The "Sambre-et-Meuse Regiment" is a French march composed by Robert Planquette and later arranged by Joseph-François Rauski. It is based on a poem written by Paul Cézano, following the defeat of France during the Franco-Prussian War. It was performed for the first time by the baritone Lucien Fugère in a Paris cabaret on 3 March 1870.
Lyrics[]
French original[]
Tous ces fiers enfants de la Gaule
Allaient sans trêve et sans repos
Avec leur fusil sur l'épaule
Courage au cœur et sac au dos
La gloire était leur nourriture
Ils étaient sans pain, sans souliers
La nuit, ils couchaient sur la dure
Avec leur sac pour oreiller
Refrain :
Le régiment de Sambre et Meuse
Marchait toujours au cri de « Liberté »
Cherchant la route glorieuse
Qui l'a conduit à l'immortalité
English translation[]
All these proud children of Gaul
Marched without respite or ease
With their rifles on their shoulders
Courage in their hearts and packs on their backs
Glory was their nourishment
With neither bread nor shoes
They slept on the hard ground
With their packs beneath their heads.
Chorus:
The regiment of "Sambre et Meuse"
Always marched to the call of freedom
Seeking the path of glory
That led them to immortality