Hy, as many of you said, I was in love with this song from many many years ago..
I bought the original vinyl record in Barcelona at the beginnings of 80’s, I thought, and actually there was a sheet with the lyrics and its translation, I don’t remember if to French or to English…
I loved all the LP, but specially An Try Marrak and the next improvisation, Tal’an Tan, I remember how I spent hours listening to them and letting my mind flying over its atmosphere around countries and times that I imagined like pure life and poetry…
But I lend the LP to a friend of mine, and I never had the sheet of lyrics back, it was lost forever…
Some times during last years, I’ve tried to find lyrics looking for Internet, but I couldn’t, until today that I have found this forum…
I’m very thank to all of you for sharing with us this wonderful song and its amazing lyrics, and most of all, to the great Alan Stivell for giving to the world a jewel like this.
I would like to make you a question:
In the cornic text ther are these 4 paragraphs, just after the presentations of the three knights:
« A wruss`ta govyn orth ow thas
Hag orth ow mam a ry cumyas?
Hag orth ow broder Jowan da
Ha`m whoryk Annan maganta? »
« My re wovynnas orth da dha das
kefrys ha`th mam y ry cumyas
Orth whoryk Anna magata
Mes ny wruk govyn orth Jowan da »
But in the English translation, ther are only these 2 paragraphs:
« Have you asked my father
And my good brother Jean? »
« I have asked your father
But not good Jean »
I think there must be a mistake, or some lines aren’t translated in the English version…
Some of you can make a full translation? Or, if you have the original LP, is this the text (in English, or in French…) that there is in it?
Thank you if someone can help, and long life to Breizh and Celtic countries, and its music and its culture!
1 -Y teth try marrak a’n howlsedhas
Hag un arlodhes a whylas,
Chorus Ha dha ley, ha dha lyly
Hag an rosen a rudhys
2- An kensa marrak yn dyllas ,
A dheth yn tanter er hy fen
3- Ân nessa marrak yn dyllas gwer
A dheth rak bos hy howeth ker.
4- Ân tressa marrak yn dyllas ruth
A dheth rak cafos hy gwerghsys druth.
5- « A wruss’ta govyn orth ow thas,
Hag orth ow mam a ry cumyas?
6- Ha orth ow broder Jowan da,
Ha’m whoryk Anna magatà? »
7- « My re wovynnas orth dha das,
kefrys ha’th mam a ry cumyas.
8- Orth whoryk Anna magata,
Mes ny wruk govyn orth Jowan da. »
9-Hag y y’n forth ow marogeth,
Érbyn hy broder y a dheth.
10- Hy eth dhe vaya dh’y broder ker,
Hag ef a a’s gwanas a y dhagyer.
1- Three knights came from the West,
And saw a lady
2- The first knight, clothed in white
Came to her wooing
3- the second knight, clothed in green
Wanted to be her companion
4- The third knight, clothed in red
Wanted to take her precious virginity
5- Have you asked my father,
And my mother’s permission ?
6- Have you asked my sister Anna
And my good brother John ?
7- I’ve asked your father
And your mother
8- I’ve asked your sister Anna
But not your good brother John
9- As they were riding on the road
They met her brother John
10- She went to kiss her brother,
But he stabbed her with his dagger.
The translation of § 5 and 6 had been missed out.
Very thank you Stéphan!
I saw that the song lyrics are shorter than the full story that it was posted in this forum (and the one that I was quoting in my message).
It’s nice to have now the correct translation, it’s a sad but nice story, similar to other traditional tales of some european countries.
Thank you again!
Sorry, It was me who was answering.