great maritime songs - 1. 'Santiano' by Hugues Aufray

Following the posts of great railway songs earlier in the year, here is the first in a series of posts on great maritime songs.

This first is a song well known in the French speaking world - and almost unknown outside it.



Paroles / Lyrics

C'est un fameux trois-mâts fin comme un oiseau.
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
Dix huit nuds, quatre cent tonneaux :
Je suis fier d'y être matelot.

{Refrain:}
Tiens bon la vague tiens bon le vent.
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant,
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco.

Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot.
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
D'y penser j'avais le cur gros
En doublant les feux de Saint-Malo.

{Refrain}

On prétend que là-bas l'argent coule à flots.
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
On trouve l'or au fond des ruisseaux.
J'en ramènerai plusieurs lingots.

{Refrain}

Un jour, je reviendrai chargé de cadeaux.
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
Au pays, j'irai voir Margot.
A son doigt, je passerai l'anneau.

Tiens bon la vague tiens bon le vent.
{Tiens bon le cap tiens bon le flot.}
Hisse et ho, Santiano !
Sur la mer qui fait le gros dos,
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco

[ It is a famous three-master fine like a bird.
Hoist and ho Santiano!
Eighteen knots, four hundred tons:
I am proud to be a sailor.

{Refrain:}
Hold on to the wave hold on to the wind.
Hoist and ho Santiano!
If God wants always straight ahead,
We will go to San Francisco.

I leave for many months, leaving Margot.
Hoist and ho Santiano!
To think I had the big heart
By doubling the fires of St. Malo.

{Refrain}

It is claimed that down there money flows.
Hoist and ho Santiano!
One finds gold in stream bottoms.
I will bring back several ingots.

{Refrain}

One day I'll come back loaded with gifts.
Hoist and ho Santiano!
At home, I'll go see Margot.
On her finger, I will put a ring.

Hold on to wave hold on the wind.
{Hold on to the cape hold on to the flow}
Hoist and ho Santiano!
On the sea which arches its back
We will go to San Francisco]