Wales will be singing tonight as they play Portugal in the Euro 2016 football semi-final. And they will be singing this song:
According to the BBC, it only takes half an hour to learn the words to calon lân, which means a pure heart in Welsh. Try their tutorial, where I found Kris Williams’ photo of the heart-shaped lake on Snowdon.
Calon lân is almost always sung in Welsh, and I couldn’t track down who did the literal English translation used in the subtitles to the Phoenix choir above. The tune is by John Hughes and the words are by Daniel James, known by his bardic name of Gwyrosydd. Rees Harris has done an English translation that fits the melody (Welsh and English Hymns and Anthems #66, The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, Inc.):
I seek not life’s ease and pleasures,
Earthly riches, pearls nor gold;
Give to me a heart made happy,
Clean and honest to unfold.
- (Chorus)
- A clean heart o’erflow’d with goodness,
- Fairer than the lily white;
- A clean heart forever singing,
- Singing through the day and night.
If I cherish earthly treasures,
Swift they flee and all is vain;
A clean heart enriched with virtues,
Brings to me eternal gain.
- (Chorus)
Morn and evening my petition,
Wings its flight to heaven in song;
In the name of my Redeemer,
Make my heart clean, pure and strong.
- (Chorus)
And here are Gwyrosydd’s orginal words. I’ll be singing them again tonight. Will you?
Nid wy’n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na’i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.
- Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
- Tecach yw na’r lili dlos:
- Dim ond calon lân all ganu
- Canu’r dydd a chanu’r nos.
Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.
- (Chorus)
Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i’r nef ar adain cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.
- (Chorus)
You can hear it here in a more traditional and heartfelt male-voice choir collection that will last you the whole match.
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