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  • 10 Beautiful Welsh Songs with Lyrics

    Welsh Songs with Lyrics

    Selecting ten beautiful Welsh songs is nearly an impossible task, actually it is impossible! So, with great trepidation, here is a list of Welsh songs with lyrics which includes Welsh national songs, famous Welsh songs, traditional Welsh songs old and new and songs in Welsh. 

     

    Welsh songs with English translation where appropriate
    10 Beautiful Welsh Songs with Lyrics. More "All About Wales Articles", click here...

     

    Other Welsh Songs with Lyrics

     

    My list starts with our iconic National Anthem and finishes with two traditional Welsh songs and probably the most famous Welsh songs ever composed, Calon Lân and Myfanwy. It also includes songs by Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Dafydd Iwan, Max Boyce and Tom Jones. Here are the full lyrics with English translations and meanings where necessary.

     Number Title Composer
         
    1 Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) Evan and James James
    2 Hymns and Arias Max Boyce
    3 Ar Lan y Môr - Traditional Folk Song Unknown
    4 Yma o Hyd Dafydd Iwan
    5 Cwm Rhondda John Hughes
    6 Thousand Trees Stereophonics
    7 Design for Life Manic Street Preachers
    8 Green, Green Grass of Home Tom Jones
    9 Calon Lân Daniel James and John Hughes
     10 Myfanwy Joseph Parry

     

    1. Hen Wlad fy Nahdau,

    Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
    Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
    Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
    Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

    Cytgan/Chorus:
    Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
    Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
    O bydded i'r heniaith barhau

    Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd;
    Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd,
    Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si,
    Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.

    Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
    Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
    Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
    Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.

    This land of my fathers is dear to me
    Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
    Her brave warriors, fine patriots
    Shed their blood for freedom

    Chorus:
    Land! Land! I am true to my land!
    As long as the sea serves as a wall
    For this pure, dear land
    May the language endure forever.

    Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
    Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
    Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be Her streams and rivers to me.
    Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
    The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
    The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
    Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.

    2. Hymns and Arias

    We paid our weekly shilling for that January trip:
    A long weekend in London, aye, without a bit of kip.
    There's a seat reserved for beer by the boys from Abercarn:
    There's beer, pontoon, crisps and fags and a croakin 'Calon Lân'. 

    And we were singing hymns and arias,
    'Land of my Fathers', 'Ar hyd y nos'.

     Into Paddington we did roll with an empty crate of ale.
    Will had lost at cards and now his Western Mail's for sale.
    But Will is very happy though his money all has gone:
    He swapped five photos of his wife for one of Barry John. 

    And we were....................

    We got to Twickers early and were jostled in the crowd;
    Planted leeks and dragons, looked for toilets all around.

    So many there we couldn't budge -twisted legs and pale:
    I'm ashamed we used a bottle that once held bitter ale. 

    And we were singing hymns and arias,
    'Land of my Fathers', 'Ar hyd y nos'. 

    Wales defeated England in a fast and open game.
    We sang 'Cwm Rhondda' and 'Delilah',
    damn, they sounded both the same.
    We sympathised with an Englishman
    whose team was doomed to fail
    So we gave him that old bottle, that once held bitter ale! 

    He started singing hymns and arias,
    'Land of my Fathers', 'Ar hyd y nos'. 

    So it's down to Soho for the night,
    to the girls with the shiny beads;
    To the funny men with lipstick on,
    with evil minds and deeds.
    One said to Will from a doorway dark,
    damn, she didn't have much on.
    But Will knew what she wanted,
    aye...his photo of Barry John! 

    'Cos she was singing hymns and arias,
    'Land of my Fathers', 'Ar hyd y nos'.

    3. Ar Lan y Mor 

    Ar lan y môr mae rhosys chochion
    Ar lan y môr mae lilis gwynion
    Ar lan y môr mae 'nghariad inne
    Yn cysgu'r nos a choddi'r bore.

    Ar lan y môr mae carreg wastad
    Lle bum yn siarad gair âm cariad
    Oddeutu hon fe dyf y lili
    Ac ambell sbrigyn o rosmari.

    Llawn yw'r môr o swnd a chegryn
    Llawn yw'r wy o wyn a melyn
    Llawn yw'r coed o ddail a blode
    Llawn o gariad merch wyf inne.

    English

    Beside the sea there are red roses
    Beside the sea there're lovely lillies
    Beside the sea my sweetheart lives
    Asleep at night & awake at morning.

    Cold is the frost & cold the snowfall
    Cold the house without fire in winter
    Cold is the church without a vicar
    Cold am I without my lover.

    Wonder's the home & yonder the building
    Where I've spent many a happy evening
    In the loft there above the kitchen
    With the girl with the yellow ribbon.

    I've a cow with two horns of silver
    I've a cow 'milks herself on her own
    I've a cow that fills the pails up
    Just like the sea which fills the seashore.

    4. Yma o Hyd

    Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen,
    Does neb yn ei nabod o;
    Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoedd
    Yn amser rhy hir i'r cof;
    Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o Gymru
    Yn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri,
    A'n gadael yn genedl gyfan
    A heddiw: wele ni!

    Ry'n ni yma o hyd,
    Ry'n ni yma o hyd,
    Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth,
    Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
    Ry'n ni yma o hyd.
    Ry'n ni yma o hyd,
    Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth,
    Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
    Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
    Ry'n ni yma o hyd.

    Chwythed y gwynt o'r Dwyrain,
    Rhued y storm o'r môr,
    Hollted y mellt yr wybren
    A gwaedded y daran encôr,
    Llifed dagrau'r gwangalon
    A llyfed y taeog y llawr
    Er dued yw'r fagddu o'n cwmpas
    Ry'n ni'n barod am doriad y wawr!

    Cofiwn i Facsen Wledig
    Adael ein gwlad yn un darn
    A bloeddiwn gerbron y gwledydd
    'Mi fyddwn yma tan Ddydd y Farn!'
    Er gwaetha pob Dic Sion Dafydd,
    Er gwaetha 'rhen Fagi a'i chriw
    Byddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amser
    A bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw!

    5. Cwm Rhondda

    Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
    Pilgrim through this barren land;
    I am weak, but thou art mighty;
    Hold me with thy powerful hand:
    Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
    Feed me till I want no more.
    Feed me till I want no more.

    Open thou the crystal fountain
    Whence the healing stream shall flow;
    Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
    Lead me all my journey through:
    Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
    Be thou still my strength and shield.
    Be thou still my strength and shield.

    When I tread the verge of Jordan,
    Bid my anxious fears subside;
    Death of death, and hell's destruction,
    Land me safe on Canaan's side:
    Songs of praises, songs of praises
    I will ever give to thee.
    I will ever give to thee.

    6. Thousand Trees

    Standing at the bus stop with my shopping in my hands
    And I'm overhearing elder ladies
    As the rumours start to fly
    Hear them in the school yard
    In the scrap yard
    In the chip shop
    In the phone box
    In the pool hall
    At the shoe stall
    Every corner turn around

    It started with a school girl
    Who was running
    Running home to her Mam and Dad
    Told them she was playing in the change room of the local football side
    They said tell us again, she told them again
    Tell us the truth, they found it hard to believe
    'Cause he taught our Steve, even trained me, taught uncle John who's a father of three

    Only takes one tree to make a thousand matches
    Only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
    Thousand trees

    You see it in the classroom
    In the swimming pool
    Where the match stick men are made
    At the scout's hall
    At the football
    Where the wise we trust are paid

    They all honour his name
    He did a lot for the game
    Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
    Now they're ripping them down
    Stamping the ground
    Picture gathers dust in the bar in the lounge

    It takes one tree, to make a thousand matches
    Only takes one match, to burn a thousand trees
    Thousand trees

    Wake up, smell the rain
    Shake up, he's back to stay
    Hasn't been on a holiday
    Growing seeds don't believe
    Why he's been away

    From the school yard
    Changing room
    Playing fields
    Bathroom
    Phone box
    Office blocks
    Corners turn around

    They keep doubting the flame
    Tossing the blame
    Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
    Now they're ripping them down
    Stamping the ground
    Picture gathers dust in the bar

    And it only takes one tree to make a thousand matches
    Only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
    Thousand trees
    Thousand trees
    Thousand trees

    7. Design for Life

    Libraries gave us power
    Then work came and made us free
    What price now
    For a shallow piece of dignity

    I wish I had a bottle
    Right here in my dirty face
    To wear the scars
    To show from where I came

    We don't talk about love
    We only wanna get drunk
    And we are not allowed to spend
    As we are told that this is the end

    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life

    I wish I had a bottle
    Right here in my pretty face
    To wear the scars
    To show from where I came

    We don't talk about love
    We only wanna get drunk
    And we are not allowed to spend
    As we are told that this is the end

    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life

    We don't talk about love
    We only wanna get drunk
    And we are not allowed to spend
    As we are told that this is the end

    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life
    A design for life

    8. Green Green Grass of Home

    The old home town looks the same
    As I step down from the train
    And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
    Down the road I look and there runs Mary
    Hair of gold and lips like cherries

    It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
    Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
    It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

    The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry
    And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
    Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
    Hair of gold and lips like cherries
    It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

    Then I awake and look around me
    At four grey walls that surround me
    And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
    For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
    Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
    Again I touch the green, green grass of home

    Yes, they'll all come to see me
    In the shade of that old oak tree
    As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home

    9. Calon Lân

    Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
    Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
    Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
    Calon onest, calon lân.

    Cytgan:
    Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
    Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
    Dim ond calon lân all ganu 
    Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

    Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
    Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
    Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
    Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.

    Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
    Gwyd i'r nef ar edyn cân
    Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
    Roddi i mi galon lân.

    I don't ask for a luxurious life
    the world's gold or its fine pearls,
    I ask for a happy heart,
    an honest heart, a pure heart.

    A pure heart full of goodness
    Is fairer than the pretty lily,
    None but a pure heart can sing,
    Sing in the day and sing in the night.

    If I wished for worldly wealth,
    It would swiftly go to seed;
    The riches of a virtuous, pure heart
    Will bear eternal profit.

    (Chorus)

    Evening and morning, my wish
    Rising to heaven on the wing of song
    For God, for the sake of my Saviour,
    To give me a pure heart.

    More info on the composers and history of Calon Lan, click here

    10. Myfanwy

    Paham mae dicter, O Myfanwy,
    Yn llenwi'th lygaid duon di?
    A'th ruddiau tirion, O Myfanwy,
    Heb wrido wrth fy ngweled i?
    Pa le mae'r wên oedd ar dy wefus
    Fu'n cynnau 'nghariad ffyddlon ffôl?
    Pa le mae sain dy eiriau melys,
    Fu'n denu'n nghalon ar dy ôl?

    Why so the anger, Oh Myfanwy,
    That fill your dark eyes
    Your gentle cheeks, Oh Myfanwy,
    No longer blush beholding me?
    Where now the smile upon your lips
    That lit my foolish faithful love?
    Where now the sound of your sweet words,
    That drew my heart to follow you?

    Pa beth a wneuthum, O Myfanwy
    I haeddu gwg dy ddwyrudd hardd?
    Ai chwarae oeddit, O Myfanwy
    Â thanau euraidd serch dy fardd?
    Wyt eiddo im drwy gywir amod
    Ai gormod cadw'th air i mi?
    Ni cheisiaf fyth mo'th law, Myfanwy,
    Heb gael dy galon gyda hi.

    What was it that I did, Oh Myfanwy,
    To deserve the frown of your beautiful cheeks?
    Was it a game for you, Oh Myfanwy,
    This poet's golden flame of love?
    You belong to me, through true promise,
    Too much to keep your word to me?
    I'l never seek your hand, Myfanwy,
    Unless I have your heart with it.

    Myfanwy boed yr holl o'th fywyd
    Dan heulwen ddisglair canol dydd.
    A boed i rosyn gwridog iechyd
    I ddawnsio ganmlwydd ar dy rudd.
    Anghofia'r oll o'th addewidion
    A wneist i rywun, 'ngeneth ddel,
    A dyro'th law, Myfanwy dirion
    I ddim ond dweud y gair "Ffarwél".

    Myfanwy, may your life entirely be
    Beneath the midday sun's bright glow,
    And may a blushing rose of health
    Dance on your cheek a hundred years.
    I forget all your words of promise
    You made to someone, my pretty girl
    So give me your hand, my sweet Myfanwy,
    For no more but to say "farewell".

    More info on the composers and history of Myfanwy, click here

     

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    Last updated 14th March 2024

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