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C​â​n Y Melinydd

from C​â​n Dyffryn Clettwr by Cynefin

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Cân Y Melinydd (The Miller's Song)

Forgotten for over 250 years and never before recorded, this version of 'Can Y Melinydd' is a ballad composed by David Jones of Llanybydder during the American War of Independence. It documents the effect the war was having on people in rural Wales, including rocketing prices and young men being dragged to away to fight to appease the upper classes.

Cân Y Melinydd
Dyma’r tro cyntaf i’r gân yma gael ei recordio, wedi iddi fynd yn angof am dros 250 o flynyddoedd. Wedi ei chyfansoddi gan David Jones, Llanybydder yn ystod y Rhyfel Annibyniaeth yn America, mae’r fersiwn yma o ‘Cân Y Melinydd’ yn dyst i effaith y rhyfel ar werin cefn gwlad Cymru. Clywn gŵyn am y codiad mewn prisiau ac am hanes y bechgyn ifanc a chafodd eu llusgo i ffwrdd i ymladd er mwyn bodloni dymuniadau’r dosbarthau uchel.

lyrics

Gyfeillion manwl mwynion
Rwy'n gofyn beth yw'ch barn
Ynghylch y fasnach farwaidd
Ar glo ac ar haearn
A hefyd ar y cotwm
O fewn i Lancashire
Mae miloedd mewn caledi
Yn poeni ers amser hir

Welwn ni, welwn ni Mari fach
Welwn ni, welwn ni Mari fach
Welwn ni Mari annwyl

Yr ateb sydd gan filoedd
Na chawn ddim amser da
Nes y terfyna'r rhyfel
Ar dir America
Y maent mor anrhygarog
Yn llidiog yno'n lladd
Y tlawd wnaent lisgo i ryfel
Er boddio'r uchel radd

Rhyw deddf goruwchnaturiol
Yw hyn fel dywed rhai
Os felly rhaid bodloni
Heb le i daflu'r bai
Hyn yw fy meddwl innau
Os gall fy nghalw'n ffol
Rwy'n dweud mae cariad brawdol
Sydd braidd rhy bell ar ôl

English Translation:
Dear friends and gentle comrades
I'm asking for your views
About the dying market
In coal and iron ore
And also on the cotton
From inner Lancashire
There's thousands in hardship
Worrying for many a year

We'll see little Mary, we'll see little Mary
We'll see dear Mary

The answer thousands provide
Good times will not arrive
Until the war has ended
On America's foreign soil
They are so unmerciful
Killing just like fire
The poor they drag to warfare
To please the upper class

Some supernatural order
Is this as some might say
If so we must be content
With nowhere to lay blame
But this is my true feeling
Though you may call me mad
I say that brotherly love
Is all that needs be had

credits

from C​â​n Dyffryn Clettwr, track released December 15, 2017
Arrangement by Owen Shiers
Guitar & Voice - Owen Shiers

Engineered by Owen Shiers. Mixed by Oli Jacobs and Mastered at Electric Mastering, London.

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Cynefin Wales, UK

Cynefin (pr.‘kuh-neh-vin’) is the musical brainchild of Clettwr Valley native Owen Shiers. Fascinated by music and history, it is a bid to give a voice to an area of his corner of Wales. Starting out from his home village and travelling through the musical landscape of Ceredigion, Owen has unearthed seasoned songs and stories, some never before recorded, and given them new life in the present. ... more

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