Maréchal, nous voilà! (; "Marshal, here we are!") is a 1941 French song dedicated to Marshal Philippe Pétain. The lyrics were composed by André Montagard; its music was attributed to André Montagard and Charles Courtioux but actually plagiarized from a song composed for the 1933 musical La Margoton du bataillon by Polish Jewish composer Kazimierz Oberfeld, who was deported to Auschwitz in 1945, where he was murdered. Nathalie Dompnier, « Entre La Marseillaise et Maréchal, nous voilà! quel hymne pour le régime de Vichy ? », dans Myriam Chimènes (dir.), La vie musicale sous Vichy, Éditions Complexe – IRPMF-CNRS, coll. « Histoire du temps présent », 2001, p. 71 Although La Marseillaise remained the official national anthem of the state, Maréchal, nous voilà! was performed in many capacities unofficially as an alternative song for the public, being used as a popular song for events like sports and recreation. However, the song never dispelled the use of "La Marseillaise" as the official anthem, and it remained the main hymn of the Vichy State and had official support among the Vichy government. It had multiple performances during the Vichy France Era, often in a famous variation by .
The refrain itself shows the growing cult of personality around Pétain during the Vichy regime.
Lyrics Maréchal, nous voilà! (French)Marshal, here we are!(English translation)Une flamme sacrée Monte du sol natal, Et la France enivrée Te salue, Maréchal!
Tous tes enfants qui t’aiment Et vénèrent tes ans, À ton appel suprême Ont répondu: Présent!
Chorus: Maréchal, nous voilà! Devant toi, le sauveur de la France, Nous jurons, nous tes gars De servir et de suivre tes pas.
Maréchal, nous voilà! Tu nous as redonné l'espérance La patrie renaîtra, Maréchal, Maréchal, Nous voilà!
Tu as lutté sans cesse Pour le salut commun On parle avec tendresse Du héros de Verdun…
En nous donnant ta vie, Ton génie et ta foi, Tu sauves la patrie Une seconde fois.
ChorusA sacred flame Rises from the native soil, And France enraptured Greets you, Marshal!
All your children who love you And worship your years, To your supreme call Have responded: Present!
Chorus: Marshal, here we are! Before you, France's saviour, We swear, we your people, To serve and follow your feats.
Marshal, here we are! You gave us back hope The Fatherland will be reborn, Marshal, Marshal, Here we are!
You fought unceasingly For the common salvation We speak tenderly About Verdun's hero...
By giving us your life, Your genius and your faith, You save the homeland A second time.
Chorus
In popular culture Cinema 2003: The Chorus by Christophe Barratier – Soundtrack. 2011: War of the Buttons by Yann Samuell – Soundtrack. 2011: War of the Buttons by Christophe Barratier – Soundtrack. 2016: Fanny's Journey by Lola Doillon – Soundtrack.
Literature In Pierre Cormon's novel Le Traître, the song plays regularly in a Cairo restaurant in 2002.
Comics Maréchal, nous voilà by Laurent Rullier (script) and Hervé Duphot (drawing and color); volume II of the Les combattants series, Paris, Delcourt, 2012
Television 1991: Les Chansons rétros, filmed sketch by Les Inconnus, parody.
Notes
Bibliography Nathalie Dompnier, « Entre La Marseillaise et Maréchal, nous voilà! quel hymne pour le régime de Vichy? », pp. 69–88 , in Myriam Chimènes (dir.), La vie musicale sous Vichy, Éditions Complexe – IRPMF-CNRS, coll. « Histoire du temps présent », 2001, 420 p. Maréchal, nous voilà! mp3 recording (French)