NTHSC HistoryHOME PAGERSSFrench Revolution Song and LyricsFebruary 18th, 2009French RevolutionThe French Revolution started in 1789It was then France was going through hard timesKing Louis XIV spent France's money selfishlyAnd it sent the country into povertyThe French government was the Old OrderThe community consists of three estatesAs the Old Regime statesFirst, was the clergy, who lived life as if it was easySecond, came the nobility, who got expensive thingsLast was the third and they are certainly (pause) the leastThey consisted of merchants, the poor, and the bourgoiseNow what made the revolution begunWas the arrangement of the French MonarchyWhich had France set up as an unequal structure of societyThe third coming together was the keyTo destroy the evil sovereigntyThe estates-general was summoned after many yearsTo appoint the meeting that the King calledThey did some important talkingBut the third estate didn't have a choiceSo they formed a new legislature called the 'National Assembly'{CHORUS}Liberty, Equality, and FraternityIs what made them fightAnd when Napoleon took the leadis when the third got their rightsWhen the people heard that King Louis was running against their causeSo in Bastille a riot went offDestroying everything in sightThis began the mark of the ten year fightEnlightenment ideas had filled the thirds' headBut it didn't stop the Great Fear that spreadAll across France it wentThe absolutism of King Louis XVI still thereSpreading the fear through everyoneThe lower class tired of the neglect, contempt, and ignoranceThe National Assembly had a wave of brillianceTap-Tap-Tap-Da-Da went the penAs they wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and (pause) CitizenIt said that “men are born and should remain free and equal…”“A common contribution of tax was essential,”And making the law the same for all was futileOlympe de Gouges tried to include womenBut the thought was declined by the National AssemblyAnd it's a price they’ll have to pay for sooner or later{CHORUS}Liberty, Equality, and FraternityIs what made them fightAnd when Napoleon took the leadIs when the third got their rightsThe first and the second estate were against the whole thingSo they stood with the kingWho was afraid of his enemies’ sudden actionsSo ordering troops to protect his throne at the Versailles was his reactionAngered by his sudden move 7,000 women attacked himUntil he agreed to move in to Tuileries PalaceAfter the constitution was completedThe Legislative Assembly came to lifeThe oath proposed by the Legislative Assembly Said that France would be a constitutional monarchyAustria and Prussia in 1792 tried to interveneIt caused the govern to go into chaos and we lost three things1.The war left us with a ruined economy 2.The legislation stopped the monarchy 3.The infamous Louis XVI We lost him to the invention of the guillotine{CHORUS}Liberty, Equality, and FraternityIs what made them fightAnd when Napoleon took the leadIs when the third got their rightsThough the current legislature was doing a good jobThe Legislative Assembly voted themselves outFor the National Convention who inspired the French RepublicTo hold their groundWhen the National Convention convened in 1792Three radical leaders were in controlAll were just as violent as the lastFirst was Jean-Paul MarotThe leader of the Paris sans culottesMaximilien Robespierre came nextWho had a habit of cutting necksGeorges-Jacques Danton was thirdHe was a compromiser and very popular with the publicThe goal now was to transform societyPositions were taken from the clergyForcing them to become equals with the rest of usChurches were closed and bibles rewroteTo fit the cult of the Supreme BeingAs time grew on France were concernedThat Robespierre was not save for themHis ruling brought upon the Reign of TerrorOther countries were forming a warThe lives taken by the guillotine were unnecessarySo they arrested Robespierre and took his life with the same thingIn 1795 the National Convention wrote another constitution called the DirectoryBut they were still in war with other countriesThat was when Napoleon, a ruthless young man took the leadAnd guided France's armies to victoryIt was on December 24, 1799That Napoleon became the dictator of FranceFrance then was engulfed in peace(Well for now){CHORUS}Liberty, Equality, and FraternityIs what made them fightAnd when Napoleon took the leadis when the third got their rights