It was the year of ’93 The French did plant an olive tree The symbol of great liberty And the people danced around it O wasn’t I telling you, The French declared courageously That Equality, Freedom and Fraternity Would be the cry of every nation
In ’94 a new campaign The tools of darkness did maintain Gall’s brave sons they did form a league And their foes they were dumb-founded They gave to Flanders liberty And all its people they set free The Dutch and Austrians home did flee And the Dukes they were confounded
Behold may all of human-kind Emancipated with the French combine May laurels green all on them shine And their sons and daughters long wear them May every tyrant shake with dread And tremble for their guilty head May the Fleur-de-Lis in dust be laid And they no longer wear them
For Church and State in close embrace Is the burden of the Human Race And the people tell you to your face That you will long repent it For Kings in power and preaching drones Are the cause of all your heavy groans Down from your pulpits, down from your thrones You will tumble unlamented. O wasn’t I telling you, The French declared courageously That Equality, Freedom and Fraternity Would be the cry of every nation
Compositores: Trad. Arr. Karan Casey, Donald Shaw (mcps)