Suo Gân (Welsh pronunciation: [sɨɔ ɡɑːn]) is a traditional Welsh lullaby written by an anonymous composer.
It was first recorded in print around 1800.[1] The lyrics were notably captured by the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858-1920). [2]
The song's title simply means lullaby. (suo = lull; cân = song).
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A direct, word-for-word translation is as follows:
| Huna blentyn yn fy mynwes | Sleep child on my bosom |
| Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon; | Cozy and warm it is. |
| Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat, | Arms (of your) mother are tight around (you), |
| Cariad mam sy dan fy mron; | Love (of a) mother is under my breast. |
| Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun, | Not can nothing (nothing will) affect your napping, |
| Ni wna undyn â thi gam; | Not do one man (no man will) with you cross (cross as in crossing someone). |
| Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn, | Sleep quietly dear child, |
| Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam. | Sleep sweetly on breast (of) your mother. |
| Huna'n dawel, heno, huna, | Sleep quietly tonight sleep; |
| Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun; | Sleep sweetly the pretty of (a) picture. (idiom for handsome) |
| Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu, | Why are you in sweetness are smiling, |
| Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun? | Smiling softly in your sleep? |
| Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu, | Are (the) angels above are smiling, |
| Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon, | On you are smiling joyfully? |
| Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno, | You (also) smiling back in sleeping, |
| Huno'n dawel ar fy mron? | Sleeping quietly on my breast. |
| Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen | Don't you fear, only but (a) leaf |
| Gura, gura ar y ddôr; | Knocks, knocks on your door. |
| Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig | Don't you fear, wave small lonely |
| Sua, sua ar lan y môr; | Mumurs, murmurs on (the) edge of (the) sea. |
| Huna blentyn, nid oes yma | Sleep child, isn't there here |
| Ddim i roddi iti fraw; | Nothing to give you (a) fright. |
| Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes | Smile quietly in my bosom, |
| Ar yr engyl gwynion draw. | On the angels white yonder. |
Suo Gân is also a Welsh carol, featured in the American Edition of the Orff-Schulwerk Music for Children book with the following verses:
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"Suo Gân", as performed by James Rainbird and the Ambrosian Junior Choir directed by John McCarthy, is featured prominently in the film Empire of the Sun, where it is lip-synched by a young Christian Bale. It also appears, instrumentally, in the beginning of the movie Dutch.
Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel has performed this song in several of his Christmas concerts, most notably with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Kathleen Battle performed this song with guitarist Christopher Parkening on their holiday album Angels' Glory.
The rock band Savatage used the song as a base for their song "Heal My Soul" on the 1991 album Streets: A Rock Opera.
The men's choir Chanticleer covered the song for their 2001 album, Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)
The pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards covered the song for their 2007 album, Spirit Of The Glen.
The Vienna Boys' Choir features Suo Gân (entitled "Suo-Gan") on "The Christmas Album".
It is on The Irish Tenors album Home For Christmas.
It is also featured in the finale episode of the anime show Kuroshitsuji II, in which a demon sings it at the opening of the episode.
In the hymn book Songs Of Praise (1931) Hymn 380 is set To Suo-Gan (Welsh Traditional Melody).