1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Ça Ira

ÇA IRA, a song of the French Revolution, with the refrain:—

“Ah! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira!
Les aristocrates à la lanterne.”

The words, written by one Ladré, a street singer, were put to an older tune, called “Le Carillon National,” and the song rivalled the “Carmagnole” (q.v.) during the Terror. It was forbidden by the Directory.