The Longest Johns formed in June 2012 after first singing together at a friend's barbecue. The original line up consisted of Josh Bowker, Andy Yates, Jonathan Darley and Dave Robinson. About a week later, they posted their first video on YouTube, singing "Haul Away Joe." They released their debut EP, Bones in the Ocean, in 2013, the title track of which is still one of their most popular. Their first full album, Written in Salt, was released in 2016, featuring tracks such as Drunken Sailor, Old Maui and Randy Dandy-O.
In June 2018 they released their second album, Between Wind & Water, which contained the smash hit "Wellerman". This recording, as well as the one used in the bands' Sea of Thieves series "Open Crewsing" would go on to cause the viral sensation in the years to come.
In October 2019, the band announced that Anna Cornish would be leaving the band to focus on her other band, The Norfolk Broads.
In March 2020, they released a song titled "Flatten the Curve", urging people to stay indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June 2020, the band released their third studio album, Cures What Ails Ya. This album was the Johns' first album featuring a full array of instruments on half of the songs.
In March 2023, The Longest Johns released a collab album, The Longest Pony, featuring collabs with the Barcelona folk group, El Pony Pisador. The album features the song "Al Pirata Joan Torrellas" which sung only in Catalan.
On 1 May 2023, the band announced the departure of founding member Dave Robinson.
Santiano
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hissez haut Santiano
Dix huit noeuds quatre cents tonneaux
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut Santiano
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant
Oh, the wind was foul and the seas ran high
Heave away Santiano
She shipped it green and none went by
Along the plains of Mexico
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut Santiano
Si Dieu vеut toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
Hissez haut Santiano
D'y penser j'avais le coeur gros
En doublant les feux de Saint-Malo
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut, hissez haut Santiano
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
We swear by rote for want of more
Heave away Santiano
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
Along the plains of Mexico
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut Santiano
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut Santiano
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
The Longest Johns's "Santiano" is a traditional French sea shanty that tells the tale of a three-masted ship and her crew who are setting sail on a long journey from France to San Francisco. The opening lines describe Santiano as a fine ship, capable of sailing at 18 knots and holding 400 tons. The singer expresses how proud he is to be a sailor on such a vessel.
The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the importance of staying the course in the face of adversity, holding fast through the rough seas and blustery winds, and trusting in the will of God to guide them onward towards their destination. The singer describes the perils of their voyage, but also the beauty and majesty of the sea, and the sense of camaraderie that comes with traveling together as a crew.
The verses of the song are broken up by the chorus, which provides a unifying theme that resolves any tension and binds the whole song together. The Longest Johns's arrangement of the song is anchored by strong harmonies and a driving rhythm, which gives the song a sense of energy and momentum as it builds towards its climactic finale.
Overall, "Santiano" is a timeless sea shanty that captures the spirit of adventure, the power of the sea, and the camaraderie of sailors on a long journey.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est un fameux trois-mâts fin comme un oiseau
Describing the ship named Santiano, which is a beautiful three-masted vessel that sails through the water with grace and speed
Hissez haut Santiano
The call to action for the crew to hoist the sails of the ship named Santiano
Dix huit noeuds quatre cents tonneaux
Describing the ship's remarkable speed and size, with a capacity of four hundred tons and the ability to reach a speed of eighteen knots
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Expressing pride in being a sailor on board the ship named Santiano
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Encouraging the crew to hold strong against the challenges of the sea and wind
Si Dieu veut toujours droit devant
Believing that if it is God's will, they will continue on their journey without deviation
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Having a clear goal to reach San Francisco and the determination to get there
Oh, the wind was foul and the seas ran high
Recalling a difficult time when the wind was against them and the waves were rough
Heave away Santiano
The action of the crew pulling on ropes to hoist the sails and power the ship through the waves
She shipped it green and none went by
Describing how the ship managed to withstand the rough waves without anything falling overboard
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
Leaving behind someone named Margot for an extended period of time, causing sadness and heavy heartedness
D'y penser j'avais le coeur gros
Feeling a heavy heart when thinking about leaving Margot for so long
En doublant les feux de Saint-Malo
Passing the lighthouses of Saint-Malo, a landmark signaling the start of the voyage
We swear by rote for want of more
Taking an oath out of habit, without anything more eloquent to say at the moment
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
Having completed the voyage, the crew plans to go onshore for rest and relaxation
Tiens bon, hissez haut Santiano
Repeating the call to hold strong and hoist the sails of the ship named Santiano
Writer(s): John Anthony Brown, Toby Lobb, Christopher John Lethbridge, Michael William Hawkins, Julian Nicholas Brown, Jeremy David Brown, Jason Nicholas, John Leonard Mcdonnell, Jonathan Robert Cleave
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FoxyHxCMacfly
This version's lyrics :
C'est un fameux trois-mâts, fin comme un oiseau
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
Dix-huit nœuds, quatre cents tonneaux
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
Oh, the wind was foul and the seas ran high
(Heave away! Santiano!)
She shipped it green and none went by
(Along the plains of Mexico!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
D'y penser, j'avais le cœur gros
(En doublant les feux de Saint Malo!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
We swear by rote, and want of more
(Heave away! Santiano!)
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
(Along the plains of Mexico!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
^(X2)
Incredible version !! Cheers from France !
@mickaelcosta5720
C'est un fameux trois-mâts, fin comme un oiseau
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
Dix-huit nœuds, quatre cents tonneaux
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
D'y penser, j'avais le cœur gros
(En doublant les feux de Saint Malo)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
On prétend que là-bas, l'argent coule à flots
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
On trouve l'or au fond des ruisseaux
(J'en ramènerai plusieurs lingots)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Hissez haut!…
@grendelentertainment9642
C'est un fameux trois-mâts, fin comme un oiseau
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
Dix-huit nœuds, quatre cents tonneaux
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Tiens bon la vague, tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Oh, the wind was foul and the seas ran high
Heave away! Santiano!
She shipped it green and none went by
Along the plains of Mexico!
Tiens bon la vague, tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
D'y penser, j'avais le cœur gros
En doublant les feux de Saint Malo
Tiens bon la vague, tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
We swear by rote for want of more
Heave away! Santiano!
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
Along the plains of Mexico
Tiens bon la vague, tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
Tiens bon la vague, tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut ! Santiano !
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco
https://lyricstranslate.com/nl/santiano-santiano.html-3
@malyoshiro
I wanted to sing along on the first verse so I made my own syllables lyrics (because reading French would be a disaster haha). With just listening meticulously on how they pronounce it, slowing the video down, and infinitely rewinding (lol) I got it!
Here`s what I made:
Say un fa mu twa ma fun ka mun wa zo,
(Hiseoo, Santianno!)
Dee zwee dher katra san ter no,
(just we fier te e tre matalo!)
Tien bon la vaa get tien bon le vont,
(Hiseoo, Santianno!)
See dier ver tuja twa der vont,
(Nu seron jus ska San Francisco!)
And with that I am now fluent with it lol. God it`s so fun! Haha
@FoxyHxCMacfly
This version's lyrics :
C'est un fameux trois-mâts, fin comme un oiseau
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
Dix-huit nœuds, quatre cents tonneaux
Je suis fier d'y être matelot
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
Oh, the wind was foul and the seas ran high
(Heave away! Santiano!)
She shipped it green and none went by
(Along the plains of Mexico!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
Je pars pour de longs mois en laissant Margot
(Hissez haut! Santiano!)
D'y penser, j'avais le cœur gros
(En doublant les feux de Saint Malo!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
We swear by rote, and want of more
(Heave away! Santiano!)
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
(Along the plains of Mexico!)
Tiens bon la vague et tiens bon le vent
Hissez haut! Santiano!
Si Dieu veut, toujours droit devant
(Nous irons jusqu'à San Francisco)
^(X2)
Incredible version !! Cheers from France !
@robertstuckey6407
Merci! My French isn't good enough to sign along without this! I think they're saying
"we swear by rote for want of more.
Heave away! Santiano!
But now we're through so we'll go on shore.
Along the plains of mexico"
@astrotrek3534
"Oh the wind was foul and the seas ran high
She shipped it green and none went by"
And,
"We swear by rote, and want of more
But now we're through so we'll go on shore"
They're lines from "Leave her Johnny", another shanty.
@neilwilson5785
Merci, dude.
@astrotrek3534
@Neil Wilson No problem, cheers from across the Atlantic
@stephengalindo6340
Y'all are awesome can someone post a translation? Mobile is failing me
@legrognard9777
(🇬🇧/🇺🇸) The language barrier has once again been broken by magnificent songs
(🇫🇷) La barrière des langues à une nouvelle fois été brisée par de magnifiques chants
@kommandantvalentine6272
By god may it happen again, oh wait it will on the 23rd!
@dagriffon
Indeed, mon ami. May it happen more and more in the coming years. The language barrier being broken is the best thing in the world. Good music is a language of it own.
@noone-tq7cs
Je parle nativement français et anglais, maintenant j'ai envie d'apprendre cette version de Santiano
I speak French and English natively, now I wanna learn this version of Santiano