Guerre à guerre, à vente vent [English translation]

After seven years of war, seven years serving on a ship

(bis)

I'm sailing back from Grande-Terre, back to Lorient

I'm sailing back from Grande-Terre, war, war, blowing winds1

I spent whole nights standing on the forecastle

(bis)

under good or adverse wind, enduring breeze and reefs2

(bis), [---]

See my wretched sailor bag, heavy with blows, empty of money

(bis)

Go and tell the captain I've obeyed too often

(bis), [---]

Good day sweetheart, I hold you dear, your loved one is back

(bis)

I am tired of too many wars, not seeing my children grow

(bis), [---]

The singing nightingale brought me your thousand letters

(bis)

Though I wrote less often, I sent you ribbons

(bis), [---]

Friends, you'll be seeing me quite often, more than before

(bis)

After so many years of war, I'll have so much time

(bis), [---]

From Lorient to Grande-Terre, tailwind, headwind

(bis)

Winter flowers were beautiful, they heralded spring

(bis), [---]

1. that's mostly a rhythmic pattern. "venter" is a disused verb meaning "be windy" that survives only in fixed expressions. "vente vent" could be understood as "the wind may blow", i.e. "no matter if the wind blows"2. that doesn't really make sense, I suspect these reefs are just there for the similitude with breeze

• Artist:Tri Yann