Below, a video of the English and Welsh words to Land of My Fathers.
Below is an English translation, which is possibly quite old, as it calls Anglesey 'Mona's Green Shores'
Land of My FathersDear land of my fathers, whose glories were told
By bard and by minstrel who loved thee of old;
Dear country whose sires, that their sons might be free,
Have suffered and perished for thee!
Wales! Wales!
Land of mist and wild, Where'er I roam,
Though far from my home, The mother is calling her child
The Lords of great Snowdon in brave days of yore
for thee fought for freedom by *Mona's green shore
their courage undaunted inspires all our lays
our harps ere resound to their praise.
Wales! Wales!
Land of mist and wild, Where'er I roam,
Though far from my home, The mother is calling her child
Wales! Wales!
Land of mist and wild, Where'er I roam,
Though far from my home, The mother is calling her child
Môn is the Welsh name of Anglesey, and Mona is assumed to be the old English word for Anglesey from the British enisis mona, and this name was first seen as being used for Anglesey in the Roman era
The song by Paul Robeson is from 'An Evening with Paul Robeson', who sings the Welsh National Anthem as as sign of respect to Wales, especially South Wales, and the miners and their families who suffered extreme hardship as explained later.
The US Government made life difficult for Paul Robeson and when he was invited to sing at
the Miners’ Eisteddfod in Porthcawl, he could not attend as the US Governement withdrew his passport
In 1957 (October) he managed to take part in the Miners’ Eisteddfod with a transatlantic telephone link from a secret recording studio located in New York.
.
***North Wales*** -- Land Of My Fathers Dear Land of my Fathers, whose glories were told ... The Lord of great Snowdon in brave
It is only 30 miles from Snowdon to Cowyn Bay SeaVille, taking about 45 minutes by car.
Robeson’s
association with South Wales dates from 1928 when, whilst performing in
‘Show Boat’ in London’s West End, he met a group of unemployed miners
who had walked to London to draw attention to the hardship and suffering
endured by thousands of unemployed miners and their families in South
Wales.
association with South Wales dates from 1928 when, whilst performing in
‘Show Boat’ in London’s West End, he met a group of unemployed miners
who had walked to London to draw attention to the hardship and suffering
endured by thousands of unemployed miners and their families in South
Wales.
Robeson visited South Wales many times between
1929 and 1939, singing in various towns including Cardiff, Neath and
Swansea. In 1938, he sang to the 7,000 people who attended the Welsh
International Brigades Memorial at Mountain Ash to commemorate the 33
Welshmen who had died in Spain. He told the audience “I am here because I
know that these fellows fought not only for me but for the whole world.
I feel it is my duty to be here."
1929 and 1939, singing in various towns including Cardiff, Neath and
Swansea. In 1938, he sang to the 7,000 people who attended the Welsh
International Brigades Memorial at Mountain Ash to commemorate the 33
Welshmen who had died in Spain. He told the audience “I am here because I
know that these fellows fought not only for me but for the whole world.
I feel it is my duty to be here."
Robeson’s links
with South Wales were reinforced when in 1939, he starred in The Proud
Valley, a film about life in a mining community in the Rhondda.
with South Wales were reinforced when in 1939, he starred in The Proud
Valley, a film about life in a mining community in the Rhondda.
Every
year between 1952 and 1957, Robeson was invited to sing at the Miners’
Eisteddfod in Porthcawl but he was unable to travel because his
passport had been withdrawn by the US Government because of his
outspoken left wing and anti-racist views. In October 1957 however,
Robeson was able to participate in the Miners’ Eisteddfod by means of a
transatlantic telephone link to a secret recording studio in New York.
year between 1952 and 1957, Robeson was invited to sing at the Miners’
Eisteddfod in Porthcawl but he was unable to travel because his
passport had been withdrawn by the US Government because of his
outspoken left wing and anti-racist views. In October 1957 however,
Robeson was able to participate in the Miners’ Eisteddfod by means of a
transatlantic telephone link to a secret recording studio in New York.
The
South Wales miners added their voice and signatures to the
international petitions that eventually forced the US Supreme Court to
reinstate his passport in 1958.
South Wales miners added their voice and signatures to the
international petitions that eventually forced the US Supreme Court to
reinstate his passport in 1958.
At a reception given
in his honour by the South Wales Area NUM in 1958, he told the
audience, “You have shaped my life – I have learnt a lot from you. I am
part of the working class. Of all the films I have made the one I will
preserve is The Proud Valley.”
in his honour by the South Wales Area NUM in 1958, he told the
audience, “You have shaped my life – I have learnt a lot from you. I am
part of the working class. Of all the films I have made the one I will
preserve is The Proud Valley.”
Unfortunately,
Robeson’s health deteriorated during the 1960s and after his wife’s
death in 1965, he stayed out of the public eye. Paul Robeson died in
1976.
Robeson’s health deteriorated during the 1960s and after his wife’s
death in 1965, he stayed out of the public eye. Paul Robeson died in
1976.
While its nice being in Colwyn Bay, its also nice to get away for a break, and Colwyn Bay is very fortunate to have an intercity railway line.
Wednesday 8 August 2012
Posted in |
Land of my fathers,
paul robeson,
welsh anthem
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