"Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn" ( en, Watching the White Wheat) is an 18th-century traditional
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
love song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
.
It describes the tragic love affair between Wil Hopcyn and
Ann Thomas (The Maid of Cefn Ydfa) from the village of
Llangynwyd
Llangynwyd is a village (and electoral ward) 2 miles to the south of Maesteg, in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales. It was part of the medieval commote (Welsh: ''cwmwd'') of Tir Iarll.
History and amenities
The village is the site of Llangy ...
in
Glamorganshire
, HQ = Cardiff
, Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974)
, Origin=
, Code = GLA
, CodeName = Chapman code
, Replace =
* West Glamorgan
* Mid Glamorgan
* South Glamorgan
, Motto ...
. Ann belonged to a wealthy farming family but Wil was only a farm labourer. Ann's mother rejected Wil and forced Ann into a marriage with Anthony Maddocks, the son of a local
squire
In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight.
Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire served as a knight's apprentice. Later, a village leader or a lord of the manor might come to be known as a " ...
.
A few days before the marriage took place Wil left Llangynwyd. Months later Wil had a dream in which Ann's new husband had died, so he returned home. However, when he arrived he discovered that in fact it was Ann who was dying, from a
broken heart
Broken heart (also known as a heartbreak or heartache) is a metaphor for the intense emotional stress or pain one feels at experiencing great and deep longing. The concept is cross-cultural, often cited with reference to unreciprocated or lost ...
. Ann died in his arms that day.
Maddocks inherited the Thomas' estate and soon re-married. Wil died in 1741, never having married. Both he and Ann are buried at Llangynwyd.
The song was collected from the oral tradition in the 1830s and was first published in 1844 by the Welsh musician and
folklorist
Folklore studies, less often known as folkloristics, and occasionally tradition studies or folk life studies in the United Kingdom, is the branch of anthropology devoted to the study of folklore. This term, along with its synonyms, gained currenc ...
Maria Jane Williams
Maria Jane Williams (c.1795 – 10 November 1873) was a 19th-century Welsh musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House, Glynneath in Glamorgan, South Wales. She rescued many Welsh songs from obscurity, including '' Y Deryn Pur (The Ge ...
in her collection ''Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morganwg''.
Lyrics
There are several versions of the lyrics with minor variations in the words and additional verses. A modern version is:
[ (''Lannach'' and ''glannach'' have been corrected to ''lanach'' and ''glanach''.)]
Mi sydd fachgen ieuanc ffôl
Yn byw yn ôl fy ffansi,
Myfi'n bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn,
Ac arall yn ei fedi.
Pam na ddeui ar fy ôl,
Ryw ddydd ar ôl ei gilydd?
Gwaith 'rwy'n dy weld, y feinir fach,
Yn lanach, lanach beunydd.
Glanach, glanach wyt bob dydd,
Neu fi yn wir sy'n ffolach;
Er mwyn y Gŵr a wnaeth dy wedd
Gwna im' drugaredd bellach.
Cwnn dy ben, gwel acw draw,
Rho im' dy law wen dirion;
Gwaith yn dy fynwes bert ei thro
Mae allwedd clo fy nghalon.
Tra fo dŵr y môr yn hallt,
A thra bo gallt yn tyfu,
A thra fo calon dan fy mron
Mi fydda'n ffyddlon iti;
Dywed imi'r gwir heb gêl,
A rho dan sêl d'atebion,
P'un ai myfi ai arall, Ann
Sydd orau gan dy galon.
Tune
First published version
The melody and words first published by
Maria Jane Williams
Maria Jane Williams (c.1795 – 10 November 1873) was a 19th-century Welsh musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House, Glynneath in Glamorgan, South Wales. She rescued many Welsh songs from obscurity, including '' Y Deryn Pur (The Ge ...
in 1844:
Modern version
A modern version of the tune is:
[
\relative c' \addlyrics
]
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Welsh folk songs
18th-century songs