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Bastille Day Lyrics
There's no bread, let them eat cake
There's no end to what they'll take
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Wash the salt into the earth
But they're marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Free the dungeons of the innocent
The king will kneel, and let his kingdom rise
Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace
Naked fear on every face
See them bow their heads to die
As we would bow when they rode by
And we're marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Sing, o choirs of cacophony
The king has kneeled, to let his kingdom rise.
Lessons taught but never learned
All around us anger burns
Guide the future by the past
Long ago the mould was cast
For they marched up to Bastille Day
La guillotine claimed her bloody prize
Hear the echoes of the centuries
Power isn't all that money buys
There's no end to what they'll take
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Wash the salt into the earth
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Free the dungeons of the innocent
The king will kneel, and let his kingdom rise
Naked fear on every face
See them bow their heads to die
As we would bow when they rode by
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Sing, o choirs of cacophony
The king has kneeled, to let his kingdom rise.
All around us anger burns
Guide the future by the past
Long ago the mould was cast
La guillotine claimed her bloody prize
Hear the echoes of the centuries
Power isn't all that money buys
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After yesterday's horrific attack, Rush's lyrics seem prophetical.
Lessons taught but never learned All around us anger burns Guide the future by the past Long ago the mould was cast
It's not about the holiday that French Canadians celebrate - you're thinking of Saint-Jean Baptiste day. It's about the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille in 1789 France. The French nation rebelled against Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, both of whom were executed by guillotine for treason. Very good Rush song.
I think this is one of the most amazing songs Rush has written! wonder why it hasn't got any comments yet... would love to have the real meaning to it
It's about the French revolution.
It's about the French revolution.
that's exactly what it means.. Rush was into history, and they decided to write a song about the French Revolution. nothing deep here, just a song about the event.
It's a bit historically inaccurate. Let them eat cake is a myth of course. The storming of the Bastille was an act that started the French revolution, yes but the beheadings didn't take place for several years. There were only a few prisoners in the Bastille who were basically debtors or actual criminals. What the people were really after was the armory inside to protect themselves from the troops occupying Paris. Once they had taken over the prison the king's hand was forced since it was obvious he was broke and couldn't afford to pay an unwilling army. This act also gave the national assembly a legitimacy in which to draft a constitutional monarchy. We all know that this eventually ended in the Reign of Terror and the end of the king and queen. The king was somewhat of a stupid man who was given several chances to save himself and his monarchy, he kind of had it coming.
I think this is one of the most amazing songs Rush has written! wonder why it hasn't got any comments yet... would love to have the real meaning to it
exactly mateuszpl
Glorious.
Great song
An early indication of the songwriting style that Peart would take in the future, but still containing that hard rock element that Rush had early in their career.