'Te Souviens-tu?' - French Post-Napoleonic Soldier Song

[rollolol]

When he heard that Napoleon's remains were coming back to France, Marshall Moncey, one of the last Empire marshalls still alive, and dying from old age and weakness, begged his doctor to stuff him woth enough drugs to honour his Emperor one last time.
When the coffin passed, he was here, in his regalia, saluting the man he had served and still revered. When it was lowered at the Invalides, he was one of the few who got to dip a bay tree branch in Holy Water and spray it over the coffin. When all was said and done, the only thing he said was: "Now the last thing I have to do is go home and die". True to his word, he passed quickly afterwards.
And that was only one of many. All over Paris, hundreds of men had donned their old uniform to salute THE Emperor, the one they would still follow if he rose again.

[Kodak_Blyat]

About the song, it was written in 1817
"To the veteran who begged for his bread"
It's sad cause it's about a man who conquered the world but the only thing he got, at the end, is beg for bread or money. It was illegal (and concidered a crime) in France at this time. After the occupation of France (1815-1817), they change the law so the veterans were allowed to beg in the street. The only "gift" or reward they gave to them. (Sorry if it's not clear, english is not my native language)

[gentlemanfarmer]

When everything is over and you remember that once you conquered Moscow, saw the pyramids and the holy land, defeated mighty Prussia in 2 battles the same day and Belgium, the Nertherlands, northern Italy and west germany were french adminstrative divisions.
Yes you can feel, a bit... nostalgic.

[cheezymeteor]

just noticed with every verse, the map of napoleonic france grows bigger then reverts to its state at the first verse as the kingdom of france

[nade]

For those who are wondering, it was "Te Souviens Tu" (1817) that inspired "Ich Bin Soldat" (1870): the former is a nostalgic song about the Napoleonic wars, which is why it was used by the latter to make it a anti war song.
It is quite common to find for each song its "anti-song" on the same tune in response. The special thing about this one is that I love both versions!

Side note about hte context, the 1815-1848 period was a time of misery in France where the country suffered the return of the king, poverty, occupation and indeminities to be paid to the coalised. The veterans had no pensions and the bonapartists and republicans were forbidden to work in public institutions (including the army). Begging was forbidden in France, but given the importance of the phenomenon it was allowed for the veterans.

[Iberian_XAVO]

This is such a sad, nostalgic but calming song... I love it.

[lord_kuech]

"Do you remember that on the pyramids, each of us dared to engrave his name"
Damn this line hit hard in my French heart

[galatheumbreon]

I really love how the tune is the same as to the german anti-war song "ich bin soldat"

[knightsolaire]

It's so sad yet soothing in a way, I absolutely love it!

Much love, my French brethren, from little Belgium!

[legrognarddelempereur]

Ce chant vous fouette le sang! Imaginez juste avoir participez aux campagnes de la Révolution, d'Egypte, d'Italie, d'Autriche, de Prusse, d'Espagne, de Russie et de France! D'avoir servi pour sa patrie, L'Empereur et son peuple et au final se retrouver a mendier pour avoir a mangez... Quel tristesse... Honneur et Gloire a ces immortels qui ont forger notre Pays et notre Histoire! Vive La France! Vive l'Empereur!

[glockymenor]

Love From Lebanon. Vive la France ! 🇫🇷❤️🇱🇧

[thebrazilianhistorian]

As Pierre begged for a piece of bread, the aristocrats laughed, A man approached him, not giving him bread but extending his hand: "Jean?" Said Pierre in a happy but calm voice, Jean responded: "Get up Caporal", as Pierre got up, he looked behind Jean, seeing his old comrades, and fading images of officers and fallen comrades, seeing his eyes filling with tears of joy, another man with his old uniform approached Pierre and gave him a French eagle: "We need our old flag bearer back, don't forget Austerlitz, Salamanca and Waterloo my friend", the veterans happily marched and joked around the city, gathering their old comrades where they went, and some say, and the end of the march, at the sound of a company drum and fife, they sang this song together, Pierre always remembered to his dying days.. his last words being "I will see you all in heaven.. Vive l'Empereur".

[kichka]

The French have amazing songs, just like the language :)

[valentinverot]

ENFIN ! Ça faisait longtemps que je l'attendais.
Quand j'écoute cette musique j'en pleure de l'eau bénite !

[yankee]

This makes me sad and nostalgic for a period that ended over 200 years ago and for a country that is not my own. Respect from your old ally the USA

[rrows]

Never forget. 6 Coalitions to beat a single country. 6 coalitions to beat brave French soldiers. 6 Coalitions, made of 18 countries to beat ONE country !

[KevinGachaandGMOD]

Je ne connaissais pas cette chanson et je suis content de l'avoir découverte.

[lucascheirador]

I really like that the different voices had a verse of their own, like they were other soldiers with distinct memories.

[abhijeetingle]

What a nostalgic feeling for the Napoleonic veterans. This in short describes the victories of the Napoleonic armies. This is a tribute to them and their leader. Napoleon would have felt so proud on listening this.

[labaguette]

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