Les Trois Glorieuses

For the French Revolution of 1830, see Three Glorious Days.

Les Trois Glorieuses'

English: Three Glorious Days
Former national anthem of the Congo
Lyrics	Jacques Tondra and Georges Kibanghi
Music	Jean Royer and Joseph Spadilière
Adopted	January 1, 1970
Relinquished	1990

Les Trois Glorieuses was the anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1970 through 1991, when the original anthem, La Congolaise was restored.

The anthem was named after a three-day uprising in 1963 which resulted in the overthrow of the first President, Fulbert Youlou.

The lyrics were written by Henri Lopès and the music was composed by Philippe Mockouamy. Mockouamy was at the time a colonel in the Congolese Army and served in its main military band from 1970 to 1990.

Lyrics

Lève toi, Patrie courageuse,
Toi qui en trois journées glorieuses
Saisis et porte le drapeau
Pour un Congo libre et nouveau,
Qui ne jamais plus ne faillira,
Que personne n'effrayera.

Refrain:
Nous avons brisés nos chaines,
Nous travaillerons sans peine,
Nous sommes une Nation souveraine.

Si trop tôt me tue l'ennemi,
Brave camarade, saisis mon fusil;
Et si la balle touche mon coeur,
Toutes nos soeurs se lèveront sans peur,
Et nos monts, nos flots en fureur
Repousseront l'envahisseur.

Refrain

Ici commence la Patrie
Où chaque humain a le même prix.
Notre seul guide c'est le Peuple.
Notre génie c'est encore le Peuple.
C'est lui seul qui a décidé
De rétablir sa dignité.

Refrain

Stand up, courageous homeland
You who in three glorious days
Seized the flag and opened the door
For a free and new Congo,
That never again will fail,
Frighten anyone.

Chorus:
We've broken our chains,
We will work without penalty,
We are a sovereign nation.

If the enemy kills me too early,
Brave comrade, seize my gun;
And if the ball touches my heart,
All our sisters will stand without fear,
And our mountains, our streams into a rage
Will repel the invader.

Chorus

Here begins the Fatherland
Where every human has the same price.
Our only guide is the People.
Our genius is still the People.
It is he alone who decided
To restore its dignity.

Chorus

References

Congo, Republic of "Les Trois Glorieuses"

People's Republic of the Congo "Les Trois Glorieuses"