Chanson de marins

Sea Shanty

(French)

(English)

Nous étions deux, nous étions trois
Nous étions deux, nous étions trois
Nous étions trois marins de Groix.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Mon matelot, le mouss' et moi,
Mon matelot, le mouss' et moi,
Embarqués sur le Saint-François.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Pour aller de Belle-Île à Groix,
Pour aller de Belle-Île à Groix,
Vint à venter grain de noroit.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

En haut, en haut, beaux mariniers,
En haut, en haut, beaux mariniers,
À prendre un ris dans les huniers,
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

"Jean-Pierre, dis-je, matelot,
Jean-Pierre, dis-je, matelot,
À serrer d' la toil', qu'il nous faut,
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Ce failli temps n' mollira pas,
Ce failli temps n' mollira pas,
Je prends la barre, vas-y mon gars. "
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lèe.

S'en est monté pour prendre un ris,
S'en est monté pour prendre un ris,
Un paquet d' mer l'aura surpris…
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lire.

On n'a r'trouvé que son chapeau,
On n'a r'trouvé que son chapeau,
Son garde-pip' et son couteau.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Au jour j'ai revu son sabot,
Au jour j'ai revu son sabot,
Qui flottait seul, là-bas sur l'eau.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Sa pauvre maman s'en est allée,
Sa pauvre maman s'en est allée,
Prier à Sainte Anne d'Auray.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

"Sainte Anne, rendez-moi mon garçon,
Sainte Anne, rendez-moi mon garçon,
Il était jeune, il était blond."
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Et Sainte Anne lui répondit,
Et Sainte Anne lui répondit :
"Tu le verras en paradis."
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

Plaignez mon pauvre matelot,
Plaignez mon pauvre matelot,
Sa femme et ses trois petiots*.
Landéri-tra, lon lon la,
Landéri-tra lon-lère.

We were two, we were three,
We were three sailors from Groix (1).
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

My sailor, the ship's boy and me,
My sailor, the ship's boy and me,
On board the Saint-François.
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

To go from Belle-Île to Groix,
To go from Belle-Île to Groix,
A North squall started to blow.
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

Climb up, climb up, fine sailor,
Climb up, climb up, fine sailor,
To take a reef to the topsails (2),
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

"Jean-Pierre," I said, "Sailor,"
"Jean-Pierre," I said, "Sailor,
We have to reef the sails,"
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

This bad weather won't ease,
This bad weather won't ease,
I'll take the helm, go my lad!"
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

He went up to take a reef,
He went up to take a reef,
A big wave might have taken him by surprise…
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

We only found his hat,
We only found his hat,
His pipe case and his knife.
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

In daylight I saw his clog,
In daylight I saw his clog
That floated alone, yonder there on the water.
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

His poor mom went,
His poor mom went
To pray to Sainte Anne d'Auray.
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

"Saint Ann, give me back my boy,
Saint Ann, give me back my boy,
He was young, he had fair hair."
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

And Saint Ann answered her,
And Saint Ann answered her,
"You'll see him in paradise."
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.

Pity my poor sailor,
Pity my poor sailor,
His wife and his three little ones (3).
Landeri-tra, lon lon la,
Landeri-tra lon-lere.