Ca Ira: Opera in Three Acts: "The National Assembly is Confused..." - Roger Waters

The National Assembly is confused

The Girondins blow back and forth

Like flags and ashes scattered by the truth

Oi, Mister… What is a Girondid?

A Girondin is careful of the company he keeps

He looks to find a sign before he leaps

Like ranks of Marseillaise, six hundred deep

Arraigned before the Tuileries

It’s the end of monarchy

Vive la Commune de Paris!

The presence of the Prussians on the border

IS a worrisome thing

The Brunswick manifesto

Serves only to stiffen the sinews

And weaken the King

To depose him now

Fills the Girondid hearts with fear

But the Prussians cross the border

And the order of the day becomes clear

The monarchy is over

No more days in clover

The monarchy, c’est fini

Brunswick is a liar;

just listen to our cannon fire

The National Assembly comes in line

With the half and the maimed

And the dead and the dying

The monarchy, c’est fini