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.
Tri Martolod
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ
Tri martolod yaouank, la la la la la la la
Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ
E vonet da veajiñ, gê!
E vonet da veajiñ
Gant 'n avel bet kaset beteg an Douar Nevez
Gant ′n avel bet kaset, la la la la la la la
Gant 'n avel bet kaset beteg an Douar Nevez
Beteg an Douar Nevez, gê!
Beteg an Douar Nevez
E-kichen mein ar veilh, la la la la la la la
E-kichen mein ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
E-kichen mein ar veilh, la la la la la la la
E-kichen mein ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
O deus mouilhet o eorioù, gê!
O deus mouilhet o eorioù
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se, la la la la la la la
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se, la la la la la la la
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
Pelec'h on-oa konesañ, gê!
Pelec′h on-oa konesañs
En Naoned er marc′had, la la la la la la la
En Naoned er marc'had on-oa choajet ur walenn
En Naoned er marc′had, la la la la la la la
En Naoned er marc'had on-oa choajet ur walenn
The Longest Johns' song Tri Martolod is a traditional Breton sailors' song that has been interpreted many times by various artists. The lyrics, written in Breton, tell the story of three young sailors who go on a trip. The first verse introduces the three sailors, and the chorus repeats their names, "Tri martolod yaouank" which means "Three young sailors." The second verse talks about the journey they are taking, propelled by the wind that takes them to the "Douar Nevez" or "New Land" in Breton. The chorus repeats again, affirming the sailors' youthfulness and their adventurous spirit.
In the third verse, the sailors are near the shore, and they hear the neighing of the horses. They decide to approach the horses, and while they are doing so, they meet a young servant girl who is herding the horses. The last verse reveals that the sailors met the servant girl in the market of Nantes, where they bought a piece of cloth from her. The song ends with the chorus, emphasizing the sailors' youthful determination to explore the world.
The song's lyrics provide a glimpse of the adventurous and romanticized lives of sailors in Brittany. The song is often performed by singers who specialize in Breton music or sea shanties, and it has been covered in various languages, including French, English, and Japanese.
Line by Line Meaning
Tri martolod yaouank, la la la la la la la
Three young sailors, la la la la la la la
Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ
Three young sailors went travelling
E vonet da veajiñ, gê!
They went travelling, yes!
Gant ′n avel bet kaset, la la la la la la la
With the wind blowing, la la la la la la la
Gant 'n avel bet kaset beteg an Douar Nevez
With the wind blowing until they reached the New Land
Beteg an Douar Nevez, gê!
Until they reached the New Land, yes!
E-kichen mein ar veilh, la la la la la la la
Beside the millstone, la la la la la la la
E-kichen mein ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
Beside the millstone where they sharpened their axes
O deus mouilhet o eorioù, gê!
Where they sharpened their axes, yes!
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se, la la la la la la la
And inside that mill, la la la la la la la
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
And inside that mill was a servant girl
Pelec'h on-oa konesañ, gê!
Where we made acquaintance, yes!
En Naoned er marc′had, la la la la la la la
In Nantes market, la la la la la la la
En Naoned er marc'had on-oa choajet ur walenn
In Nantes market, we chose a shirt
En Naoned er marc′had on-oa choajet ur walenn
In Nantes market, we chose a shirt
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.