Lyr Req: David of the White Rock

Subject: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: RTim
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 03:37 PM

I was reminded today of a song I must have learned years ago at school (only 58 years ago...) - a version of "David of the White Rock" that starts thus:
- "David is dying his harp by his side, Speak brave harp speak though I falter he cried..."
- however that is all I can remember...Does anyone else know the rest of this version (and I know there are others); I can't seem to find the one I want - even on Google...???

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 03:54 PM

Try searching for the original name - Dafyedd y garreg wen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 04:07 PM

That's "Dafydd y garreg wen"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 04:17 PM

This page seems to suggest that it is in "Andrew Gant's Folk Songs of the British Isles" but the link to lyrics gives a different translation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: Helen
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 05:33 PM

Hi RTim, I love that song. It was in a book of songs which we sang in high school. The lyrics are not the ones you want.

The book was called Sing Care Away, and as I recall the song in that book starts, "Bring me said David the harp I adore. I long ere death calls me to play it once more."

The English lyric version may be a specific translation of the original Welsh lyrics. By that I mean, a Welsh speaking teacher could have translated the lyrics into English.

Do you remember the song being in a particular song book, or any more information which might help the search?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: RTim
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 05:57 PM

I have come to the conclusion that my school Music teacher Mr Benjamin Dobson (who was Welsh) translated his own version of the song and that is what we sang at school - as I said earlier - it was 58 years ago, and I am surprised I can remember any of it .....

Thanks - Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: Helen
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 06:42 PM

Well, what a good guesser I am!! LOL

I remember it from over 40 years ago.

I especially like the beautiful harmonies in the Sing Care Away version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of The White Rock
From: GUEST,ST
Date: 07 Jan 20 - 04:50 AM

I can’t help with the translation that you remember: the version we sang at school was the one in the National Song Book .

Subject: Lyr Add: DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK (John Oxenford)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jan 20 - 08:53 AM

Not the version that was requested, but I believe this is the same one that is in The National Songbook (mentioned above). I don't think these lyrics have been posted at Mudcat before, so I might as well put them here.

From The Songs of Wales. (Caneuon Cymru) by Brinley Richards (London: Boosey & Co., [1873]), page 58 – which also contains the lyrics in Welsh and a musical arrangement for one voice and piano:


DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK
(DAFYDD Y GAREG WEN)
English words by John Oxenford

David the bard on his bed of death lies.
Pale are his features and dim are his eyes;
Yet all around him, his glance wildly roves
Till it alights on the harp that he loves.

Give me my harp, my companion so long.
Let it once more add its voice to my song.
Though my old fingers are palsied and weak,
Still my good harp for its master will speak.

Often the hearts of our chiefs it has stirred
When its loud summons to battle was heard.
Harp of my country, dear harp of the brave,
Let thy last notes hover over my grave.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: Helen
Date: 28 Jan 20 - 01:46 PM

Thanks Jim.

I love the music and I love the lyrics of that song so much.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DYING BARD (Sir Walter Scott)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jan 20 - 10:49 PM

Another set of lyrics to go with the same tune:

From The Cambrian Wreath: A Selection of English Poems on Welsh Subjects ... edited by Thomas Jeffrey Llewelyn Prichard (Aberystwyth: Printed for the editor, 1828), page 156:


THE DYING BARD.
Air.—Davydd y Garreg Wen.
By Sir Walter Scott.

The Welsh tradition bears, that a bard, on his death-bed, demanded his harp, and played the air to which these verses are adapted, requesting that it might be performed at his funeral.

1. Dinas Emlyn, lament; for the moment is nigh,
When mute in the woodlands thine echoes shall die;
No more by sweet Teivi, Cadwalon shall rave,
And mix his wild notes with the wild dashing wave.

2. In spring and in autumn, thy glories of shade
Unhonor’d shall flourish, unhonor’d shall fade;
For soon shall be lifeless the eye and the tongue
That view'd them with rapture, with rapture that sung.

3. Thy sons, Dinas Emlyn, may march in their pride,
And chase the proud Saxon from Prestatyn's side;
But where is the harp shall give life to their name?
And where is the bard shall give heroes their fame?

4. And oh Dinas Emlyn! thy daughters so fair,
Who heave the white bosom, and wave the dark hair;
What tuneful enthusiast shall worship their eye,
When half of their charms with Cadwalon shall die?

5. Then adieu, silver Teivi! I quit thy loved scene,
To join the dim choir of the bards who have been;
With Lewarch,* and Meilor, and Merlin the old,
And sage Taliesin, high harping to hold.

6. Then adieu, Dinas Emlyn! still green be thy shades,
Unconquer'd thy warriors, and matchless thy maids!
And thou, whose faint warblings my weakness can tell,
Farewell, my loved harp! my last treasure, farewell!


* Llywarch hên

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BARD'S LAST LAY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jan 20 - 11:51 PM

Also from The Cambrian Wreath (see above), page 163:


THE BARD'S LAST LAY.
Air.—Davydd y Garreg Wen.

A tradition prevails in Merionethshire, that a bard of this name called for his harp, when dying, and played this beautiful air, requesting that it might be played over his grave by his brethren, on their harps—which was accordingly done.

1. Sweet solace of my dying hour,
Ere yet my arm forget its power,
Give to my fault’ring hand my shell,
One strain to bid the world farewell.

2. Life’s last faint spark will soon expire,
But ah! when silent, thou my lyre,
When deaf my ear and cold my tongue,
Ages shall tell how David sung.

Subject: Lyr Add: DAVID OF THE WHITE STONE (Kenneth Morris)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 12:31 AM

From The Theosophical Path, Vol. 4 No. 3, edited by Katherine Tingley (Point Loma, Calif.: New Century Corp., March 1913), page 177:


DAVID OF THE WHITE STONE: A Welsh Legend
Welsh Air: Dafydd y Garreg Wen
by Kenneth Morris

1. "Bring you," said David, "my harp to my breast,
Ere sunset's crimson rose wane from the west
Lilac and ash-gray, and cold on heaven's rim,
And my soul speed forth where eve hath grown dim.

2. "Bring the proud harp to my breast, till I wake
One more wild tune for these proud mountains' sake;
One more Welsh tune, ere my life-thread be riven;
Dear knows what tunes they'll be raising in heaven."

3. Feebly his fingers o'er-wandered the strings;
"Hush!" they said, "now while his bard's soul takes wings."
Ah, had they known, 'twas his ears were a-strain
For a wild, wandering music blown far o'er the main.

4. "Primrose and foxglove light strewn o'er the sea;
Wild tune, come floating, come wandering to me.
Dear, Druid music adrift from the west,
You the Souls sing in the Isles of the Blest."

5. Ah, now the old fingers sweep o'er the strings!
Ah, now the old Welsh harp triumphing rings!
David hath played, ere he died, the wild strain,
Heaven's tune, heaven's Welsh tune, the old Garreg Wen.

Subject: Lyr Add: DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK (Ceiriog Hughes)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 09:01 AM

These are the lyrics quoted by Helen above (but still not the ones the original poster wanted). I found them at a website called song-archive.livejournal.com. Attribution is also copied from there:


DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK / DAFYDD Y GARREG WEN
Melody: anon./trad. / David Owen (1712-1741)
Lyrics: Ceiriog Hughes (1832-1887)
Origin: Welsh


Bring me, said David, the harp I adore;
I long, ere death calls me, to play it once more.
Help me to reach my belov'd strings again;
On widow and children, God's blessing remain.

Last night I heard a kind angel thus say,
"David fly home on the wings of thy lay".
Harp of my youth, and thy music, adieu;
Widow and children, God's blessing on you.


'Cariwch,' medd Dafydd, 'fy nhelyn i mi,
Ceisiaf cyn marw roi tôn arni hi.
Codwch fy nwylo i gyrraedd y tant
Duw a'ch bendithio, fy ngweddw a'm plant.'

'Neithiwr mi glywais lais angel fel hyn,
"Dafydd, tyrd adref a chwarae trwy'r glyn,"
Delyn fy mebyd, ffarwel i dy dant,
Duw a'ch bendithio, fy ngweddw a'm plant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 09:09 AM

For what it is worth the version I remember from school was the one that starts
David the bard on his bed of death lies - The Oxenford version?

We were taught to pronounce it as "Daff o the Gareth Gwen" ?

That would be 70 years ago by the way.

Subject: Lyr Add: DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 11:46 AM

Ingeb.org gives the same Welsh lyrics as above, also attributed to Ceiriog Hughes, but a different English translation, with no attribution:


DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK

1. "Bring me my harp," was David's sad sigh.
"I would play one more tune before I die.
Help me, dear wife, put the hands to the strings.
I wish my loved ones the blessing God brings."

2. Last night an angel called with heaven's breath:
"David, play, and come through the gates of death!"
"Farewell, faithful harp, farewell to your strings,
I wish my loved ones the blessing God brings."

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ELEGY FOR BARDD DAFYDD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 12:00 PM

Finally! Found at the website of Ár nDraíocht Féin, a Druid fellowship:


THE ELEGY FOR BARDD DAFYDD

Dafydd lay dying, his harp by his side.
"Sing, brave harp, sing, though I falter," he cried.
Faint his agéd voice, but his spirit was strong.
Mountains and valleys all echo his song.

Dafydd our minstrel, we hear thy voice still.
That sweet sound lingers in valley and hill.
Thy brave heart beats with each song that we sing.
Through all the ages, that echo shall ring.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: Helen
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 03:37 PM

Reading all of the different translations makes me realise how many ways there are to translate from one language to another, and it probably depends partly on the person who is translating, their take on the story, their knowledge of not just the two languages but also the time and place and history surrounding the story.

But on reading each of the translations, I realise that it's the story that I relate to most. A dying harper calls for his harp one last time and recalls the times and events when he played the harp and blesses the people he has known and his treasured harp.

I wonder if when I am about to leave this earth I will have my own harp nearby. I know I will never play it as well as Dafydd Y Garreg Wen and I couldn't create such beautiful lyrics but saying goodbye to my beloved harp is definitely likely.

It brings to my mind that other lovely tune: O'Carolan's Farewell to Music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: RTim
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 04:16 PM

Well done Jm Dixon................I wish there was more than two verses....

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 20 - 06:57 AM

You can hear it here:
https://youtu.be/D45VvEeUNLo?t=1508

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Feb 20 - 03:15 PM

Probably the most technically challenging song I have ever learned, and I don't even try to sing it in Welsh! To do it well, it helps to be able to breathe through the ears.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 19 Feb 20 - 06:21 AM

Lovely song with a truly beautiful melody. Can't remember exactly when I first heard it and learned it, but it must have been over 40 years ago. I have never sung it in public, but it has such a lovely flow and range that I used it to test and warm up my voice before gigs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Feb 20 - 08:55 AM

Roger Whittaker did a nice version of this on his album Folk Music of the British Isles. A good album.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,A M Morris
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 12:44 PM

David the bard on his bed of death lies is the version I remember singing at infants school about 1950, so 70 years ago. We used to listen to the wireless once a week and sing folk songs and this was one of them. Another was drink to me only with thine eyes. Quite a sad son but a lovely tune and as a six year old you just sang along with it and never thought about the meaning, a man dying and going to play his harp for the last time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: JHW
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 02:04 PM

My singing teacher had me doing this from Benjy Britten's 8 Folk song arrangements. Welsh words (beyond me) by John Ceiriog Hughes but here words by Thomas Oliphant, Hullah's The Song Book Macmillan 1866.

Life and its follies are fading away
Love hath departed why then should I stay
Cold is my pale cheek and furrowed with care
Dim is my eyesight and snow-white my hair

Near me in silence my harp lies unstrung
Weak are my fingers and faltring my tongue
Tuneful companion we parted must be
Thou canst no longer bring comfort to me

Yet ere we sever thy master would fain
Swan-like expire in a last dying strain
And when above him the cypress bough wave
Spirits shall murmur it over his grave.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:18 PM

Words essentially as above. But as the comments here are about learning this at school, I thought I would post the version from 'Singing Together' with tune from the same source:

_________________________

DAVID OF THE WHITE ROCK
Dafydd y garreg wen (Welsh)

David the bard on his bed of death lies.
Pale are his features and dim are his eyes.
Yet all around him his glance wildly roves
Till it alights on the harp that he loves.

Give me my harp, my companion so long.
Let it once more add its voice to my song.
Though my old fingers are palsied and weak,
Still my good harp for its master will speak.

Often the hearts of our chiefs it has stirred,
When its loud summons to battle was heard;
Harp of my country, dear harp of the brave,
Let thy last notes hover over my grave.



X: 1
T:Dafydd y garreg wen
M:3/4
L:1/4
S: Singing Together Summer 1953
Z: NP 21 March 2021
K:Em
(E/B/) (A/G/) (F/E/) | E ^D E | (B,/^D/) (F/A/) (G/F/)| G3 | Eed | c (B/A/) B | G (B/A/) (G/F/) | G3 | GBd | A (G/F/) (E/^D/) | (E/F/) (G/E/) (A/G/) | (GF2) | (E/G/) (B/^d/) (e/c/) | (B/A/) (G/F/) G | (F3//2G//) E ^D | E3 ||
w: Da_vid_ the_ bard on his bed_ of_ death_ lies. Pale are his fea-tures_ and dim are_ his_ eyes. Yet all a-round him_ his_ glance_ wild_ly_ roves_ Till_ it_ a_lights_ on_ the harp_ that he loves.


Sourced from "Singing Together" Summer Term 1953, from the BBC Broadcasts for Schools series. Noted there as From 'The National Song Book' (Boosey & Hawkes Ltd)
As ever, the tune may be seen as a PDF, or heard as a Midi by copying the above (from 'X:1' to 'loves') into an ABC converter such as the one at Mandolintab
NP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 04:47 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxa-Fpk3gw4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,B. Winter.
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 01:20 PM

Tim Radford. I also learnt the version "David lay dying ,his harp by his side. Play brave harp though I falter he cried.(About 60 years ago)c There is also a line "Mountains and valleys all echoed his song"Like Tim Radford, I cannot find it anywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: GUEST,Diolch
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 04:36 PM

Hi Guest B. Winter, the version you quote was posted in full above by Jim Dixon.

There are other popular English versions that haven't yet appeared here though.

David the bard for his harp softly cried
“Let me in dying have thee by my side
Let my weak fingers caress thee once more
God bless my loved ones till life's song be o'er

Last night an angel called softly to me
“David, come home now and play with the free.”
Harp of my fathers, my song now must cease;
God bless my loved ones and grant them his peace.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 10:53 AM

I always go to "Canu'r Bobl" (Songs of the People) by Huw Williams for info on traditional Welsh music. Re: Dafydd y Garreg Wen ...

It was first published in Edward Jones' "Relicks of the Welsh Bards" 1784. (Not sure, but I think this is available on Google Books) where it is titled "Dewisol Gân Dafydd o'r Garreg Wen" ("the song chosen by Dafydd of Garreg Wen") He was an Eifionydd harper who played this on his death bed asking that it be played at his funeral. It was then published by Owain Alaw in the second half of the 19thC as "Roedd Dafydd yn marw" (Dafydd was dying) and by Brinley Richards with the words "Cariwch medd Dafydd" (Dafydd asked, 'bring me...") Apparently there has been debate as to whether it is Welsh, Scottish (July Jott?), or even Russian. If you want fuller details you'll have to look for the Liverpool Daily Post, 11 September 1951.

Then there's Phyllis Kinney's input (Welsh Traditional Music 2011) on Edward Jones' last publication, "Hen Ganiadau Cymru" (Ancient Songs of Wales) which was not his best by far but he was old an broke. She writes of Dewisol Gân Dafydd y Garreg Wen: "almost unsingable as it stands, being set to words by Sir Walter Scott in a metre which does not fit the music." Perhaps those would be the words above that seem to fit that description (and not the tune)?

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: David of the White Rock
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 10:53 AM

I always go to "Canu'r Bobl" (Songs of the People) by Huw Williams for info on traditional Welsh music. Re: Dafydd y Garreg Wen ...

It was first published in Edward Jones' "Relicks of the Welsh Bards" 1784. (Not sure, but I think this is available on Google Books) where it is titled "Dewisol Gân Dafydd o'r Garreg Wen" ("the song chosen by Dafydd of Garreg Wen") He was an Eifionydd harper who played this on his death bed asking that it be played at his funeral. It was then published by Owain Alaw in the second half of the 19thC as "Roedd Dafydd yn marw" (Dafydd was dying) and by Brinley Richards with the words "Cariwch medd Dafydd" (Dafydd asked, 'bring me...") Apparently there has been debate as to whether it is Welsh, Scottish (July Jott?), or even Russian. If you want fuller details you'll have to look for the Liverpool Daily Post, 11 September 1951.

Then there's Phyllis Kinney's input (Welsh Traditional Music 2011) on Edward Jones' last publication, "Hen Ganiadau Cymru" (Ancient Songs of Wales) which was not his best by far but he was old an broke. She writes of Dewisol Gân Dafydd y Garreg Wen: "almost unsingable as it stands, being set to words by Sir Walter Scott in a metre which does not fit the music." Perhaps those would be the words above that seem to fit that description (and not the tune)?

sian