Dafydd y Garreg Wen
Encyclopedia
Dafydd y Garreg Wen is a traditional Welsh
air
and folk song.
David Owen
, the famous blind harper and composer, lived near Porthmadog
in Caernarfonshire
, Wales
in the first half of the 18th century, who was known locally as Dafydd y Garreg Wen, . The epithet
Y Garreg Wen was the name of the farm near Morfa Bychan
in which he lived.
Tradition has it that as Owen lay on his death bed, he called for his harp and composed the haunting air. He died at the age of 29 and was buried at St Cynhaearn's Church
near Porthmadog
.
The words were added nearly a hundred years later in by the poet John Ceiriog Hughes
.
A more literal translation would be:-
Another version of this song begins with the line, "David, the Bard, on his bed of death lies", and continues with the second line of the verse being, "Pale are his features, and dim are his eyes".
Owen is also well known for his air Codiad yr Ehedydd .
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
and folk song.
David Owen
David Owen (harpist)
David Owen was a Welsh harpist, best remembered as the composer of the popular song, "Dafydd y Garreg Wen"...
, the famous blind harper and composer, lived near Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
in Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the first half of the 18th century, who was known locally as Dafydd y Garreg Wen, . The epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
Y Garreg Wen was the name of the farm near Morfa Bychan
Morfa Bychan
-The Village:Situated on the Llŷn Peninsula just west of Borth-y-Gest and Porthmadog Morfa Bychan can be reached from Porthmadog via the Borth-y-Gest/Morfa Bychan road or a country lane off the A497....
in which he lived.
Tradition has it that as Owen lay on his death bed, he called for his harp and composed the haunting air. He died at the age of 29 and was buried at St Cynhaearn's Church
St Cynhaearn's Church, Ynyscynhaearn
St Cynhaearn's Church, Ynyscynhaearn, is a redundant church standing in an isolated position on a former island in Llyn Ystumllyn, south of the village of Pentrefelin, Gwynedd, Wales . It has been designated by Cadw as a Grade II* listed building...
near Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
.
The words were added nearly a hundred years later in by the poet John Ceiriog Hughes
John Ceiriog Hughes
John Ceiriog Hughes , was a Welsh poet and well-known collector of Welsh folk tunes. Sometimes referred to as the "Robert Burns of Wales"...
.
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A more literal translation would be:-
- 'Carry', said David, 'my harp to me'
- I would like, before dying, to give a tune on it (her)
- Lift my hands to reach the strings
- God bless you, my widow and children!
- Last night I heard an angel's voice like this:
- "David, come home and play through the glen!"
- Harp of my youth, farewell to your strings!
- God bless you, my widow and children!
Another version of this song begins with the line, "David, the Bard, on his bed of death lies", and continues with the second line of the verse being, "Pale are his features, and dim are his eyes".
Owen is also well known for his air Codiad yr Ehedydd .