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Posted by: loge Jan 23 2005, 10:10 PM

Hi everybody!

I'm looking for english (or the best polish, but i doubt anyone has done it ) translation of "Tri martolod" - it's beautiful song, and i like the sound of breton language, but i would like to know about what is this song. Other translations of Alan Stivell, Tri Yann and others are also welcome:)

thank You in advance!

Posted by: Roidsear Jan 24 2005, 08:51 AM

Demat dit, lodge!

I have the German translation here... I will translate it asap.
Stay tuned...

Kenavo a c'henta�,

Roidsear

Posted by: Roidsear Jan 24 2005, 10:11 AM

Ok... my Brezhoneg is not really good... I managed to translate it into
German... somehow... and now I translated it into english...
There may be some mistakes... sure there are...

Here is a French translation of the song:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/per.kentel/martold3.htm

Perhaps Charlotte could have a look if my attempt is correct... (I have not real knowledge of French, I can only guess some parts from Latin...)

Here's my attempt:
(Based on the version sung by Tri Yann... Alan Stivell doesn't sing any further as the verse with "E Naoned, er marc'had..." - "In Nantes at the market..."
Neither in the album version nor in the Olympia '72 concert version.)

Tri Martolod

Three young sailors (tra la la la lala la) <-- I won't write that each and every time...
Three young sailory went on a journey

The wind drove them
To the new world

Beside the stone of the old mill
They lowered anchor

And in the mill
There was a servant

She asked me
Where we got to know each other

In Nantes at the market
We chose a ring

The ring of engagement
And we were short before marriage

We will marry
Even if we don't have any goods

My mother, you are living comfortable
You don't know who is suffering

We have neither house nor straw
Nor bed to sleep at night

We have neither sheet nor blanket
Or quilt (pillow?) beneath our heads

We will do it like the down-and-out
We will sleep on the floor

We will do it like the partridge
When the sun rises, it runs away

My song is at an end
The on who knows, may continue

Posted by: loge Jan 24 2005, 12:36 PM

Thank You very much!

Finally i know what's going on:)

BTW: Some polish shanties bands sing this song with polish lyrics, and I was wonder if it's translation or not - it seems someone write whole new lyrics from scratch:)

Strange, because irish music and culture is very popular in Poland - we have lot of bands which plays original irish/celtic music, and makes new music inspired by this tradition (like Carrantuohill, Stonehenge, Shannon, and others), but breton music is almost unknown. Sad, because it's beautiful.

Thanks again!
Keep warm:)

Posted by: Tom McB Jan 24 2005, 04:28 PM

Excellent I always wondered what the lyrics were in English.

Also interesting to see that Breton seems to have Latin influences.

Posted by: Roidsear Jan 25 2005, 05:29 PM

Well, the latin influences are mainly secondary influences through French.
Brezhoneg has loads of loanwords.

connaissance = konesa�s
etc...

A great resource for both learning Brezhoneg and finding information, as well as a forum
can be found on http://www.kervarker.org

but it's closely related to all the other celtic languages. closest to cornish, then Cymraeg (Welsh). But you can see parallels to Irish:
http://www.celtic-lyrics.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=589&view;=findpost&p;=6694

Well, so much for that...

Kenavo a c'henta� (meaning: Sl�n go f�ill)

Posted by: Tom McB Jan 25 2005, 06:54 PM

Cheers- first heard Breton through Stivell albums in the 1970s. Then on radio stations when driving from Cherbourg to Bordeaux or the Vendee on holidays.
The site looks very promising.
Yes- it was the borrowed words which interested me
Martolod- matelot.
Always a sign of a living and dynamic language that it gradually accomodates change.
It might interest you that Glasgow city Council have agreed to set up a Gaelic Secondary school ( 11 to 18 year olds) . Previously Gaelic secondary education in Scotland was only available in the western Isles. Seems a positive sign.

Posted by: Roidsear Jan 27 2005, 01:39 PM

Cheers- first heard Breton through Stivell albums in the 1970s. Then on radio stations when driving from Cherbourg to Bordeaux or the Vendee on holidays.
The site looks very promising.
Yes- it was the borrowed words which interested me
Martolod- matelot.
Always a sign of a living and dynamic language that it gradually accomodates change.
It might interest you that Glasgow city Council have agreed to set up a Gaelic Secondary school ( 11 to 18 year olds) . Previously Gaelic secondary education in Scotland was only available in the western Isles. Seems a positive sign.

Posted by: Son o'the harp Apr 13 2005, 08:10 PM

Hi folks, first I say "thanks" for the english translation...I had some problems translatin' the words o'that great song.
I'm here just to ask the service o'your wisdom, to know if "Tri Martolod" is correct written this way.
Thanks in advance, hope to hear from you soon.
bye people!

Posted by: Gorek Jul 4 2006, 09:05 AM

Hi, guys, I�m a starting translator and I was wondering � do you know any other services like www.aquarius.net or www.globtra.com where I can find some job offers?
Help will be really appreciated!

Posted by: Fionn Jul 4 2006, 05:06 PM

QUOTE(loge @ Jan 24 2005, 04:36 PM)

Posted by: lurker0317 Oct 19 2006, 04:40 PM

hello folks... newbie here.

found your site when looking for the lyrics to Tri martolod... loved the song since the early 70's. And very much appreciate finally seeing the words... the LP I had way back when was def. short on liner notes!!

One note about the French to English translation, though, Terre-Neuve (a proper noun) would be translated as Newfoundland (part of Canada, where many ships from Europe came to fish cod over centuries).