Men of Harlech

Subject: Men of Harlech
From: Jackrabbit
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 02:23 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to Men of Harlech as it is sung in the movie Zulu. Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Susan of DT
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 10:02 AM

Enter Harlech in the blue search box to get the lyrics (and 4 other songs to the tune)

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Jackrabbit
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 07:36 PM

Thanks Susan. I've done that already. (although all I got was the Men of Harlech version- the others are great) But none of them is the version I'm looking for.

The first verse is like this:

Men of Harlech
Stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming
See their warrior pendants streaming
To the battlefield

I sort of have the second verse as well. But the third verse is sung while the Zulus are in full charge and they don't do it quietly enough

Subject: Lyr Add: MEN OF HARLECH (STOP YOUR DREAMING)^^
From: Simeon
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 01:20 AM

Men of Harlech stop your dreaming
can't you see their spear points gleaming
see their warrior's pendants streaming
to this battle field

Men of Harlech stand ye steady
it cannot be ever said ye
for the battle were not ready
stand and never yield

Through the hills surrounding
let this war cry sounding
Summon all to Cambria's call
the mighty force surrounding

Men of Harlech onto glory
this shall ever be your story
keep this fighting words before ye
Cambria(Welshmen never)will not yeild

Hope this is the version you were after. It really is a great movie. Glory to the South West Wales Borders!!!

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Jackrabbit
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 04:25 PM

Simeon: Thank you very much. That's exactly what I was looking for.

Subject: Lyr Add: MEN OF HARLECH
From: Roy del Tucson
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 01:31 AM

Last month I came across the following exchange in alt-history-living newsgroup regarding "Zulu" and Men of Harlech:
=========================================
Charles L Knutson wrote in message...
Can someone tell me the title of the song that the British troops sing just before the final battle in the movie "Zulu" starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine?
----------------------------------
Grant Sigsworth wrote:
I believe it's Men of Harlech, a good Welsh song.
But it's not the real version - it was written especially for the film by Ivor Emmanuel, one of the stars of the film, although there are many versions of 'Men of Harlech'. I know of 3 at least! It's a very old Welsh war song which predates the film by many hundreds of years!
Rosemary Jones
"Men of Harlech", a Welsh song commemorating a battle against the English i.e. Saxon invaders which the Welsh won. Still very popular with Welsh male voice choirs!
-------------------------------------------
Sorry. The Welsh lost. It was Castle Harlech, a Yorkist stronghold, holding out against the Earl of Pembroke and Lord Raglan, sent by Edward IV in 1568. The Welsh, after a long siege, lost, and the castle fell.
Tony
You've already had the title, but here's the words.
All together now...

MEN OF HARLECH

Men of Harlech in the hollow, do you hear like rushing billow
Wave on wave that surging fellow battle's distant sound?
'Tis the tramp of Saxon foemen, Saxon spearmen, Saxon bowmen.
Be they knights or hinds or yeomen, they shall bite the ground.
Loose the folds asunder, flag we conquer under
The placid sky, now calm on high shall launch its bolts of thunder.
Onward, 'tis our country needs us. He is bravest, he who leads us.
Honor's self now proudly heeds us: Freedom, God, and Right.

Rocky steeps and passes narrow flash with spear and flight of arrow.
Who would think of death or sorrow? Death is glory now.
Hurl the reeling horsemen over. Let the earth dead foemen cover.
Fate of friend or wife or lover trembles on a blow.
Strands of life are riven. Blow for blow is given
In deadly lock or battle shock, and mercy shrieks to Heaven.
Men of Harlech, young or hoary, would you win a name in story?
Strike for home, for life, for glory, Freedom, God, and Right.

Paul Stanley.
Any views expressed are mine and mine alone because lets face it they're very strange.
Kermit Claytor wrote:
And to win UNABASHED RESPECT, what are the words to the Zulu war chant that prompts the musical response of the British soldiers?
-----------
Well, I remember the last line:
Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuluuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!

Actually, that is not at all what they are saying! (This is a commonly heard mistake!) The word the Zulus are shouting at the end of that chant, as well as in other places in the film is, "uSuthu!" (oo-soo'-thoo). The word had become a battle cry of the Zulu by the time of Rorke's Drift, and was associated with the Zulu king at the time - Cetshwayo. It had started as the moniker for Cetshwayo's "political party", if you will, which in his youth rivaled his brother Mbulazi's iziGqoza faction. Obviously, the uSuthu and Cetshwayo won out for dominance.
Cheers!
***"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Peter Sellers as the US President in "Dr. Strangelove".
Kermit Claytor wrote:
OK Folks, everybody knows the name of the song. See below: Now, to REALLY impress me, what are all of the words? And to win UNABASHED RESPECT, what are the words to the Zulu war chant that prompts the musical response of the British soldiers?

I believe they translate as "We will, we will rock you."
The second Zulu song is "We are the champions, no time for losers, we are the champions, of the world."

Tony
The song is "Men of Harlech". I stirring little Welsh ditty which, of course, was not actually sung at the real battle--it makes for a hell of a great scene though.

It's typical of the whole movie: most of the specific details of occurrences, personalities etc. (I understand Pvt. Hook's descendants were pretty steamed about his portrayal in the movie) are entirely fictional, but as a movie and a piece of storytelling, it's just about the best Europeans-Killing-Dark-People movie around

As a film, it has "Zulu Dawn" beat hands down, though Zulu Dawn is actually a little more historically accurate.

Cheers,
Walter Nelson
My favorite bit of artistic license is Nigel Green as Colour Sergeant Bourne. In the movie he's the stereotypical (and really cool) stoic and experienced British non-com. In real life he was one of the youngest of his rank, and took a lot of ribbing from his own men on account of it.

Tony

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-May-02.

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 06:24 PM

Unfortunately I can't find a copy of the words, and the old memory is fading, but the version in this thread seems to start in a sort of up-dated version.

The first couple of more old fashioned lines used to go -

Men of Harlech, lie you (or ye) dreaming? See you (or ye) not their falchions gleaming?

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Simeon
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 12:10 PM

I know of at least 8 different verses of this fine song and that is really only the tip of the iceberg!!!

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 10:22 PM

There is a derivative of this beautiful stirring song, to an entirely differnet tune, which I learnt at school over 50 years ago. The only part I can now remember is [and my apologies to Welsh people for the spelling, which has become faded with the years]:

.... moog a prentrefef....gavydd gwyn gaggard

attenfa mafgen croes dwylad

If any readers know of all the words [properly spelt}, or where i could find them, I'd be very grateful. I do know that the late Ivor Emmanuel recorded this version on tape some years ago...and I think the title may have been "Cambria"

John Mathews

[[e-mail]]

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Ref
Date: 25 Sep 10 - 07:49 PM

My favorite trivia bit from "Zulu" is that Commissary Major James Langley Dalton (one of the VC recipients) is portrayed as a fussy and effeminate little fellow who was decorated for continuing to pass out ammunition after being seriously wounded. In reality, he was a retired color sergeant from one of the old line infantry regiments who took the commissary job because his farm in Natal was failing, and he was the veteran soldier whose advice Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead relied on in organizing the defense and building the "mealie bag" fortifications.

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Tootler
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 04:26 PM

First maxim of the movie makers:
   Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Second maxim
   If the facts don't fit, change them.

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: GUEST,mkam
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 02:04 PM

A number of versions of the lyrics are printed here:
http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/myths/songwords.htm

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: GUEST
Date: 02 May 14 - 03:10 AM

does anyone have any recounts of the siege of Harlech castle?

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 02 May 14 - 05:57 AM

Men of Harlech is a favourite with our residential home audiences; when we play it, I tell them it is a testament to the power of a song, that a handful of British soldiers could sing the song, and make thousands of Zulu warriors run away! (Following 'Tootler's' earlier comment.
Surprisingly very few of them seem to know the 'Battle Hymn of the Ancient Britons' words sung to the same tune!

Subject: Origins: Men of Harlech
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 10:43 PM

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/myths/songwords.htm

Found this site while looking for something else. Anyway, if this thread is misnamed, etc, then please put it where it belongs.

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(lyrics copy-pasted from link above - Joe Offer)

Men of Harlech We have found many versions. These are just some of them Special words created for the film Zulu in 1964 Men of Harlech stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming See their warrior's pennants streaming To this battle field Men of Harlech stand ye steady It cannot be ever said ye For the battle were not ready Stand and never yield Form the hills rebounding Let this war cry sounding Summon all at Cambria's call The mighty force surrounding Men of Harlech onto glory This shall ever be your story Keep these fighting words before ye Cambria (Welshmen never) will not yield   Modern Words used by Regimental Band Tongues of fire on Idris flaring, news of foe-men near declaring, to heroic deeds of daring, calls you Harlech men Groans of wounded peasants dying, wails of wives and children flying, for the distant succour crying, calls you Harlech men. Shall the voice of wailing, now be unavailing, You to rouse who never yet in battles hour were failing, His our answer crowds down pouring swift as winter torrents roaring, Not in vain the voice imploring, calls on Harlech men Loud the martial pipes are sounding every manly heart is bounding As our trusted chief surrounding, march we Harlech men. Short the sleep the foe is taking, ere the morrows morn is breaking, They shall have a rude awakening, roused by Harlech men. Mothers cease your weeping, calm may be your sleeping, you and yours in safety now the Harlech men are keeping, ere the sun is high in heaven they you fear by panic riven shall like frightened sheep be driven, far by Harlech men.   Men of Harlech (another version) March ye men of Harlech bold, Unfurl your banners in the field,  Be brave as were your sires of old, And like them never yield!  What tho' evry hill and dale, Echoes now with war's alarms,  Celtic hearts can never quail, When Cambria calls to arms.  By each lofty mountain, By each crystal fountain,  By your homes where those you love Await your glad returning,  Let each thought and action prove, True glory can the Cymru move,  And as each blade gleams in the light, Pray "God defend the right!"  Clans from Mona wending, Now with Arvon blending,  Haste with rapid strides along The path that leads to glory,  From Snowdon's hills with harp and song, And Nantlle's vale proceeds a throng,  Whose ranks with yours shall proudly vie, "And nobly win or die!"  March ye men of Harlech go, Lov'd fatherland your duty claims,  Onward comes the Saxon foe, His footsteps mark'd in flames;  But his march breeds no dismay, Boasting taunts we meet with scorn,  Craven like their hosts shall flee Like mists before the morn.  On the foemen dashing, Swords and bucklers clashing;  Smite with will their savage band Nor think of e'er retreating:  But with a firm unflinching hand, In blood quench ev'ry burning brand,  And for each roof tree cast away A Saxon life shall pay.  Thus each bosom nerving, From no danger swerving,  Soon shall the invader feel The doom of fate rewarding;  They firmly grasp the flashing steel, And as ye strike for Cymru's weal,  Be this your cry, till life's last breath – "Our Liberty or Death!"    Men of Harlech (Charlotte Church version) Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio A thafodau tan yn bloeddio, Ar I'r dewrion ddod I daro, Unwaith eto n un: Gan fanllefau'r tywysogion Llais gelynion, trwst arfogion, A charlamiad y marchogion, Craig ar graig a grbn! Arfon byth ni orfydd. Cenir yn dragywydd; Cymru fydd fel Cymru fu, Yn glodus ymysg gwledydd, 'Nghwyn oleuni'r goelcerth acw, Tros wefusau Cymro'n marw, Annibyniaeth sydd yn galw, Am ei dewraf dyn. Hark I hear the foe advancing Barbed steeds are proudly prancing, Helmets in the sunbeams glancing Symru fo am byth Men of Harlech lie ye dreaming? See ye not their falchions gleaming, While their penons gaily streaming Cymru fo am byth. From the rocks rebounding Let the war cry sounding Summon all at Cambria's Call The haughty for surrounding Men of Harlech on to glory See your banner famed in story, Waves these burning words before ye, Cymru fo am byth! Men of Harlech! In the Hollow, Do ye hear like rushing billow Wave on wave that surging follow Battle's distant sound? Tis the tramp of Saxon foemen, Saxon spearmen, Saxon bowmen, Be they knights or hinds or yeomen, They shall bite the ground! Loose the folds asunder, Flag we conquer under! The placid sky now bright on high, Shall launch its bolts in thunder! Onward! 'tis the country needs us, He is bravest, he who leads us Honor's self now proudly heads us, Freedom, God and Right!   Men of Harlech (another version) Hark, I hear the foe advancing Barbed steeds are proudly prancing Helmets in the sunbeams glancing Glitter through the trees. Men of Harlech, lie ye dreaming See ye not their falchions gleaming While their pennons gaily streaming Flutter in the breeze. From the rocks resounding Let the war cry sounding Summon all at Cambreais call The haughty foe surrounding Men of Harlech, on to glory See your banner famed in story Waves these buring words before ye, "Britain scorns to yield!" Mid the fray see dead and dying Friend and foe together lying All around the arrows flying Scatter sudden death. Frightened steeds are wildly neighing Brazen trumpets loudly braying Wounded men for mercy praying With their parting breath. See they're in disorder, Comrades, keep close order Ever they shall rue the day, They ventured o'er the border. Now the Saxon flees before us, Victr'ry's banner floateth oe'er us, Raise the loud exulting chorus, "Britain wins the field!"   Men of Harlech (another version) Men of Harlech! In the Hollow, Do ye hear like rushing billow Wave on wave that surging follow Battle's distant sound? Tis the tramp of Saxon foemen, Saxon spearmen, Saxon bowmen, Be they knights or hinds or yeomen, They shall bite the ground! Loose the folds asunder, Flag we conquer under! The placid sky now bright on high, Shall launch its bolts in thunder! Onward! 'tis the country needs us, He is bravest, he who leads us Honor's self now proudly heads us, Freedom, God and Right! Rocky Steeps and passes narrow, Flash with spear and flight of arrow Who would think of death or sorrow? Death is glory now! Hurl the reeling horsemen over, Let the earth dead foemen cover Fate of friend, of wife, of lover, Trembles on a blow! Strands of life are riven! Blow for blow is given In deadly lock, or battle shock, And mercy shrieks to heaven! Men of Harlech! young or hoary, Would you win a name in story? Stike for home, for life, for glory! Freedom, God and Right!   Men of Harlech (another version) Fierce the beacon's light is flaming With its tongues of fire proclaiming Chieftains, sundered to your shaming Strongly now unite At her call, all Arfon rallies War cries rend her hills and vallies Troop on troop, with headlong sallies Hurtle to the fight Chiefs lie dead and wounded. Yet, where first was grounded, Freedom's flag still holds the crag; Her trumpet still is sounded. There we'll keep her banner flying, While the pale lips of the dying Echo to our shouts defying HARLECH for the right! Shall the Saxon army shake you Smite, pursue and overtake you? Men of Harlech, God will make you Victors, blow for blow. The swollen rivers of Eryri Sweep the vale with flooded fury Gwalia from her mountain eryie Thunders on the foe. Now avenging Briton, Smite as he has smitten Let your rage on history's page In Saxon blood be written. His lance is long, but yours is longer. Strong his sword, but yours is stronger. One stroke more, and now your wronger At your feet, lies low. John Oxenford version Men of Harlech, march to glory, Victory is hov'ring o'er ye, Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye, Hear ye not her call? At your sloth she seems to wonder; Rend the sluggish bonds asunder, Let the war-cry's deaf'ning thunder Every foe appall. Echoes loudly waking, Hill and valley shaking; 'Till the sound spreads wide around, The Saxon's courage breaking; Your foes on every side assailing, Forward press with heart unfailing, 'Till invaders learn with quailing, Cambria ne'er can yield! Thou, who noble Cambria wrongest, Know that freedom's cause is strongest, Freedom's courage lasts the longest, Ending but with death! Freedom countless hosts can scatter, Freedom stoutest mail can shatter, Freedom thickest walls can batter, Fate is in her breath. See, they now are flying! Dead are heap'd with dying! Over might hath triumph'd right, Our land to foes denying; Upon their soil we never sought them, Love of conquest hither brought them, But this lesson we have taught them, "Cambria ne'er can yield!"   "Talhaiarn" version Glyndwˆr, see thy comet flaming, Hear a heavenly voice declaiming, To the world below proclaiming, Cambria shall be free: While thy star on high is beaming, Soldiers from the mountains teeming, With their spears and lances gleaming, Come to follow thee. Hear the trumpet sounding While the steeds are bounding, On the gale from hill and dale, The war-cry is resounding: Warriors famed in song and story, Coming from the mountains hoary, Rushing to the fields of glory, Eager for the fray: To the valley wending, Hearths and homes defending, With their proud and valiant prince, From ancient kings descending; See the mighty host advancing, Sunbeams on their helmets dancing, On his gallant charger prancing, Glyndwˆr leads the way. Now to battle they are going, Every heart with courage glowing, Pride and passion overflowing In the furious strife: Lo! the din of war enrages, Vengeance crowns the hate of ages, Sternly foe with foe engages, Feeding Death with Life: Hear the trumpets braying, And the horses neighing, Hot the strife while fiery foes Are one another slaying; Arrows fly as swift as lightning, Shout on shout the tumult height'ning, Conquest's ruddy wing is bright'ning, Helmet, sword, and shield; With their lances flashing, Warriors wild are crashing, Through the tyrant's serried ranks Whilst onward they are dashing: Now the enemy is flying, Trampling on the dead and dying; Victory aloft is crying, "Cambria wins the field!"   George Thompson version Dauntless sons of Celtic sires Whose souls the love of freedom fires, Hark! ev'ry harp to war inspires On Cader Idris side. See the brave advancing, See the brave advancing, Each well-tried spear Which Saxons fear, In warlike splendour glancing. Proud Harlech from her frowning tow'rs Pours forth her never failing pow'rs. Rouse, heroes, glory shall be ours,br> March on, your country's pride! Shall heart-rending sound of woe Be heard where Conway's waters flow? Or shall a rude and ruthless foe Find here one willing slave? From mountain and from valley, From mountain and from valley, From Snowdon, from Plinlimmon's brow Around your prince ye rally. Let cowards kiss th'oppressor's scourge, Home to his heart your weapons urge, O'erwhelm him in th'avenging surge; To victory, ye brave!   Royal Canadian Hussars version Hark! I hear the foe advancing, Barb'd steeds are proudly prancing; Helmets in the sunbeams glancing, Glitter through the trees. Men of Har-lech, lie ye dreaming? See ye not their falchions gleaming, While their pennons gaily streaming Flutter in the breeze? From the rocks rebounding Let the war cry sounding Summon all at Cambria's call, The haughty foe surrounding. Men of Harlech, on to glory! See, your banner fam'd in story Waves these burning words before ye, "DEATH before we yield!"

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Subject: RE: Men of Harlech From: MGM·Lion Date: 12 Oct 14 - 03:47 AM The Opies reported in their classic The Lore And Language Of Schoolchildren that Welsh schoolchildren from whom Iona went collecting tended only to sing one set of words to this tune. They relate the story of a visiting band to a concert for Welsh children, playing it as a compliment to their hosts & audience, being astonished when the children immediately joined in as with a single voice: I'm the man who came from Scotland Shooting peas up a nanny-goat's bottom... I'm the man who came from Scotland Shooting peas away! ≈M≈

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Subject: RE: Men of Harlech From: bradfordian Date: 01 Mar 18 - 05:19 AM Happy St David's Day one of the versions of MoH - last verse, has these words "His lance is long, but yours is longer. Strong his sword, but yours is stronger. One stroke more, and now your wronger At your feet, lies low." just wondering about the word "wronger" in this context. was it contrived to match longer/stronger? bradfordian

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Subject: RE: Men of Harlech From: Dave the Gnome Date: 01 Mar 18 - 06:03 AM I suspect the reference to long lances, stong swords and one more stroke are all them big brass instrumnet thingies - You know, euphoniums. Or is it euphomisms? The version I knew as a school boy begins "Men of Harlech in the hollow You will get your oats tomorrow" I also like the urban myth that in the movie, while the song is being sung and the Zulus are attacking a fellow soldier shouts "For God's sake, Ivor, sing them something they like" Happy St David's day to all. DtG

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Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 03:47 AM

The Opies reported in their classic The Lore And Language Of Schoolchildren that Welsh schoolchildren from whom Iona went collecting tended only to sing one set of words to this tune. They relate the story of a visiting band to a concert for Welsh children, playing it as a compliment to their hosts & audience, being astonished when the children immediately joined in as with a single voice:

I'm the man who came from Scotland
Shooting peas up a nanny-goat's bottom...
I'm the man who came from Scotland
Shooting peas away!

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: bradfordian
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 05:19 AM

Happy St David's Day

one of the versions of MoH - last verse, has these words
"His lance is long, but yours is longer.
Strong his sword, but yours is stronger.
One stroke more, and now your wronger
At your feet, lies low."

just wondering about the word "wronger" in this context. was it contrived to match longer/stronger?

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Men of Harlech
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 06:03 AM

I suspect the reference to long lances, stong swords and one more stroke are all them big brass instrumnet thingies - You know, euphoniums. Or is it euphomisms?

The version I knew as a school boy begins

"Men of Harlech in the hollow
You will get your oats tomorrow"

I also like the urban myth that in the movie, while the song is being sung and the Zulus are attacking a fellow soldier shouts "For God's sake, Ivor, sing them something they like"

Happy St David's day to all.

DtG