CONSCRITS, ÉGAYONS NOS VINGT ANS (French) Conscrits, égayons nos vingt ans Voici l'heureux jour du tirage Profitons de tous nos instants Pour célébrer ce doux passage Allons marchons au pas Ne nous alarmons pas Le destin du soldat Est le plus heureux que l'on trouve ici bas. Coirault : 6504 L'heureux jour du tirage RADdO : 03043.

DRAFTEES, LET'S ENLIVEN OUR 20 YEARS OF AGE Draftees, let's enliven our twenty years of age, Here comes the happy day of the draw (1) Let's enjoy all our moments To celebrate this sweet transition. Come on, let's walk in step, Let's not get worried The soldier's fate Is the happiest one can find here below.

(1) At a certain moment of the conscription history, young men first had to be passed "bon pour le service" (fit for the military service) which was in itself a transition ritual –if fit, they'd be men!- then they would draw lots: suppose 100 soldiers were needed, all the young men would draw a piece of paper on which a number from 1 to the number they were was written. Then they were sorted out. Those who had drawn #1 to 100 were drafted, those from # 101 to let's say 130 were reservists, the others were exempted. Hence the expression "tirer un bon/mauvais numéro " (to draw a good/bad number) that means to be lucky/unlucky. Military service could be pretty long (5 to 7 years during peace time, more in war time) and since substitution was allowed, well-off men could pay someone else to go to the army in their stead.

You can hear the recording here
Longer version and score on Chansons populaires du Vivarais et du Vercors (p.44)


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