Tri Yann (breton for the "three Johns") is a Breton folk-rock band founded … Read Full Bio ↴Tri Yann (breton for the "three Johns") is a Breton folk-rock band founded in 1971 by Jean-Louis Jossic, Jean Chocun and Jean-Paul Corbineau. The band began by playing traditional Breton music on traditional instruments like mandoloncello, dulcimer, psaltery, bombarde, cromorne and shawm. In 1976, with "La Découverte ou l'Ignorance", they started to introduce some rock elements like electric bass and drums.

Today they are one of the longest-standing Breton music groups surviving from the folk-rock revival of the 1970s. A popular live band in France, Tri Yann is famous for their outlandish costumes and theatrical presentation on stage. The band members are multi-instrumentalists, and usually the number of instruments on the stage is usually far greater than the number of musicians.

Current members:
Jean-Louis Jossic - Vocals, bombarde
Jean Chocun - Vocals, mandolin, guitar
Jean-Paul Corbineau - Vocals, acoustic guitar
Gérard Goron - Vocals, drums
Jean-Luc Chevalier - Electric guitar, bass guitar
Konan Mevel - Bagpipes, flutes
Fred Bourgeois - Vocals, keyboards
Christophe Peloil - Vocals, violin

Former members:
Bernard Baudriller - Bass guitar
Jérôme Gasmi - Drums
Christope Le Helley - Flute

Kan Peoc'h
Tri Yann Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kan kazarn, kan brezel
Komz kazus, komz bleiz
Kan kounar, kan kiger
Komz kerzu, komz korker
Klemmvan, keinvan
Tenvalijenn, kann
Klemmvan, keivann
Kastizadur, kann

Kan peoc'h, kan ébrel
Komz kendalc'h keltiek
Kan morvran, karantez
Komz dazont, komz nevez
Kalon hendad
Frankiz ha kengred

Kalon grennblac'h
Frankiz ha kengred

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tri Yann's song Kan Peoc'h describe the dual nature of humanity and the world that we inhabit. The first verse speaks of singing about war and conflict, as well as speaking cunningly and like a wolf. This represents the darker, more primal parts of our nature that are associated with violence and aggression. In contrast, the second verse speaks of singing about love and speaking of the future with hope and newness. This represents the more positive, uplifting parts of our nature that are associated with growth and progress.

The third verse speaks of the heart of a fatherland (hendad) that embodies both freedom and unity. The final line of the song ties this idea back to the beginning by saying that the heart is both green and black, representing the duality of nature and humanity. Overall, the lyrics can be seen as a reflection on the complexity and contradiction that is inherent in the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Kan kazarn, kan brezel
Sing the horn, sing of war

Komz kazus, komz bleiz
Speak of deceit, speak of wolves

Kan kounar, kan kiger
Sing of compassion, sing of bravery

Komz kerzu, komz korker
Speak of justice, speak of stubbornness

Klemmvan, keinvan
Softness, hardness

Tenvalijenn, kann
Thin veil, song

Klemmvan, keivann
Softness, roughness

Kastizadur, kann
Castigation, song

Kan peoc'h, kan ébrel
Sing of sin, sing of April

Komz kendalc'h keltiek
Speak of Celtic tradition

Kan morvran, karantez
Sing of the sea crow, love