Ar Lan y Môr

Kenneth Bowen singing the first verse of "Ar Lan y Môr"

"Ar Lan y Môr" ("On the Seashore") is a traditional Welsh folk love song. A single verse was published by the Welsh Folk Song Society in 1937,^[1] and again (recorded from another singer) in 1948.^[2] A slightly different version was recorded by the BBC in 1953.^[3] Extra verses have been added, mostly from the 'Hen Penillion' (Old Stanzas).^[4]

"Ar Lan y Môr" has been frequently recorded. Notably, the song features on the first Welsh-language concept album, Endaf Emlyn's Salem (1974).^[5] A rendition appears on the only comedy album to top the UK Albums Chart to date, Max Boyce's We All Had Doctors' Papers (1975).^[6]^[7] The song also appears on Ar Log's eponymous 1978 debut album, Bryn Terfel's album We'll Keep a Welcome (2000) and Katherine Jenkins' debut album Première (2004).^[8]^[9] ^[10]

Words, with English translation[edit]

Ar lan y môr mae rhosys cochion,
Ar lan y môr mae lilis gwynion,
Ar lan y môr mae 'nghariad inne
Yn cysgu'r nos a chodi'r bore.

Ar lan y môr mae carreg wastad
Lle bûm yn siarad gair â'm cariad;
O amgylch hon fe dyf y lili
Ac ambell gangen o rosmari.

Ar lan y môr mae cerrig gleision,
Ar lan y môr mae blodau'r meibion,
Ar lan y môr mae pob rinwedde,
Ar lan y môr mae 'nghariad inne.

Tros y môr y mae fy nghalon,
Tros y môr y mae f’ochneidion,
Tros y môr y mae f’anwylyd
Sy’n fy meddwl i bob munud.

Llawn yw'r môr o swnd a chregyn,
Llawn yw'r wy o wyn a melyn,
Llawn yw'r coed o ddail a blode,
Llawn o gariad merch wyf inne.

On the seashore are red roses,
On the seashore are white lilies,
On the seashore is my love
Sleeping at night and rising in the morning.

On the seashore is a flat rock
Where I spoke a word with my love;
About this grows the lily
And the odd branch of rosemary.

On the seashore are blue rocks,
On the seashore are the flowers of the sons,
On the seashore are all virtues,
On the seashore is my love.

Over the sea is my heart,
Over the sea are my sighs,
Over the sea is my beloved
Who is my thought every minute.

Full is the sea of sand and shells,
Full is the egg of white and yellow,
Full are the trees of leaves and flowers,
Full of a girl's love am I myself.

Melodies[edit]

1. CAGC (1937) 3 p.125

$\relative c'' { \time 3/4 \key f \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*3 c8 c8. c16 % 0 c4. a8 bes c % 1 bes4 a8\fermata c c8. c16 % 2 c4. a8 bes c % 3 bes4 a8\fermata c c8. c16 % 4 c4. a8 g f % 5 d4 f8\fermata f f d' % 6 c4. a8 g a % 7 g4 f8\fermata \bar "|." % 8 } \addlyrics { Ar lan y môr mae rho -- sys co -- chion; Ar lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy-- nion; Ar lan y môr mae ’ngha -- riad in -- ne Yn cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re. }$

2. CAGC (1937) 3 p.126

$\relative c'' { \time 3/4 \key bes \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*2 g8 d' %0 d4. bes8 c bes %1 c8 d4. g,8 d' %2 d4. bes8 c bes %3 c8 d4. g,8 d' %4 d4. bes8 c bes %5 c8 d4. es8 es %6 d4. bes8 c bes %7 a8 g4. \bar "|." %8 } \addlyrics { Lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy -- nion; Lan y môr mae li -- lis coch-- nion; Lan y môr mae ’ngha -- riad in -- ne, Cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re. }$

3. Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975) p.137

$\relative c' { \time 3/4 \key f \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*3 f8 f f %0 f4. f8 g a %1 g8 f4 a8 a a %2 a4. g8 a c %3 bes8 a4 c8 c c %4 c4. a8 g f %5 bes8 bes4 bes8 bes bes %6 \grace{bes} a4. f8 g a %7 g8 f4 \bar "|." %8 } \addlyrics { Ar lan y môr mae rho -- sys co -- chion Ar lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy-- nion Ar lan y môr mae ngha -- riad in -- ne Yn cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re }$

References[edit]

^ Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 3 (1937):125-6
^ Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 4 (1948):36-7
^ Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975), ed. P Kennedy, London: Oak Publications, p.137 and p.165
^ Caneuon Traddodiadol y Cymry, eds Arfon Gwilym, Menai Williams, Daniel Huws (2006) Penygroes: Cwmni Cyhoeddi Gwynn, p.123
^ Nobakht, David. "Salem Review". Buzz. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^ "We All Had Doctors' Papers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
^ McLaren, James (24 February 2011). "Max Boyce: Live At Treorchy". BBC Wales. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
^ "Ar Log – Ar Log". Discogs. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
^ We'll Keep a Welcome at AllMusic
^ "Katherine Jenkins Première Review". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

External links[edit]

Sung to harp accompaniment by Sian James
English version, as a song rather than just a translation

[1] Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 3 (1937):125-6

[2] Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 4 (1948):36-7

[3] Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975), ed. P Kennedy, London: Oak Publications, p.137 and p.165

[4] Caneuon Traddodiadol y Cymry, eds Arfon Gwilym, Menai Williams, Daniel Huws (2006) Penygroes: Cwmni Cyhoeddi Gwynn, p.123

[Salem_Review-5] Nobakht, David. "Salem Review". Buzz. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

[Chartstats-6] "We All Had Doctors' Papers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

[7] McLaren, James (24 February 2011). "Max Boyce: Live At Treorchy". BBC Wales. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

[8] "Ar Log – Ar Log". Discogs. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

[Allmusic-9] We'll Keep a Welcome at AllMusic

[10] "Katherine Jenkins Première Review". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

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