L'Internationale
Eugène PottierINGLESE / ENGLISH 3 | |
The Internationale Arise ye pris'ners of starvation Arise ye wretched of the earth For justice thunders condemnation A better world's in birth! No more tradition's chains shall bind us Arise, ye slaves, no more in thrall; The earth shall rise on new foundations We have been naught we shall be all. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union [1] shall be the human race. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union* shall be the human race. We want no condescending saviors to rule us from their judgement hall We workers ask not for their favors Let us consult for all. To make the theif disgorge his booty To free the spirit from its cell We must ourselves decide our duty We must decide and do it well. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. The law oppresses us and tricks us, the wage slave system drains our blood; The rich are free from obligation, The laws the poor delude. Too long we've languished in subjection, Equality has other laws; "No rights," says she "without their duties, No claims on equals without cause." 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. Behold them seated in their glory The kings of mine and rail and soil! What have you read in all their story, But how they plundered toil? Fruits of the workers' toil are buried In strongholds of the idle few In working for their restitution the men will only claim their due. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. We toilers from all fields united Join hand in hand with all who work; The earth belongs to us, the workers, No room here for the shirk. How many on our flesh have fattened! But if the norsome birds of prey Shall vanish from the sky some morning The blessed sunlight then will stay. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. 'Tis the final conflict Let each stand in his place The International Union shall be the human race. *In some versions: The International Soviet. | The Internationale Arise ye workers from your slumbers Arise ye prisoners of want! For reason in revolt now thunders And at last ends the age of cant. Away with all your superstitions Servile masses arise, arise We'll change henceforth the old tradition And spurn the dust to win the prize. So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! No more deluded by reaction On tyrants only we'll make war The soldiers too will take strike action They'll break ranks and fight no more. And if those cannibals keep trying To sacrifice us to their pride They soon shall hear the bullets flying We'll shoot the generals on our own side. So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! No saviour from on high delivers, No faith have we in prince or peer; Our own right hand the chains must shiver Chains of hatred, greed and fear. E'er the thieves will out with their booty And give to all a happier lot. Each at the forge must do their duty And we'll strike while the iron is hot! So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! So comrades, come rally And the last fight let us face! The Internationale unites the human race! |
[1] An old variant is "The International Soviet". |