‘Ar Maen Bihan’, a story written by his partner in the Breton language, bec… Read Full Bio ↴‘Ar Maen Bihan’, a story written by his partner in the Breton language, became the song of the same name on ‘∞ (Infinity)’. The words were then translated into English, and with help from amiina they became ‘Steinn’, in Icelandic. And then finally with Ólavur Jákupsson - a member of Tiersen’s live band – he wrote ‘Grønjørð’, in Faroese: a song about stones.

Ar Maen Bihan
Yann Tiersen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

E-kreizh ar-roc'h e-voa eun ti
E-penn an ti e-voa eur siminal
Barz ar siminal e-voa ludu
E-kichenn al ludu e-voa keuneud
E-kichen arc'heuneud e-voa eur bank
Dirak ar brank e-voa eun daol
E-penn an daol e-voa eur gador
Var ar gador e-voa eur vantell

Var ar vantell e-voa eur godell
E-barz enni e-voa eur maen bihan

Per a-neuz kemeret ar maen

A kassed anezhan er-meaz
E-ichen ar roc'h

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Yann Tiersen's song Ar Maen Bihan describe a house that sits on a rock in the middle of the sea. The house has a chimney that emits smoke, and a boat is tied up to it. The boat is filled with wood and is ready to set sail. The rock on which the house sits supports a tree. The lyrics then describe a small stone in the water, which is taken by someone and carried up to the rock. The person then places the stone on the top of the rock.

This song is describing a beautifully isolated place, so isolated that the only way to access it is by boat. The lyrics bring to mind images of an idyllic retreat where someone can live completely unbothered. The focus on the small stone that is taken and placed on top of the rock highlights the simplicity and peacefulness of this place; it is so near to perfection that even the smallest additions are notable.

Line by Line Meaning

E-kreizh ar-roc'h e-voa eun ti
In the middle of the rock, there was a house

E-penn an ti e-voa eur siminal
On top of the house, there was a chimney

Barz ar siminal e-voa ludu
Inside the chimney, there was smoke

E-kichenn al ludu e-voa keuneud
Next to the smoke, there were rabbits

E-kichen arc'heuneud e-voa eur bank
Beside the rabbits, there was a bench

Dirak ar brank e-voa eun daol
Facing the bench, there was a table

E-penn an daol e-voa eur gador
On top of the table, there was a pitcher

Var ar gador e-voa eur vantell
Next to the pitcher, there was a glass

Var ar vantell e-voa eur godell
Next to the glass, there was a knife

E-barz enni e-voa eur maen bihan
On top of the knife, there was a small stone

Per a-neuz kemeret ar maen
Whoever took the stone