Lyr Add: Welsh Wren Song

Subject: Lyr Add: Welsh Wren Song
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 08:27 AM

The Song of the Wren
^^ (St.Davids)
Welsh

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

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

He was placed 'neath a shroud
In a fair motley bier,
Ribbons all-coloured
Are tied round the wren,

Ribbons all twisted
In place of a house
Thou shalt have dinner of apples and flour
That came from the orchard this morn of St.Stephen

Thou shat have dinner of green leaves of bay.
That came from the garden
So early this morning, Thou shalt have dinner
on shining white stones.
That came from the brook after supper.

O fair little mistress, give heed to our plaint!
Young children are we,
let us into your house,
O come to us quick or we''ll all run away!

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Welsh Wren Song
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 06:08 AM

This is the same as the one in "Pembrokshire Wren Song" where I've just posted but, to make a general point about Welsh Wren songs, the above is a common south and west Wales style of Wren song. In North Wales, the songs tend to be different both in terms of words and tunes. They're usually 'question and answer' songs: Where are you going? Going to the woods. What will we do there? Hunt the little wren. Where will we find him? Under the bush." etc. (Although I think there are a few on that form in the south, too.)

I have an English language article in .pdf form which you can get by emailing [e-mail] if you want it.

sian