BRAVE MARIN (French) Brave marin revient de guerre, Tout doux, Brave marin revient de guerre, Tout doux, Tout mal chaussé, tout mal vêtu : "Pauvre marin, d'où reviens-tu ? Tout doux. - Madame, je reviens de guerre, Tout doux, - Madame, je reviens de guerre, Tout doux, - Que l’on apporte du vin blanc Que le marin boit en passant !" Tout doux. Brave marin se mit à boire, Tout doux, Brave marin se mit à boire, Tout doux, Se mit à boire et à chanter Et la belle hôtesse à pleurer, Tout doux. " Ah ! dites-moi, la belle hôtesse, Tout doux, Ah ! dites-moi, la belle hôtesse, Tout doux, Regrettez-vous votre vin blanc Que le marin boit en passant ? Tout doux. - C'est pas mon vin que je regrette, Tout doux, C'est pas mon vin que je regrette, Tout doux, Mais c'est la mort de mon mari, Monsieur, vous ressemblez à lui !" Tout doux. - Ah ! dites-moi, la belle hôtesse, Tout doux, Ah ! dites-moi, la belle hôtesse, Tout doux, Vous aviez de lui trois enfants. En voici quatre à présent ! Tout doux. - J'ai tant reçu de tristes lettres, Tout doux, - J'ai tant reçu de tristes lettres, Tout doux, Qu'il était mort et enterré, Que je me suis remariée." Tout doux. Brave marin vida son verre, Tout doux, Brave marin vida son verre, Tout doux, Sans dire un mot, tout en pleurant Il regagna son bâtiment. Tout doux.

GOOD SAILOR Good sailor comes back from war, Softly, Good sailor comes back from war, Softly, Very ill shoed, very ill dressed, "Good sailor, whence do you come back?" Softly, "Madam, I'm coming back from war, Softly, Madam, I'm coming back from war, Softly, Let some white wine been brought That the sailor will drink passing by!" Softly, Good sailor started to drink, Softly, Good sailor started to drink, Softly, Started to drink and to sing, The beautiful hostess [started] to weep, Softly, "Ah, tell me, beautiful hostess," Softly, "Ah, tell me, beautiful hostess," Softly, "Do you regret your white wine That the sailor drinks when passing by?" Softly, "It's not my wine I regret," Softly, "It's not my wine I regret," Softly, But it's my husband's death, Sir, you look like him!" Softly, "Ah, tell me, beautiful hostess," Softly, "Ah, tell me, beautiful hostess," Softly, You had three children by him, Here are four of them now." Softly, "I received so many sad letters," Softly, "I received so many sad letters," Softly, "That he was dead and buried, So I married again". Softly, Good sailor emptied his glass, Softly, Good sailor emptied his glass, Softly, Without saying a word, while crying He went back to his ship. Softly.

In France the sailor is very seldom a soldier but some versions do exist about a soldier (my mom used to sing one). The lyrics are the same but for "soldat" instead of "marin" and "régiment" instead of "bâtiment" at the very end.
In Canada the sailor is always a soldier. Here are several versions collected in Canada. In these versions, the soldier gets angry at the end, sometimes so angry that he kills wife and children.

Recording by Nana Mouscouri

Live rendition by Guy Béart

YouTube Brave marin page

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