Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse

{Chorus:}
The Regiment of Sambre and Meuse
Always marched to the cry of 'Freedom'
Piercing the glorious road
That led them to immortality

All these proud children of Gaul
Went without respite and without rest
With their rifles on their shoulders
Courage in their hearts and bags on their backs
Glory was their sustenance
They were without bread, without shoes
At night, they slept on the hard ground
With their bag as a pillow

{to Chorus}

To fight us, there were a hundred thousand
At their head, they had kings
The general, a feeble old man
Weakened for the first time
Seeing defeat as certain
He gathered all his soldiers
Then ordered the retreat
But they did not listen

{to Chorus}

The clash was like thunder
It was a battle of giants
Drunk with glory, drunk with powder
To die, they stood firm
The regiment, under the gunfire
Was attacked from all sides
Yet, the living wall
Impassive, stood tall

{to Chorus}

Numbers overcame courage
One soldier remained the last
He defended himself with rage
But soon was taken prisoner
Seeing this fierce hero
The enemy wept for his fate
The hero took a cartridge
Swore and then took his own life

The Regiment of Sambre and Meuse
Met death with the cry of 'Freedom'
But its glorious history
Grants it immortality