Everything about Le Chant Des Wallons totally explained
Le Chant des Wallons (The Song of the Walloons) is the
anthem of
Wallonia (
Belgium).
The original words, written in
Walloon as
Li Tchant des Walons by
Théophile Bovy in
1900, were in
1901 set to music composed by
Louis Hillier. Performed for the first time in the city of
Liège, the song quickly spread to other parts of French-speaking Belgium and established itself as a "national" anthem for Wallonia.
When, on
15 July 1998, the Walloon Parliament approved a law defining the official symbols of the Walloon Region (flag, anthem, and "national" day), it was a
French version of
Li Tchant des Walons that was chosen. It should be noted, however, that the lyrics adopted on that occasion are not a direct translation of the original: the number and order of verses differ, and they diverge significantly from the original Walloon text in places.
Lyrics in Walloon
The original version in Walloon, here written in normalized orthography. (Normally only the first and third verses are sung.)
» I.
Nos estans firs di nosse pitite patreye,
» Ca lådje et lon, on djåze di ses efants.
Å prumî rang, on l' mete po l' industreye
» Et dvins les årts, ele riglatixh ostant.
Nosse tere est ptite, mins nos avans l' ritchesse
» Des omes sincieus k' anôblixhèt leu nom.
Et nos avans des libertés timpesse:
» Vola pocwè k' on-z est firs d' esse Walons !
» II.
Di nosse passé cwand c' est k' on lét l' istwere,
» On s' recresteye vormint a tchaeke foyou.
Et nosse cour crexhe cwand c' est k' on tuze al glwere
» Di nos vîs peres ki n' avît måy pawou.
C' est gråce a zels ki ns djouwixhans del påye.
» Il ont språtchî l' innmi dzo leu talon.
On ls a rclamé les pus vayants k' i gn åye:
» Vola pocwè k' on-z est fir d' esse Walon !
» III.
Pitit payis, vos k' a tant d' grandeu d' åme,
» Nos vos inmans bén, sins k' nos l' breyanxhe tot hôt.
Cwand on vs kidjåze, ås ouys montèt nos låmes
» Et nos sintans nosse cour bate a gros côps !
N' åyîz nole sogne et vikez e liyesse,
» Di vos efants, les bresses et l' cour sont bons.
Et nos avans les tchveas foirt près del tiesse:
» Vola pocwè k' on-z est fir d' esse Walon !
» IV.
On s' voet voltî inte frés del Walonreye
» Et on-z est presse onk l' ôte a s' diner l' mwin.
On fwait plaijhi bén sovint sins k' on l' deye.
» Nouk ni s' håynêye cwand c' est k' i vout fé l' bén.
Li tchårité ki mousse el måjhinete
» N' î va k' al nute avou meye precôcions.
Li pô k' on dene on nel dene k' e catchete:
» Vola pocwè k' on-z est fir d' esse Walon !
Lyrics in French
» I.
Nous sommes fiers de notre Wallonie,
» Le monde entier admire ses enfants.
Au premier rang brille son industrie
» Et dans les arts on l'apprécie autant.
Bien que petit, notre pays surpasse
» Par ses savants de plus grandes nations.
Et nous voulons des libertés en masse :
» Voilà pourquoi l'on est fier d'être Wallons !
» II.
Entre Wallons, toujours on fraternise.
» Dans le malheur, on aime s'entraider :
On fait le bien sans jamais qu'on le dise,
» En s'efforçant de le tenir caché.
La charité visitant la chaumière
» S'y prend le soir avec cent précautions :
On donne peu, mais c'est d'un coeur sincère :
» Voilà pourquoi l'on est fier d'être Wallons !
» III.
Petit pays, c'est pour ta grandeur d'âme
» Que nous t'aimons, sans trop le proclamer.
Notre oeil se voile aussitôt qu'on te blâme
» Et notre coeur est prêt à se briser.
Ne crains jamais les coups de l'adversaire.
» De tes enfants les bras te défendront
Il ne faut pas braver notre colère:
» Voilà pourquoi l'on est fier d'être Wallons !
Translation
» I.
Of our land Wallonia we're proud.
» Her children are esteemed the world over.
Behold the triumph of her industry,
» The grandeur of her arts!
Though our land be small, still her science
» Surpasses that of many a populous nation
What we yearn for most is our freedom.
» That is why we're proud to be Walloons!
» II.
We Walloons are brothers to one another
» And comfort one another in distress
We do good without boasting about it
» And try to keep it secret
Charity visiting a poor cottage
» Goes by night and cautiously
We may give little, but it comes from the heart.
» That is why we're proud to be Walloons!
» III.
O humble land of Wallonia,
» Modestly we hail thee, land of our hearts' desire.
We are saddened when men speak ill of thee.
» It truly breaks the heart!
But fear not attacks from the enemy
» Thy children will defend thy high repute.
Who dare affront our anger?
» That is why we're proud to be Walloons!
Further Information
Get more info on 'Le Chant Des Wallons'.
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