Idris Davies

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Idris Davies (Born in Rhymney (then Monmouthshire) on January 6, 1905 - Died, Rhymney, April 6, 1953) was a Welsh poet, originally writing in Cymraeg, but later writing exclusively in English. He is now known mostly for The Bells of Rhymney, a ballad on a mining accident on the pattern of the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons that was set to music by Pete Seeger, and became a folk rock standard.

He was born and brought up in Rhymney, Caerphilly, Wales, and began work as a coal miner on leaving school at 14.

He studied by correspondence, having in 1926 decided to leave the pits after the failure of the General Strike. He wrote from a Socialist perspective.

He became a qualified teacher through courses at Loughborough College and the University of Nottingham. He took teaching posts in London, and then Wales, returning to Rhymney in 1947. His second collection was taken by T. S. Eliot for Faber and Faber (1945).

The Bells of Rhymney was covered by The Byrds; and later by many others, including Jimmy Page, Judy Collins, Dick Gaughan, Cher, Robyn Hitchcock, and The Alarm. Also by Bob Dylan live, and Robin Williamson on an album of readings. John Denver covered this while with the Mitchell Trio, and also performed it live by himself.

Davies died from cancer in 1953, aged 48.