Versions in English One English variant recorded by both
Odetta (1956) and
The Kingston Trio (1958) is about a ship that leaves from
Liverpool to
California "Plenty of gold, So I've Been told, way out in California".
The Weavers album
The Weavers at Home (1958) describes a journey from Boston to California. These versions are probably about the
California Gold Rush and based on Lomax's version. The soundtrack to the game
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire includes an adaptation of the song called
Aim Spirente. Its lyrics are similar to
Hugues Aufray's
Santiano, but adapted to fit the game's lore. The lyrics, written on a scrap of paper, can also be found as an in-game item.
The Longest Johns recorded a version on their 2018 album
Between Wind and Water, as well as a mixed French and English cover with Justine Galmiche from the band
SKÁLD. A cappella group,
Home Free, would excerpt this version as part of their 2021
Sea Shanty Medley, released into the "social media craze" surrounding shanties and similar songs during the
COVID-19 social distancing lockdowns. This vogue would draw attention to and inspire other ensembles to record and release the song on various social media and streaming platforms. Catalan-language folk group
El Pony Pisador released a metal version of Santiana in English in 2019.
Versions in French "Santiano" was recorded in 1961 by Hugues Aufray and refers to a ship leaving Saint Malo bound to San Francisco, described as a wealthy place. It became very popular and has inspired several versions including the reality show
Star Academy in 2005.
Versions in Welsh A
Welsh language version of
Santiana was recorded by Welsh folk singer
Meic Stevens in 1969. It remained unreleased until 2002, when it was released on the
Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell i Ddod compilation. Stevens' version of the song contains references to contemporary events in Wales such as the incarceration of
Free Wales Army soldiers in 1969. This version has also inspired recent recordings of the song by
Alun Gaffey,
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog,
Iwcs a Gaff and Alaw.
Versions in other languages In 2008,
German folk-collective
Werkraum under leadership by
Axel Frank recorded their own adaption of the English original using some changes in the verses, referring to
Tory Island instead of
Liverpool, probably inspired by a stormy cruise to the north-west coast of
Ireland and the historical Irish immigration to America. In 2012, the German group
Santiano recorded a new version of this song. The group has had much success, and received an
Echo for their first album containing Santiano as well as other shanties. In 2022, the group released a Version with new English lyrics that also features
Nathan Evans, with whom the band had previously collaborated for their version of "
Wellerman". Metusa, a German Folk-Rock band, recorded a German version of this shanty called "Santyano" which appears on their album "Piratenseele". There is a
Norwegian version of this song about a man who sails from
Copenhagen to
Kristiansand and meets a girl with whom he spends a night. He then has to travel to
India and, when he arrives, he is handed a letter saying that his Norwegian friend is dead. He never returned to Norway for his Anna is dead. The song is remodeled by Storm Weather Shanty Choir. There is a version in Icelandic, called "Fulla ferð Santíanó" ("Full Ahead Santiano"), a seaman's story about sailing home after days at sea, written by
Siggi Björns an Icelandic musician and an ex-fisherman. This version was recorded and realised on a CD with a band called "
Æfing" from a small fishing town,
Flateyri, in the Icelandic
Westfjords. ==References==