Ah! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira, a refrain that symbolizes the Revolution, was heard for the first time in May 1790. Its author, a former soldier street singer by the name of Ladré, had adapted innocuous words on the National Carillon, a very popular contredanse air due to Bécourt, violinist at the Beaujolais theater and which Queen Marie-Antoinette herself often liked to play on her harpsichord.
The title and theme of the chorus of this song were inspired by the imperturbable optimism of Benjamin Franklin, a representative much appreciated by the French people of the Congress of the 13 colonies of America in Paris, from December 22, 1776 to July 12, 1785 who, when asked for news of the American Revolutionary War, invariably answered in his bad French:"Ca ira, ca ira" (for English:It'll be fine). During the Revolution, the text was transformed by the sans-culottes into murderous apostrophes towards the aristocracy and the clergy. The “Ça ira” survived Thermidor and the Directory even ordered that it be sung before each performance. It was banned under the Consulate.
The chorus is:
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine, the aristocrats with the lantern,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine, we will hang the aristocrats!
The lyrics, on the other hand, have undergone changes due to additions due to circumstances related to the evolution of the Revolution.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
The people constantly repeat this day,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
Despite the mutineers everything will succeed.
Our confused enemies leave it at that
And we let's sing "Hallelujah!" »
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
When Boileau once spoke of the clergy
Like a prophet he predicted this.
While singing my ditty
With pleasure we will say:
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
According to the maxims of the gospel
From the legislator everything will be accomplished.
He who rises we will lower him
He who lowers himself we will raise him.
The true catechism will instruct us
And the dreadful fanaticism will be extinguished.
To be obedient to the law
Every Frenchman will practice.
Ah ! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
Pierrette and Margot sing the guinguette
Let's rejoice, the good times will come!
The French people once quia,
The aristocrat said:“Mea culpa! "
The clergy regrets the good they have,
By justice, the nation will have it.
By the prudent Lafayette,
Everyone will calm down.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
By the torches of the august assembly,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
The armed people will always keep themselves.
We will know the true from the false,
The citizen for good will support.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
When the aristocrat protests,
The good citizen in the nose will laugh at him,
Without having a troubled soul,
The strongest will always be.
Young and old alike are soldiers at heart,
During the war none will betray.
With heart every good Frenchman will fight,
If he sees anything suspicious, will boldly speak.
Lafayette said:“Come whoever wants to! »
Without fear of fire or flame,
The French will always win!
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
The aristocrats with the lantern,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
We will hang the aristocrats!
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
The aristocrats with the lantern.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!
We will hang the aristocrats.
If we don't hang them
We They will break
If we don't break them
We will burn them.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
We no longer had any nobles or priests,
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
Equality everywhere will reign.
The Austrian slave will follow him,
Ah ! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
And their infernal click
The devil will fly away.
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
The aristocrats with the lantern;
Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine,
We will hang the aristocrats;
And when we have hanged them all,
We'll give them the shovel in the c...