Tri Martolod ("Three sailors" in Breton) or Tri Martolod Yaouank ("Three young sailors"), is a traditional Breton song which dates to the 18th century in Lower Brittany. It was made famous by the interpretation, the arrangement and the recordings made by the Breton harpist Alan Stivell, in the 1970s.
The lyrics tell the story of three young sailors who embark for Newfoundland and the history quickly settles into a romantic dialogue. The music is a round in three steps typical of the South Cornouaille and common in the Breton coastal areas.
Other songs on the same musical air :
Tri martolod yaouank... la la la... Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ
E vonet da veajiñ, gê! E vonet da veajiñ
Gant 'n avel bet kaset... la la la... Gant 'n avel bet kaset betek an Douar Nevez
Beteg an Douar Nevez, gê! Beteg an Douar Nevez
E-kichen mein ar veilh... la la la... E-kichen mein ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
O deus mouilhet o eorioù, gê! O deus mouilhet o eorioù
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se... la la la... Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
E oa ur servijourez, gê! E oa ur servijourez
Hag e c'houlenn ganin... la la la... Hag e c'houlenn ganin pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs, gê! Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
E Naoned er marc'had... la la la... E Naoned er marc'had hor boa choazet ur walenn
Three young sailors... la la la… Three young sailors went traveling
Went traveling! Went traveling
And the wind pushed them… la la la... The wind pushed them to Newfoundland
All the way to Newfoundland! All the way to Newfoundland
Next to the windmill stone… la la la... Next to the windmill stone, they dropped anchor
They dropped anchor! They dropped anchor
And in that windmill… la la la... And in that windmill was a servant girl
There was a servant girl! There was a servant girl
And she asked me… la la la... And she asked me where we met
Where have we met before? Where have we met before
In Nantes at the market… la la la... In Nantes at the market, we chose a ring