Men of Harlech
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"Men of Harlech" is a song and military march describing events at the battle for Harlech Castle in 1408, which pitted the forces of Owain Glyndŵr against the future Henry V of England.
"Men of Harlech" is sometimes mistaken for the national anthem of Wales. This is incorrect; the Welsh anthem is "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" ("Land of my Fathers"). Still, the song occupies an important place in Welsh national culture. It is often the regimental march of regiments historically associated with Wales. The Royal Regiment of Wales, now the Royal Welsh (UK), the Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) and the Governor General's Horse Guards, Canadian Forces are three examples.
The music was first published in 1784 as March of the Men of Harlech in Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards. It first appeared with lyrics in Gems of Welsh Melody, edited by the Welsh poet, John Owen ("Owain Alaw"), published in London, England and Wrexham, Wales in 1860. The Welsh lyrics are by the bard John Jones (Talhaiarn), and the English lyrics by W.H. Baker. Since then, many different versions of the English lyrics have appeared.
The song gained international recognition when it was featured prominently in the film Zulu, although the version of lyrics sung in it were written especially for the film.
It was also used as part of the startup music for ITV station Teledu Cymru in the early 1960s and until recently in Fritz Spiegl's BBC Radio 4 UK Theme. Next year (2007) the song will yet again make it to the screen in an S4C series Codi Canu, as an attempt is made to bring traditional four-part harmony choral singing back to the Welsh rugby terraces.
The tune is used for the alma mater song of Georgetown University and of Pine-Richland school district in Pennsylvania. It is also the theme song to Sydney Technical High School, Bexley, Australia, St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, Australia, Tantasqua Regional High School in Massachusetts, USA, King's College, Hong Kong and The Mackay School in Viña del Mar, Chile.
It is also sung by supporters of Cardiff City Football Club prior to the start of their home matches at Ninian Park.
An instrumental orchestration of the song was often used as a score for NFL Films during the 1960s and 1970s.
[edit] Lyrics
There are several versions of "Men of Harlech". The following version was used during the Anglo-Welsh wars (as they mention defeating the Saxons).
[edit] John Oxenford version
| Verse 1 Men of Harlech, march to glory, |
Verse 2 Thou, who noble Cambria wrongest, |
[edit] "Talhaiarn" version
| Verse 1 Glyndŵr, see thy comet flaming, |
Verse 2 Now to battle they are going, |
Welsh Lyrics 1. Henffych well, i wlad fy nghalon, |
CODI CANU Version
These are the words to the most recent version to appear in the Welsh hymn book,
These have the more traditional war march theme
These are also the words used on S4C series Codi Canu, to bring singing back to the rugby terraces
1. Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio,
a thafodau tân yn bloeddio;
Ar i'r dewrion ddod i daro,
unwaith eto'n un;
Gan fanllefau'r tywysogion,
Llais gelynion trwst arfogion;
A charlamiad y marchogion,
Craig ar graig a gryn.
Arfon byth ni orfydd,
Cenir yn dragywydd;
Cymru fydd fel Cymru fu
Yn glodus ynmysg gwledydd.
'Nghwyn oleuni'r goelcerth acw,
Tros wefusau Cymro'n marw,
Anibyniaeth sydd yn galw,
Am ei dewraf dyn
[edit] George Thompson version
| Verse 1 Dauntless sons of Celtic sires |
Verse 2 Shall heart-rending sound of woe |
[edit] Royal Canadian Hussars version
| Verse 1 Hark! I hear the foe advancing, |
[edit] Zulu movie version
| Verse 1 Men of Harlech stop your dreaming |
[The above is sung almost twice in the film (the British open fire on the charging Zulus before the start of the final couplet), in counterpoint to the Zulu war chants and the sounds of their shields. Film editor John Jympson cut the scene to the song so that if you sing along when you cannot hear the British soldiers singing when you cut back it is always in the right place.]
[edit] Georgetown University version
This version is known as "Alma Mater" and was written by Robert Collier, an 1894 graduate of the College.
Hail, O Georgetown, Alma Mater
Swift Potomac's lovely daughter,
Ever watching by the water,
Smiles on us today.
Now her children gather 'round her,
Lo! with garlands they have crown'd her,
Rev'rent hands and fond enwound her
With the Blue and Gray.
Wave her Colors ever,
Furl her standard never,
But raise it high, and proudly cry,
May Georgetown live forever!
Where Potomac's tide is streaming,
From her spires and steeples beaming,
See the grand old banner gleaming,
Georgetown's Blue and Gray.
[edit] Terenure College version
The tune of "Men of Harlech" was also adapted by Dublin school Terenure College as their rugby anthem (known as "Come On My Lads").
[edit] U.S. Army Engineers version
The tune of "Men of Harlech" was also adapted to "An Engineer's Hymm" for the US Army Engineers. The lyrics can be found at the museum site and engineer's school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The site mistakenly attributes the song to the Welsh defence of the castle against the "British", but until the 1600s the English would not have thought of themselves as British, but the Welsh, as Celts and so one of the earliest inhabitants of the British islands and speakers of an insular Brettonic language, would have considered themselves as British and the English as "Saxon".
[edit] King's College, Hong Kong version
Oh King's College lives forever
Nothing shall our friendship sever
Nothing shall defeat us ever
Glory to our school.
Listen to our sound of singing
Listen to our voices ringing
Joy and honour we are bringing
Glory to our school.
Soon we will be grown men
There will be new boys then
Summon all the new and old
They sing and shout together.
Old boys, new boys winning glory
We ourselves must write the story
Keep this challenge still before ye
Glory to our school.
[edit] The Mackay School version
For a firm and sure foundation,
for each noble aspiration,
for the glory of our nation,
stands our School Mackay.
Blue and white the banner over us,
cross and crown the shield before us,
voices from the past implore us
Keep your standard high!
We bear the lamp of learning,
the torch of truth keep burning,
with hand and heart, we play our part,
from honour and from duty never turning.
Friendship now and friendship ever,
comrades true whom not shall sever,
love and loyalty loosing never,
for our School Mackay.
[edit] Royal Regiment of Wales version
Tongues of fire on Idris flaring,
news of foe-men near declaring,
to heroic deeds of daring,
call you Harlech men
Groans of wounded peasants dying,
wails of wives and children flying,
for the distant succour crying,
call you Harlech men.
Shall the voice of wailing
now be unavailing
you to rouse who never yet
in battles hour were failing.
This our answer crowds down pouring
swift as winter torrents roaring,
not in vain the voice imploring,
calls on Harlech men.
Loud the martial pipes are sounding,
every manly heart is bounding,
as our trusted chief surrounding,
march we Harlech men.
Short the sleep the foe is taking,
ere the morrows morn is breaking
they shall have a rude awakening,
roused by Harlech men.
Mothers cease your weeping,
calm may be your sleeping,
you and yours in safety now
the Harlech men are keeping,
Ere the sun is high in heaven
they you fear, by panic riven,
shall like frightened sheep be driven
far by Harlech men.
[edit] The Haverford School version
Haverford, our pride and glory,
see the future bright before ye,
Know the honor of thy story,
Young boys turn to men
Haverfordians, always ready,
To thy country service lend ye,
To the world thy skill present thee,
As always before.
Hails of wisdom dreaming!
With young men are teeming
On to glory shall they pass, their
deeds and records gleaming!
Haverfordians, stand ye steady,
it could not be ever said ye,
For the future were not ready,
When ye left these doors!
[edit] Sydney Technical High School
Verse One
See the Tech. High School assembling,
Floors and stairways all a-trembling,
Happy smiles faint hearts dissembling,
As we tramp to school.
Trig. and mensuration,
Atomic calculation;
Homework done,
Or left undone.
And 'Manners Makyth Man" upon our hatbands.
All regard it as our motto
Some forget it too, in toto,
Till they're cautioned, voce sotto:
"Don't disgrace your School."
Verse Two
See us when we face the Leaving,
There's no time to spend in grieving;
All are bent upon retrieving
Time we lost last year.
Chemistry and History,
All to us a mystery;
Still we plod
Until we nod,
And face the awful paper bright and cheerful.
Some go down, and some go through it;
Some there are who live to rue it.
Masters smile and say, "We knew it,
Now you know it, too."
Verse Three
See us when we're through the Uni.,
Some are wise and some are looney,
Many strong, and many puny
After years of work.
Some have gone a-mining,
Sugar some refining;
All essay
To earn their pay.
Some are building bridges o'er the Harbour.
Hydro-works for irrigation,
Dams enough to drown a nation;
Every fellow to his station,
In this world's great work.
[edit] St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace version
Terrace to the Fore
Many years have now passed o'er us
So 'tis time to rise in chorus
For the men who went before us
Terrace to the fore.
Men of spirit bold, unjaded,
They the haunts of fame invaded;
So upon the heights they made it
Terrace evermore!
They were brave and game men;
We shall be the same men!
If we fight to do the right,
Ours shall be their fame, then!
Who shall dare to stain our glory?
Who shall mock our noble story?
Let our song forevermore be,
"Terrace to the Fore!"
[edit] Sources
- Volkslieder, German & Other Folk Songs Homepage Men of Harlech
[edit] External links
- Royal Regiment of Wales' Band singing "Men of Harlech" (2.68MB MP3) Recorded in the church at Rorke's Drift, South Africa on the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
