became a popular marching song.
It is reported that the troops of the Marshal of France,Duke de Villars sung this song while entering Le Quesnoy in 1712. It also became the marching song of the regiment of Champagne.

A very nice song. @Nilgiri @Blue Marlin @AUSTERLITZ @Penguin @vostok

 

[Blue Marlin]

Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend) or Le Prisonnier de Hollande. (The prisonner of Holland)

The text was inspired by Louis XIV’s campaign against Holland (1672-78),and was allegedly written by André Joubert du Collet, Lord of the Collet, a native of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, a lieutenant in the French Royal Navy, is the supposed author of this famous song. It could however be derived from a song dating from the sixteenth century.

He was captured by the Dutch during a raid on the island of Noirmoutier during the war they engaged against the French and the English between 1672 and 1679 (War of Holland). The Dutch kept him two years in captivity with other prisoners of this raid. The French prisoners were released only by the payment of a ransom by King Louis XIV. To thank the King,André Joubert then offered him this song he wrote in captivity,Au près de ma blonde,in memory of his wife. It became a popular marching song.
It is reported that the troops of the Marshal of France,Duke de Villars sung this song while entering Le Quesnoy in 1712. It also became the marching song of the regiment of Champagne.

A very nice song. @Nilgiri @Blue Marlin @AUSTERLITZ @Penguin @vostok

is it me or is the girlfriend part of the french translation blonde?
Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend)

so are all french women blonde if so then i dont think my friend angelica is french then as she's a brunette.
time to call in the cavalry @Vergennes you have an imposter!

 

[HannibalBarca]

is it me or is the girlfriend part of the french translation blonde?
Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend)

so are all french women blonde if so then i dont think my friend angelica is french then as she's a brunette.
time to call in the cavalry @Vergennes you have an imposter!

Back in the Time you could use the word "blonde" as meaning of "gf".

 

[Vergennes]

is it me or is the girlfriend part of the french translation blonde?
Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend)

so are all french women blonde if so then i dont think my friend angelica is french then as she's a brunette.
time to call in the cavalry @Vergennes you have an imposter!

Blonde back in the time could be used to designate your girlfriend. Ma blonde = My girlfriend. This term isn't very commonly used in France nowadays,but remains very used in Québec. @Nilgiri

 

[Nilgiri]

Auprès de ma blonde. (Next to my girlfriend) or Le Prisonnier de Hollande. (The prisonner of Holland)

The text was inspired by Louis XIV’s campaign against Holland (1672-78),and was allegedly written by André Joubert du Collet, Lord of the Collet, a native of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, a lieutenant in the French Royal Navy, is the supposed author of this famous song. It could however be derived from a song dating from the sixteenth century.

He was captured by the Dutch during a raid on the island of Noirmoutier during the war they engaged against the French and the English between 1672 and 1679 (War of Holland). The Dutch kept him two years in captivity with other prisoners of this raid. The French prisoners were released only by the payment of a ransom by King Louis XIV. To thank the King,André Joubert then offered him this song he wrote in captivity,Au près de ma blonde,in memory of his wife. It became a popular marching song.
It is reported that the troops of the Marshal of France,Duke de Villars sung this song while entering Le Quesnoy in 1712. It also became the marching song of the regiment of Champagne.

A very nice song. @Nilgiri @Blue Marlin @AUSTERLITZ @Penguin @vostok

Yah this is famous one...I know it well (since a kid really). Thanks for the background info.

This is one of my favourite renditions of it:

@Signalian @django @Hell hound @Zibago

I also remember Jean Luc Picard humming/singing it at the end (with his brother) of the TNG episode where he goes back to visit his native France.

I think it captures France like very few other tunes.

@Taygibay

 

[Louiq XIV]

I've learned this one in 1995 when I was in the 1er of Infantry (1er RI which is the one of the oldest regiment of the western world created in 1479) with some slightly different lyrics and under the name of "La Sarrebourgeoise" instead of "La Strasbourgeoise"

 

[Vergennes]

AU 31 DU MOIS D’ Août SONG​

The saturday night we returned from the battlefield of Waterloo, exhausted but proud and the boys of the 58th began to sing a song. I had heard already the refrain, to James and Diego, but this time they sang whole song. Later speaking with them, they commented to me that was called “Au 31 of mois d’aout” and that was a song of the French navy.

Surcouf statue at Saint-Malo

This traditional song of the navy, narrates the history of a small French ship that captured a English ship much more bigger than it was. Several versions exist, with small variations, but basically with the same argument.

It commemorates the combat of the 31 of August of 1800 (although some sources they make reference to the 7 of October) between the French Corsair “Confiance” and English frigate “Kent”. The Captain Robert Surcouf, has the command of the “Confiance”, a sloop (ship of 6º class) of 400 tons, with 150 crew and 18 guns. The English frigate “Kent” (ship of 4º class), of 1200 tn, a crew of 400 men and with 38 guns, that belonged to the Company of the Eastern Indians.

Captain Surcouf, sight the English ship, and put prow to the enemy. The “Kent” trusting its superiority, realised a warning shot, Surcouf raised the flag and the crew prepared herself for the combat. Both ships turned at the same time, and the “Kent” send a broadside, who do not accuse damages in the “Confiance”. Both captains looked for advantage on their opponent, the “Kent” look for a good firing position for their superior artillery, the “Confiance” to approach by the stern of the “Kent” to approach it and to thus avoid their guns. A broadside by port of the “Kent” damage the pawl of the “Confiance”, the “Kent” turned to try to shoot the starboard guns, this maneuver was useful by the “Confiance” to approach to the “Kent” by port with the unloaded guns. A shrapnel discharge district the cover of the “Kent”, killing to the captain and creating great confusion, which was taken advantage of by the French to approach the “Kent”. After a hard fight the “Kent” surrendered. The “Kent” underwent 11 dead and 36 injured, the “Confiance” 16 injured, of who 3 would die of their wounds.

During the refrain, it is mentioned the king of France, could have to the adaptation of a older song or to an adjustment subsequent to the end of the First Empire. This song is one of most popular of the navy. In that is praised the bravery of the French sailors in its fight against the secular enemy, England. Its refrain, in which it cheers up to offer and drinking, did it very popular in the taverns of the ports.

http://batalladevitoria1813.org/french-napoleonic-songs-au-31-de-mois-daout/

@Nilgiri @vostok @Horus @WAJsal @flamer84 @AUSTERLITZ @Taygibay

The refrain rather hurts.

Buvons un coup, buvons en deux,
A la santé des amoureux
A la santé du Roi de France,
Et merde pour le Roi d’Angleterre
Qui nous a déclaré la guerre!

Let's have a drink,let's have another,
To the health of the truelovers
To the health of the King of France,
And shyt for the King of England
who declared war to us!

And

Que dira t-on de lui tantôt
A Brest, à Londres et à Bordeaux
De s'être ainsi laissé surprendre
Par un corsaire de quinze canons
Lui qu'en avait trente six et d'bons?

​

What would be said of it now
In Brest,London and Bordeaux,
That it let itself taken
By a corsair of fifteen canons
He,who had thirty and so good.

By the way,a small anecdote says that after the capture of the Kent,an English officer told Surcouf ;

“We, the English, fight for the honor, and you French, fight for the money”

To which Captain Robert Surcouf, replied :

“Each of us fights for what he lacks most”​

 

[Nilgiri]

AU 31 DU MOIS D’ Août SONG​

The saturday night we returned from the battlefield of Waterloo, exhausted but proud and the boys of the 58th began to sing a song. I had heard already the refrain, to James and Diego, but this time they sang whole song. Later speaking with them, they commented to me that was called “Au 31 of mois d’aout” and that was a song of the French navy.

Surcouf statue at Saint-Malo

This traditional song of the navy, narrates the history of a small French ship that captured a English ship much more bigger than it was. Several versions exist, with small variations, but basically with the same argument.

It commemorates the combat of the 31 of August of 1800 (although some sources they make reference to the 7 of October) between the French Corsair “Confiance” and English frigate “Kent”. The Captain Robert Surcouf, has the command of the “Confiance”, a sloop (ship of 6º class) of 400 tons, with 150 crew and 18 guns. The English frigate “Kent” (ship of 4º class), of 1200 tn, a crew of 400 men and with 38 guns, that belonged to the Company of the Eastern Indians.

Captain Surcouf, sight the English ship, and put prow to the enemy. The “Kent” trusting its superiority, realised a warning shot, Surcouf raised the flag and the crew prepared herself for the combat. Both ships turned at the same time, and the “Kent” send a broadside, who do not accuse damages in the “Confiance”. Both captains looked for advantage on their opponent, the “Kent” look for a good firing position for their superior artillery, the “Confiance” to approach by the stern of the “Kent” to approach it and to thus avoid their guns. A broadside by port of the “Kent” damage the pawl of the “Confiance”, the “Kent” turned to try to shoot the starboard guns, this maneuver was useful by the “Confiance” to approach to the “Kent” by port with the unloaded guns. A shrapnel discharge district the cover of the “Kent”, killing to the captain and creating great confusion, which was taken advantage of by the French to approach the “Kent”. After a hard fight the “Kent” surrendered. The “Kent” underwent 11 dead and 36 injured, the “Confiance” 16 injured, of who 3 would die of their wounds.

During the refrain, it is mentioned the king of France, could have to the adaptation of a older song or to an adjustment subsequent to the end of the First Empire. This song is one of most popular of the navy. In that is praised the bravery of the French sailors in its fight against the secular enemy, England. Its refrain, in which it cheers up to offer and drinking, did it very popular in the taverns of the ports.

http://batalladevitoria1813.org/french-napoleonic-songs-au-31-de-mois-daout/

@Nilgiri @vostok @Horus @WAJsal @flamer84 @AUSTERLITZ @Taygibay

The refrain rather hurts.

Buvons un coup, buvons en deux,
A la santé des amoureux
A la santé du Roi de France,
Et merde pour le Roi d’Angleterre
Qui nous a déclaré la guerre!

Let's have a drink,let's have another,
To the health of the truelovers
To the health of the King of France,
And shyt for the King of England
who declared war to us!

And

Que dira t-on de lui tantôt
A Brest, à Londres et à Bordeaux
De s'être ainsi laissé surprendre
Par un corsaire de quinze canons
Lui qu'en avait trente six et d'bons?

​

What would be said of it now
In Brest,London and Bordeaux,
That it let itself taken
By a corsair of fifteen canons
He,who had thirty and so good.

By the way,a small anecdote says that after the capture of the Kent,an English officer told Surcouf ;

“We, the English, fight for the honor, and you French, fight for the money”

To which Captain Robert Surcouf, replied :

“Each of us fights for what he lacks most”​

Sheesh at least the scots were a bit more polite about it.....they only sing of sending the english king homeward to think again (Battle of Bannockburn) ....though I suppose they have a few more rude bar songs hehe

Here is the song I am talking of.....the Scots and French have an....interesting....military alliance history...so not completely off topic :

 

[Vergennes]

 

[Louiq XIV]

This one below is a beautiful song used in the French army but comes from the Pacific ocean.

Respect to all the French warriors from Wallis-et-Futuna. I met some of them in the 1erRI

The lyrics are in Wallisian.

Te sitima

I
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai siokou foi loto
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai, siokou foi loto.

Chorus
Fakapo, fakapo
Moleke Galo, moleke galo
Ouwallissi ite vaha mamao

II
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai siokou foi loto
Kaou nofo mote gaasi sino
O faka manatou nayaou mamio

III
Te sitima tali tali maine
Kae fai kohakou taouine
Kae fai kohakou taouine
Kite finemoui fouli otokou kele.

Traduction en Français
Le bateau en s’ éloignant
Emporte mon cœur
Jamais je n’ oublierai
Walis mon pays lointain.
Le bateau en s’ éloignant
Emporte mon cœur
J’ aurais juste l’ image de ton corps
En souvenir de notre amitié.
Le bateau attendra
Que je puisse faire
Mes adieux à toutes les filles
De mon pays.

English Translation
The boat moving away
Carry my heart
I will never forget
Walis my distant country.
The boat moving away
Carry my heart
I would just have the image of your body
In remembrance of our friendship.
The boat will wait
That I can do
Farewell to all girls
From my country.

 

[Vergennes]

This one below is a beautiful song used in the French army but comes from the Pacific ocean.

Respect to all the French warriors from Wallis-et-Futuna. I met some of them in the 1erRI

The lyrics are in Wallisian.

Te sitima

I
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai siokou foi loto
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai, siokou foi loto.

Chorus
Fakapo, fakapo
Moleke Galo, moleke galo
Ouwallissi ite vaha mamao

II
Te sitima, siana faka galo
Aveai siokou foi loto
Kaou nofo mote gaasi sino
O faka manatou nayaou mamio

III
Te sitima tali tali maine
Kae fai kohakou taouine
Kae fai kohakou taouine
Kite finemoui fouli otokou kele.

Traduction en Français
Le bateau en s’ éloignant
Emporte mon cœur
Jamais je n’ oublierai
Walis mon pays lointain.
Le bateau en s’ éloignant
Emporte mon cœur
J’ aurais juste l’ image de ton corps
En souvenir de notre amitié.
Le bateau attendra
Que je puisse faire
Mes adieux à toutes les filles
De mon pays.

English Translation
The boat moving away
Carry my heart
I will never forget
Walis my distant country.
The boat moving away
Carry my heart
I would just have the image of your body
In remembrance of our friendship.
The boat will wait
That I can do
Farewell to all girls
From my country.

Awesome,j'en ai eu des frissons.
Respect to all those courageous warriors from the Pacific serving in the French Armed Forces.

 

[Louiq XIV]

We almost forgot "malbrough s'en va-t'en guerre" one of the most famous French military song.

The song has also been used as an opera song

The tune (which possibly originated from the middle east during crusade wars) has been used in the English "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and in many other European countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlbrough_s'en_va-t-en_guerre