INTERNATIONALE, L'

Created on 06/12/2000
Latest update on 02/02/2024

Artist: Pierre Degeyter
Author: Eugène Pottier/Pierre Degeyter
Year: 1888

First published in 1887 in songbook Chants Révolutionnaires following the death of lyricist and ex Communard Eugène Pottier. Degeyter was a carpenter and member of the socialist choir Le Lyre des Travailleurs in the Borinage region (Belgium). He sang it first in public on July 23rd 1888. Until July 1896 the song remained a working class outlet in the Borinage and le Nord (France). Then it was taken over by the 14ième Congres du Parti Ouvrier Français in Lille. Three years later it replaced La Marseillaise as French national hymn for a short while. In 1902 l'Internationale was translated in Russian, just in time to witness the events around Panzerkreuzer Potemkin. Became the official hymn of the communist party in the USSR.

Covers:

1888:

Delory [secretary of the Federation du Nord du Parti Ouvrier Français, who asked Degeyter to write a fitting melody; their first names were dropped to saveguard their anonymity]

1980:

Fons Jansen [as De Multinationale]

1982:

Robert Wyatt

1990:

Billy Bragg

1999:

Ani DiFranco

It has been rumored Pierre Degeyter was denied royalty's for his membership to the Communist Party. His brother Adolphe, who became mayor of Lille, secured the rights in Pierre's place. In 1915 though, Adolphe committed suicide, leaving a handwritten note to his brother, asking to forgive him. Finally Pierre Degeyter regained his lawfull rights in November 1922, following a trial before the Cour d'Appel de Paris. Meanwhile l'Internationale had become world famous, sung in any language.

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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