Words: traditional, translated and developed by Chip Wilson and Jane Perrott
Music: traditional arr. Chip Wilson and the London Sea Shanty Collective

A traditional Breton song from 18th-century south Brittany, in the French triple-round style, about Celtic-speaking French sailors who travelled to Newfoundland from the area. In our version, adapted by our own Chip Wilson and Jane Perrott, we land the sailors in Trepassey, a Newfoundland fishing community whose name may have French, Cornish or Welsh roots.

Three Breton mariners,
Tra la la la-la-la-la,
Three Breton mariners,
Sailed across the sea.

They sailed across the sea I say,
They sailed across the sea I say.

And they sailed all the way,
Till they reached old Trepassey.

All the way to Trepassey,
All the way to Trepassey.

And they dropped anchor there,
In a bay beside a mill.

A bay beside a mill I say,
A bay beside a mill I say.

And in the mill by the bay,
Lived a girl with auburn curls.

She worked there in the mill I say,
She worked there in the mill I say.

Up spoke a sailor then,
I have met you long ago.

I met you long ago I say,
I met you long ago I say.

Yes in the market in Nantes,
Where we chose a golden ring.

We chose a golden ring I say,
We chose a golden ring I say.

Who is this fine young man,
Who helps you with your load?

Who is this fine young man I say,
Who is this fine young man I say?

He is a son by you,
He is your flesh and blood.

He is your flesh and blood I say,
He is your flesh and blood I say.

Tra la la la-la-la-la,
Tra la la la-la-la-la,
Tra la la la-la-la-la,
Tra la la la-la-la-la.

Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ.