Lyr Add: Pembrokeshire Wren Song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pembrokeshire Wren Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 06:02 AM

Just in case someone things that the Welsh of Solva don't go in for scansion, the above is a translation, for a non-Welsh speaking readership, of:

Dryw bach ydyw’r gwr, Amdano mae stwr,
Mae cwest arno fe, Nos heno ’mhob lle.
Fe ddaliwyd y gwalch, Oedd neithiwr mor falch,
Mewn ’stafell wen deg, A’i dri brawd ar ddeg

or, with the beats put in:

Dryw / bach / y / dyw’r/ gwr,/ /Am/dan/o /mae /stwr,//
Mae/ cwest/ ar/no /fe,// Nos/ he/no/ ’mhob/ lle.//
Fe/ ddal/iwyd/ y /gwalch,/ /Oedd /neith/iwr /mor /falch,//
Mewn /’sta/fell/ wen /deg,// A’i/ dri /brawd/ ar ddeg/

If you refer to the other thread, Pembrokshire Wren Song (missing an 'e') you'll see "Joy Health Love and Peace" which is interesting because the in-migrant community (English/Flemish or whatever the root would be) has picked up the scansion of the Welsh language community's chant ... which, apparently, very rarely happens. At least that's what I've been told.

The 'English' tune is far prettier too!

sian

Subject: Lyr Add: Pembrokeshire Wren Song
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 08:25 AM

Pembrokshire Wren Song:
^^ The Song of the Wren

Little wren is the man
About him there's a stir,
There's an inquest upon him
To-night everywhere.

He was captured, the rascal,
Last night with rejoicings,
In a snug, pretty chamber,
And his brothers thirteen.

The stronghold was broken,
The young man was taken,
And placed 'neath a shroud
In a fair motley bier.

Ribbons all-coloured
Encompass the wren.
Ribbons thrice-twisted
Are his for a roof.

Jenny Wrens have grown scarce.
They have flow to the valley,
But they will come back by
The old meadow-paths.

O fair little mistress,
Give heed to our plaint!
Young Children are we,
Let us into your house,
Come open your door
Or we'll all run away.

(Solva, Pembrokseshire.)

- Gill, Walter, W., A Second Manx Scrapbook.,, London, 1932.