Le long du Quai, les grands vaisseaux,
Along the Quai, the large ships,

Que la houle incline en silence,
That the swell bends in silence,

Ne prennent pas garde aux berceaux,
Take no notice of the cradles,

Que la main des femmes balance.
That the hands of women rock.

Mais viendra le jour des adieux,
But will come the day of goodbyes,

Car il faut que les femmes pleurent,
For it must be that women weep,

Et que les hommes curieux
And that the men curious

Tentent les horizons qui leurrent!
Explore the horizons that entice!

Et ce jour-la les grands vaisseaux,
And that day there the large ships,

Fuyant le port qui diminue,
Fleeing the port which diminishes,

Sentent leur masse retenue
Feel their mass retained

Par l'âme des lointains berceaux,
By the soul of the distant cradles.