OK - without the tune, but I've given it a go. The problem is that it is vernacular poetry and needs something other than direct translation. There's one bit that I can't do properly ... although I could ask around. I've put in a 'filler' for now. I've also tried to call on the 'commonalities' you get in Welsh folk song for some phrases - thought they sounded more natural. Cloudy in the East & it looks like rain, Looks like rain boys, looks like rain Cloudy in the east & it looks like rain I'm on my long journey home. Cymylau ar y gorwel, mae'n bygwth glaw Bygwth glaw, bois, bygwth glaw. Mae siwrnai hir o'm mlaen. (Literally, clouds on the horizon and it threatens rain, threatens rain, threatens rain. I've a long journey ahead of me.) Lost all my money but a two dollar bill (repeat) Wedi bradu fy mhres i gyd ond un papur punt Un papur punt, bois, un papur punt (this is the one I had trouble with because of the American saying "As phony as a two dollar bill" so there's an added texture in the English. I don't know what the British equivalent would be. Anyway, I've put, "Wasted all my 'brass' but for a one pound note". It probably should have something to do with shillings, etc.) White smoke rising: Mwg gwyn yn codi, oes sôn am trên? Sôn am trên, bois, Sôn am trên. (Lit: white smoke rising, any hint of a train?) Black smoke rising: Mwg du yn codi, oes sôn am trên … (as above) Homesick and lonesome, feeling kind of blue: Hiraeth yn fy nghalon, dan felan ddu, Melan ddu, melan ddu… (Lit: hiraeth in my heart, 'under' a black melancholy. "Y felan ddu" is the Welsh phrase for 'the blues'.) Hope that's some help. You must call in at Ty Gwerin when you're at the Eisteddfod and have a cuppa! siân
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