Le Chant Des Partisans
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Analysis:During this time period, Germany was present in Germany and oppressing French people. After the government and the army capitulated and collaborated with the enemy, a group of workers, students, peasants or old soldiers was born: the French Resistance. This song clearly ask to all the people who still believe in liberty and freedom to fight Germany, whatever the way they fight. The whole song is full of meaning but those lyrics caught my attention:
“Ce soir l'ennemi connaîtra le prix du sang et des larmes. Montez de la mine, descendez des collines, camarades, Sortez de la paille les fusils, la mitraille, les grenades ; Ohé les tueurs, à la balle et au couteau tuez vite ! Ohé saboteur, attention à ton fardeau, dynamite ...” These lyrics clearly show that people were ready to fight the enemy and ready to kill. They wanted to be free again. For the following analysis, there is the translation of the lyrics under the French lyrics. “Le chant des partisans” presents Germany like tyrants and killers. It also demonstrates that they were ready to do everything to get their liberty back: kill, destroy, dynamite… This song is clearly pro war and pro revolution against the oppressor. It is comprehensible when the French government admitted the defeat and no collaborates with Germany. People were oppressed and chased, they had no rights and some of them still believed in victory. Those lyrics state that war is necessary against Germany : “La haine à nos trousses, et la faim qui nous pousse, la misère. …… Demain du sang noir séchera au grand soleil sur les routes, Chantez, compagnons, dans la nuit la liberté nous écoute.” As I said before, this song is the song of the French resistance and so, it is critical of the foreign policy of France. At first, France fought against Germany with Great Britain but quickly, Germany began to invade France because they had a better army and strategy. The French army which was one of the most powerful army in Europe had been destroyed by the German army. Soon, the Germans were walking to Paris and to the south of France. Without any army and to protect the beautiful cities of France, the government with its leader Petain decided to capitulate. But a lot of people disagreed with that. They were old soldiers, fathers, brothers, farmers, sisters, mothers, employees… All decided to fight against Germany by all the ways possible. They were kind of a secret army fighting the enemy without being seen fighting for liberty. One of the major questions that can be asked about a war is: how does war affect society? This song demonstrates that when there is a war, all the society is involved. Civilians are killed, soldiers fight, workers work for the army and everybody is mobilized to fight and lead the country to victory. “Ohé partisans, ouvriers et paysans, c'est l'alarme ! …. Ici chacun sait ce qu'il veut, ce qu'il fait, quand il passe ; Ami, si tu tombes, un ami sort de l'ombre à ta place.” These lyrics mean that everybody has to fight and they all help each other, they do this war together and they will die or win together. This song is really patriotic and prone liberty and freedom. Personally, I think the message that this song carry is an important message of solidarity and courage. Those people who had no rights, who were killed for no reason, who had nothing to feed their family and who loved their country and culture had no choice to fight by themselves after that they lost faith in their own government. This song gives courage and gathers people together and it is a exceptional lesson by this time when it was easier to collaborate with the enemy. -Antoine Paquet |