Marche Henri IV
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"Marche Henri IV," alternatively "Vive Henri IV" or "Vive le roi Henri" is a popular French song celebrating King Henri IV of France (also known as Le Bon Roi Henri, "Good King Henry"). The melody comes from Thoinot Arbeau's work Orchesographie; it is the 'Branle Couppé' "Cassandre". The words to Marche Henri IV were written around 1590 and refers to the first Bourbon King of France, Henry IV (Henry III of Navarre), who had ended the Wars of Religion and restored peace to France (hence his sobriquet).
The first verse is attributed to a certain "Du Caurroy", maître de la chapelle of François II, Charles IX, Henri III and Henri IV. In the 1770s, when the song was used in a comedy opera, a certain Charles Collé added two verses. At later dates, more lyrics were added to the song.
(1590:) Vive Henri quatre
Vive ce Roi vaillant
Ce diable à quatre
A le triple talent
chorus
De boire et de battre
Et d'être un vert galant
De boire et de battre
Et d'être un vert galant
(1800-1899:) Au diable guerres
Rancunes et partis
Commes nos pères
Chantons en vrais amis
chorus
Au choc des verres
Les roses et les lys
Au choc des verres
Les roses et les lys
(1774:) Chantons l'antienne
Qu'on chant'ra dans mille ans
Que Dieu maintienne
En paix ses descendants
chorus
Jusqu'à c'e qu'on prenne
La lune avec les dents
Jusqu'à c'e qu'on prenne
La lune avec les dents
(1770:) Vive la France
Vive le roi Henri
Qu'à Reims on danse
En disant comme Paris
chorus
Vive la France
Vive le roi Henri
Vive la France
Vive le roi Henri
Roughly translated into English, this becomes:
Long live Henry IV
Long live this valiant king
This fourfold devil
With the three talents
Of drinking, fighting
And womanising
Later, these rather jocular lyrics were replaced with more dignified and ones which suited the French Kings during the Restoration.
The other verses translate roughly as: To hell with wars
And enmity, and spouses
Let us all together
Sing as true friends
Clink the glasses
The roses and the lilies
Let us sing the refrain
That we will sing in a thousand years:
May God maintain
His descendants in peace
Until we take the moon with our teeth (i.e. achieve the impossible)
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Wikipedia