30 January

Pierre

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre (also known as Mort et convoi de l'invincible Malbrough) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 18th century.

The story of the song

The protagonist of the song is the Englishman John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722).

John Churchill, first Duke of Marlbrough. Portrait of Adriaen van der Werff (1704)

John Churchill, first Duke of Marlbrough. Portrait of Adriaen van der Werff (1704)

The song refers to the Battle of Malplaquet (11 September 1709), one of the bloodiest battles of the 18th century. The battle took place on the territory of the present-day commune of Malplaquet in northern France.

The song was sung by the French to mock the English enemy (Churchill).

However, contrary to what the lyrics of the song suggest, the Duke was only wounded at the Battle of Malplaquet.

Marlborough at the Battle of Ramillies, 1706

Marlborough at the Battle of Ramillies, 1706

Beaumarchais' revenge

The song spread to France from 1781, particularly after Beaumarchais included it as a page song in his play Le Mariage de Figaro. This play, after having been performed at Versailles for the future emperor Paul I of Russia, had been banned by order of Louis XVI. To alert the public against this censorship, Beaumarchais introduced this song, which was soon on everyone's lips.

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732–1799) in 1755

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732–1799) in 1755

Marie-Antoinette and the song

Geneviève Poitrine, the nurse of the first dauphin, had learned it in her village. One day while she was singing it, Queen Marie-Antoinette wanted to learn it and played it on the harpsichord. The courtiers imitated her and the song became popular.

Marie Antoinette in 1783

Marie Antoinette in 1783

The popularity of the song was immense, and many objects decorated with illustrations based on the theme of Malbrough's song were produced. There are various printed fans with the episodes of the song, its verses and some staves of the music. Not forgetting ribbons, headdresses, waistcoats and above all hats 'à la Marlborough'. 

In addition, a tower in the Queen's Hamlet at Versailles was also named the "Marlborough Tower".

Day Trips in the Paris Region - Hameau de Marie-Antoinette Versailles 02 © French Moments

Marlborough tower at the Hameau de Marie-Antoinette, Versailles © French Moments

Marlborough in French

The French adopted other names to match Marlborough to their language : Malbrouk, Malbrouck, Malbrough, and sometimes Marlbrouck!

Marlborough in Lorraine

The English duke left his name not only to the song, but to the Meinsberg castle in Lorraine, also known as the château de Malbrouck.

The castle was built, with the agreement of the Duke of Lorraine, on a rocky spur overlooking the region and the village of Manderen by the will of Arnold VI Lord of Sierck in 1419. It was completed in 1434, the year in which the castle was declared able to withstand a siege, and placed at the service of the electorate of Trier.

Malbrouck Castle in Lorraine © Cornischong – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Malbrouck Castle in Lorraine © Cornischong – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

From Mensberg to Malbrouck

Originally called Mensberg Castle (in German: Schloss Meinsberg), its nickname came from Duke John Churchill of Marlborough, immortalised in the popular song Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre.

The Duke briefly set up his quarters here on 3 June 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession before retreating to Trier two weeks later.

Adaptations of the song

The British adapted the tune as For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.

In 1813 Beethoven orchestrated Malbrough's Going to War for inclusion in Wellington's Victory. The song symbolises the French forces while Rule Britannia represents England.

La Romance sung by Cherubin in Act II, Scene 4 of Beaumarchais' play The Marriage of Figaro is to the tune of Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre.

Victor Hugo specifies that his poem "Le Sacre" in Les Châtiments should be read to the tune of Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre.

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre (chocolate Louit circa 1890)

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre

The lyrics in French

The original song of Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre has 21 verses. The first is the best known, followed by the next two. However, few French people know the other 18.

Couplet 1

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre
Ne sait quand reviendra.
Ne sait quand reviendra (×2)


Couplet 2

Il reviendra (z') à Pâques
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Il reviendra (z') à Pâques
Ou à la Trinité.
Ou à la Trinité (×2)


Couplet 3

La Trinité se passe
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
La Trinité se passe
Malbrough ne revient pas.
Malbrough ne revient pas (×2)

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Marlbrough goes to war
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Marlbrough goes to war
Don't know when he'll be back.
Don't know when he'll be back (×2)


Verse 2

He'll come back at Easter
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
He will come back at Easter
Or on Trinity Sunday.
Or on Trinity Sunday (×2)


Verse 3

Trinity Sunday is over
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Trinity Sunday is over
Marlbrough does not return.
Marlbrough does not return (×2)

The other verses of the song

Here are the other 18 verses:

Couplet 4

Madame à sa tour monte
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Madame à sa tour monte
Si haut qu'elle peut monter.
Si haut qu'elle peut monter (×2)


Couplet 5

Elle aperçoit son page
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Elle aperçoit son page
Tout de noir habillé.
Tout de noir habillé (×2)


Couplet 6

Beau page, Ha! Mon beau page !
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Beau page, ah mon beau page !
Quelles nouvelles apportez ?
Quelles nouvelles apportez ? (×2)


Couplet 7

Aux nouvelles que j'apporte
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Aux nouvelles que j'apporte
Vos beaux yeux vont pleurer.
Vos beaux yeux vont pleurer (×2)


Couplet 8

Quittez vos habits rose
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Quittez vos habits rose,
Et vos satins brochés.
Et vos satins brochés. (×2)


Couplet 9

Monsieur Malbrough est mort
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Monsieur Malbrough est mort
Est mort et enterré.
Est mort et enterré (×2)


Couplet 10

Je l'ai vu porté en terre
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Je l'ai vu porté en terre
Par quatre z'officiers.
Par quatre z'officiers (×2)


Couplet 11

L'un portait sa cuirasse
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
L'un portait sa cuirasse
L'autre son bouclier.
L'autre son bouclier (×2)


Couplet 12

L'un portait son grand sabre
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
L'un portait son grand sabre
L'autre ne portait rien.
L'autre ne portait rien (×2)


Couplet 13

Alors autour de sa tombe
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Alors autour de sa tombe
Romarin l'on planta.
Romarin l'on planta (×2)


Couplet 14

On vit voler son âme
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
On vit voler son âme
Au travers les lauriers.
Au travers les lauriers (×2)


Couplet 15

Chacun mit ventre à terre
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Chacun mit ventre à terre
Et puis se releva.
Et puis se releva (×2)


Couplet 16

Pour chanter les victoires
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Pour chanter les victoires
Que Malbrough remporta.
Que Malbrough remporta (×2)


Couplet 17

La cérémonie faite
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
La cérémonie faite
Chacun s'en fut coucher.
Chacun s'en fut coucher (×2)


Couplet 18

Les uns avec leurs femmes
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Les uns avec leurs femmes
Et les autres tout seuls.
Et les autres tout seuls (×2)


Couplet 19

Ce n'est pas qu'il en manque
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Ce n'est pas qu'il en manque
Car j'en connais beaucoup.
Car j'en connais beaucoup (×2)


Couplet 20

Des blondes et des brunes
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Des blondes et des brunes
Et des châtaignes aussi.
Et des châtaignes aussi (×2)


Couplet 21

Je n'en dis pas davantage
Mironton, mironton, mirontaine
Je n'en dis pas davantage
Car en voilà z'assez.
Car en voilà z'assez (×2)

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover