"" () is a Welsh hymn, the words of which were written in the 1890s by Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) and sung to a tune by John Hughes. The song was originally written as a hymn, but has become firmly established as a rugby anthem, associated with the
Welsh rugby union
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby.
The WRU is responsible for the running ...
, being sung before almost every Test match involving the Welsh national team – though more likely to be heard sung at matches involving the
Welsh football team
)
, Association = Football Association of Wales (FAW)
, Confederation = UEFA (Europe)
, Coach = Rob Page
, Captain = Gareth Bale
, Most caps = Gareth Bale (111)
, Top scorer = Gareth Bal ...
in recent years. In 2007 the song was one of the traditional Welsh songs to make it to the screen in an
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
television series , an attempt to bring traditional
four-part harmony
The term "four-part harmony" refers to music written for four voices, or for some other musical medium—four musical instruments or a single keyboard instrument, for example—for which the various musical parts can give a different note for ...
choral singing back to the Welsh rugby terraces.
In 2012, the Welsh group Only Boys Aloud sang "" on the British
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
show '' Britain's Got Talent'', coming third in the final. It has since become the most watched Welsh-language video on YouTube.
"" is unusual among the most popular Welsh traditional songs in that an English-language version of the words is virtually never sung (unlike, for example, ), but the tune does appear, for example, in the British Methodist hymn book '' Hymns and Psalms'', set to the lyrics of "I will Sing the Wondrous Story" by
P. P. Bliss
Philip Paul Bliss (9 July 1838 – 29 December 1876) was an American composer, conductor, writer of hymns and a bass-baritone Gospel singer. He wrote many well-known hymns, including "Hold the Fort" (1870), "Almost Persuaded" (1871); "Hallelujah, ...
. The English singing translation by Rees Harris (1874–1954) appeared in ''The Abingdon Song Book'' in 1937.
A Spanish-language version of the song exists, sung mostly by
Welsh Argentines
Y Wladfa (, "The Colony"), also occasionally Y Wladychfa Gymreig (, "The Welsh Settlement"), refers to the establishment of settlements by Welsh immigrants in Patagonia, beginning in 1865, mainly along the coast of the lower Chubut Valley. In ...
in , the former Welsh colony in Patagonia.
On 10 September 2019, the song was sung in the UK House of Commons by and Welsh Labourmembers of parliament who were protesting about Brexit and the prorogation controversy.
The Centre is based at Chapel, the burial place of Daniel James. The chapel and grounds were at the point of dereliction until 2011 but have been restored.
Lyrics
Alternative words in the Welsh version:
* Verse 1, line 3:
* Verse 2, line 2:
* Verse 3, line 2:
* Chorus, line 3:
Music
Adaptations
*The tune of "" has been adapted to suit other lyrics which fit its 8787.8787 metrical pattern, notably "A Miner's Lifeguard", "
Life's Railway to Heaven
Charles Davis Tillman (March 20, 1861, Tallassee, Alabama – September 2, 1943, Atlanta, Georgia) —also known as Charlie D. Tillman, Charles Tillman, Charlie Tillman, and C. D. Tillman—was a popularizer of the gospel song. He had a knack ...
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Maria Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh singer. She is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.Second Nature''.
*
Siobhan Owen
Siobhán Owen (born 4 October 1993) is a soprano and harpist from Adelaide, South Australia. Owen regularly performs at festivals, concerts and events around Australia and further abroad. She favours classical and Celtic/folk songs, but also ...
recorded a version with voice and harp, featured on her album ''Storybook Journey'' (2012).
* Adrian Mitchell has written a translation into English, "Shining Heart", for the show " A Child's Christmas in Wales". The lyrics appear in his collection ''Love Songs of World War Three''.
* Wirral-based indie band
Half Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit are an English rock band, formed in 1984 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Known for their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs, the band comprises lead singer and guitarist Nigel Blackwell, bassist and singer Neil Cr ...
performed a medley of "Calon Lan" and the Beach Boys' "
Help Me, Rhonda
"Help Me, Rhonda" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys, appearing first on their 1965 album ''The Beach Boys Today!'' (where it was spelled "Help Me, Ronda") and subsequently in re-recorded form on the following 1965 album ''Summer Day ...