Nous Sommes La Nation! - Québécois Sovereigntist Song

A Song that defends the sovereignty and independence of Quebec,
celebrates the pride of being Quebecer; the separatist and nationalist tendency of Quebec has always been present in history, since the conquest by the British in 1760 in the Treaty of Paris of 1763.

About 80% of Quebec's population is of French descent. The majority of Quebec's population is Catholic, unlike the rest of the country, where the majority of the population is Protestant and speaks English. Another strong characteristic is the architecture, which is heavily influenced by the French style.

In 1980, a plebiscite was held to promote Quebec separatism, but the majority of the population voted against it (59% to 40%); however, in 1995 there was another plebiscite, also rejected, although by a much smaller margin (50.58% to 49.42%).

Today, the idea of ​​Quebec independence seems to be cooling more and more, in the last survey only 35% of Quebecers support Quebec sovereignty.

In 1977, singer-songwriter Jean-Pierre Bérubé proposed as the “national anthem of Quebec" "Nous sommes la nation" whose music he composed with a text by Jean-Yves Chouinard and which he sang with Louise Lemire.

PS: • "For Saint-Jean, let us celebrate": June 24 is the "Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste" (St. John the Baptist Day), although officially renamed "Fête nationale du Québec" in 1977, it is better known by its former name. It is also a celebration of the Quebec sovereigntist movement. It is a provincial holiday and festival with great popular participation.

"La Survivance": An expression used by Quebecers to denote the phlegmatic survival of Francophone culture, typically in the face of Anglo-American Anglophone hegemony.

• "Nous sommes la nation", music: Jean-Pierre Bérubé, lyrics: Jean-Yves Chouinard, singers: Jean-Pierre Bérubé, Louise Lemire, 1977 •

▪︎ Lyrics:

Patriotes, saluons bien haut
Le fleur de lys sur nos bastions
À la mémoire de ces héros
Qui ont guidé notre nation
Dans les vaillants combats des pères
Vénérons, patriotes fervents
Cet étendard de l’unité
Car ces fleurons qui parlent au vent
Inspirent amour et dignité
À la patrie qui nous est chère

Pour conquérir la liberté de notre peuple solidaire

Camarades, relevons la tête
Pour regarder vers le destin
À la Saint-Jean, faisons la fête
C’est le solstice des grands matins
Des épopées même légendaires
Camarades, persistons debout
Pour faire une force à l’unisson
Que notre cœur aime jusqu’au bout
Voilà le temps des belles moissons
Et de chanter l’hymne à la Terre

Pour conquérir la liberté de notre peuple solidaire

Québécois, nous sommes la nation
Au nom du droit et de l’Histoire
Pour protéger nos traditions
Soyons les maîtres de nos espoirs
Main dans la main comme des frères
Québécois, célébrons le jour
De proclamer la survivance
Dans le Québec de nos amours
Que l’on assume l’indépendance
En déployant notre bannière

Pour conquérir la liberté de notre peuple solidaire