Difference between revisions of "The Bells of Rhymney"
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| − | ''' | + | '''The Bells of Rhymney''' is a song first recorded by folk singer [[Wikipedia:Pete Seeger|Pete Seeger]], using words written by Welsh poet [[Wikipedia:Idris Davies|Idris Davies]]. The lyrics to the song were drawn from part of Davies' poetic work [[Gwalia Deserta]]<ref name="Gwalia Deserta - Part XV">[http://poetrynook.com/poem/gwalia-deserta-part-xv Gwalia Deserta - Part XV by Idris Davies]</ref> ("Wasteland of Wales"), which was first published in 1938. The verses it contained were inspired partly by such mining disasters as that at [[Wikipedia:Marine Colliery|Marine Colliery]] at [[Wikipedia:Cwm, Blaenau Gwent|Cwm]] near [[Wikipedia:Ebbw Vale|Ebbw Vale]] in 1927, and by the failure of the [[Wikipedia:1926 United Kingdom general strike|1926 UK General Strike]], the [[Wikipedia:Great Depression in the United Kingdom|Great Depression in the United Kingdom]] and their combined effects on the South Wales valleys. The "Bells of Rhymney" stanzas follow the pattern of the nursery rhyme [[Oranges and Lemons]]. In addition to [[Wikipedia:Rhymney|Rhymney]], the poem also refers to the bells of a number of other places in South Wales, including [[Wikipedia:Merthyr Tydfil|Merthyr]], [[Wikipedia:Rhondda|Rhondda]], [[Wikipedia:Blaina|Blaina]], [[Wikipedia:Caerphilly|Caerphilly]], [[Wikipedia:Neath|Neath]], [[Wikipedia:Brecon|Brecon]], [[Wikipedia:Swansea|Swansea]], [[Wikipedia:Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Wikipedia:Cardiff|Cardiff]], and the [[Wikipedia:Wye Valley|Wye Valley]]. |
Verse 1<ref name="The Bells of Rhymney">[https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tqz7oz44ywtq4rmcvdqkgphbsyu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0# Google Play Music - The Bells of Rhymney]</ref>: | Verse 1<ref name="The Bells of Rhymney">[https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tqz7oz44ywtq4rmcvdqkgphbsyu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0# Google Play Music - The Bells of Rhymney]</ref>: | ||
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And who robbed the miner? | And who robbed the miner? | ||
Cry the grim bells of Blaina. | Cry the grim bells of Blaina. | ||
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| + | ==External links== | ||
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| + | *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK_eVaLeiQ0 Pete Seeger singing The Bells of Rhymney] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 19:50, 8 August 2016
The Bells of Rhymney is a song first recorded by folk singer Pete Seeger, using words written by Welsh poet Idris Davies. The lyrics to the song were drawn from part of Davies' poetic work Gwalia Deserta[1] ("Wasteland of Wales"), which was first published in 1938. The verses it contained were inspired partly by such mining disasters as that at Marine Colliery at Cwm near Ebbw Vale in 1927, and by the failure of the 1926 UK General Strike, the Great Depression in the United Kingdom and their combined effects on the South Wales valleys. The "Bells of Rhymney" stanzas follow the pattern of the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons. In addition to Rhymney, the poem also refers to the bells of a number of other places in South Wales, including Merthyr, Rhondda, Blaina, Caerphilly, Neath, Brecon, Swansea, Newport, Cardiff, and the Wye Valley.
Verse 1[2]: Oh what can you give me? Say the sad bells of Rhymney. Is there hope for the future? Cry the brown bells of Merthyr. Who made the mine owner? Say the black bells of Rhondda. And who robbed the miner? Cry the grim bells of Blaina.
