Chanson de l'Oignon

The Chanson de l'Oignon (French pronunciation: [ʃɑ̃sɔ̃ də lɔɲɔ̃]; "Song of the Onion") is a French marching song from around 1800.

According to legend, it originated among the Old Guard Grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. Before the Battle of Marengo, Napoleon found some grenadiers rubbing an onion on their bread. "Very good," he said, "there is nothing better than an onion for marching on the road to glory."^[1]

Music

The verses of the Chanson de l'Oignon are in 6/8, while the refrain is in 2/4.^[2] This has the effect of rendering the verses more lyrical and the refrain more military, though both remain the same tempo as befits a marching song.

Lyrics

French	English translation
J'aime l'oignon frit à l'huile, J'aime l'oignon quand il est bon, J'aime l'oignon frit à l'huile, J'aime l'oignon, j'aime l'oignon. Refrain: Au pas camarades, au pas camarades, Au pas, au pas, au pas, Au pas camarades, au pas camarades, Au pas, au pas, au pas. Un seul oignon frit à l'huile, Un seul oignon nous change en Lion, Un seul oignon frit à l'huile, Un seul oignon, nous change en Lion. Refrain Mais pas d'oignons aux Autrichiens, Non pas d'oignons à tous ces chiens, Mais pas d'oignons aux Autrichiens, Non pas d'oignons, non pas d'oignons. Refrain Aimons l'oignon frit à l'huile, Aimons l'oignon car il est bon, Aimons l'oignon frit à l'huile, Aimons l'oignon, aimons l'oignon. Refrain	I love the onion fried in oil, I love the onion when it's good, I love the onion fried in oil, I love the onion, I love the onion. Refrain: In step, comrades, in step, comrades, In step, in step, in step, In step, comrades, in step, comrades, In step, in step, in step. Just one onion fried in oil, Just one onion turns us into lions, Just one onion fried in oil, Just one onion turns us into lions. Refrain No onions for the Austrians, No onions for those dogs, No onions for the Austrians, No onions, no onions. Refrain Love the onion fried in oil, Love the onion, it's so tasty, Love the onion fried in oil, Love the onion, we love an onion. Refrain

In popular culture

The refrain was borrowed for the children's song "J'ai perdu le do de ma clarinette" ("I've lost the C on my clarinet"), and for the Swedish song "Små grodorna" ("The Little Frogs").
An arrangement of "Chanson de l'Oignon" by Shirō Hamaguchi is featured in Girls und Panzer das Finale as the song for the French-based school BC Freedom Academy.^[3]

References

^ Maugendre, Xavier (25 May 1996). L'Europe des hymnes dans leur contexte historique et musical. Editions Mardaga. p. 48. ISBN 9782870096321. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via Google Books.
^ "Français:partition de la chanson de l'oignon". 19 November 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via Wikimedia Commons.
^ アニメ『ガールズ＆パンツァー最終章』オリジナルサウンドトラック [Girls und Panzer das Finale Episode 1~Episode 3 OST]. Lantis (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Arts. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.

[1] Maugendre, Xavier (25 May 1996). L'Europe des hymnes dans leur contexte historique et musical. Editions Mardaga. p. 48. ISBN 9782870096321. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via Google Books.

[2] "Français:partition de la chanson de l'oignon". 19 November 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via Wikimedia Commons.

[3] アニメ『ガールズ＆パンツァー最終章』オリジナルサウンドトラック [Girls und Panzer das Finale Episode 1~Episode 3 OST]. Lantis (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Arts. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.

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