12 Dec 06 - 08:25 AM (#1907324) Subject: Lyr Add: Pembrokeshire Wren Song From: *#1 PEASANT* 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. |
14 Dec 06 - 06:02 AM (#1909212) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pembrokeshire Wren Song From: sian, west wales 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 |