diff --git a/patacrep/songs/__init__.py b/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
index 08574959..833f4fe9 100644
--- a/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
+++ b/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ class Song:
             self.datadir = datadir
         self.fullpath = os.path.join(self.datadir, subpath)
         self.encoding = config["encoding"]
+        self.default_lang = config["lang"]
         self.config = config
 
         if self.datadir and self.config['_cache']:
diff --git a/patacrep/songs/chordpro/__init__.py b/patacrep/songs/chordpro/__init__.py
index a8314548..323548e9 100644
--- a/patacrep/songs/chordpro/__init__.py
+++ b/patacrep/songs/chordpro/__init__.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class ChordproSong(Song):
             song = parse_song(song.read(), self.fullpath)
         self.authors = song.authors
         self.titles = song.titles
-        self.lang = song.get_data_argument('language', self.config['lang'])
+        self.lang = song.get_data_argument('language', self.default_lang)
         self.data = song.meta
         self.cached = {
             'song': song,