The Internationale (Pottier, English)

by Eugène Pottier

For other English-language translations of this work, see The Internationale.

1. Arise! ye workers [starvelings], from your slumbers;

Arise! ye prisoners [criminals] of want.

For reason in revolt now thunders

And ends at last the age of "can't".

Away with all your superstitions

Servile masses, arise! arise!

We’ll change henceforth [forthwith] the old tradition [conditions]

And spurn the dust to win the prize.

Chorus

So comrades, come rally

And the last fight let us face

The Internationale

Unites the human race.

2. No saviour from on high delivers;

No faith have we in prince or peer.

Our own right hand the chains must shiver:

Chains of hatred, greed and fear.

E’er the thieves will out with their booty [give up their booty]

And give to all a happier lot.

Each at his forge must do his duty

And strike the iron while it’s hot!

3. The law oppresses us and tricks us,

The wage slave system drains our blood;

The rich are free from obligation,

The laws the poor delude.

Too long we’ve languished in subjection,

Equality has other laws;

“No rights,” says she “without their duties,

No claims on equals without cause.”

4. Behold them seated in their glory

The kings of mine and rail and soil!

What have you read in all their story,

But how they plundered toil?

Fruits of the workers’ toil are buried

In strongholds of the idle few

In working for their restitution

The men will only claim their due.

5. No more deluded by reaction

On tyrants only we’ll make war

The soldiers too will take strike action

They’ll break ranks and fight no more

And if those cannibals keep trying

To sacrifice us to their pride

They soon shall hear the bullets flying

We’ll shoot the Generals on Our Own Side.

6. We peasants, artisans, and others

Enrolled among the sons of toil,

Let’s claim the earth henceforth for brothers,

Drive the indolent from the soil!

On our Flesh too Long has fed the Raven;

We’ve too long been the vulture’s prey.

But now farewell the spirit craven:

The dawn brings in a brighter day.

Alternate version

1. Arise ye starvelings from your slumbers
Arise ye criminals of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last, ends the age of "can't"
Now away with all your superstitions,
Servile masses arise, arise!
We'll change forthwith the old conditions
And spurn the dust to win the prize!

Chorus (×2)

Then, comrades come rally
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale
unites the human race.

2. No Saviours from on high deliver,
No faith have we in prince or peer.
Our right hand the chains of must shiver,
Chains of hatred, greed, and fear.
Ere the thieves will out with their booty
And to all give a happier lot,
Each at the forge must do his duty,
And strike the iron while it's hot!

Chorus (×2)

3. We peasants, artisans, and others
Enrolled among the sons of toil,
Let's claim the earth henceforth for brothers,
Drive the indolent from the soil.
On our flesh too long has fed the raven,
We've too long been the vulture's prey.
But now farewell the spirit craven,
The dawn brings in a brighter day.

Chorus (×2)