Yma O Hyd

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Considering it was penned by a former president of Plaid Cymru who has a conviction for defacing English language road signs, I assumed it was a pro-independence song of some sort. But to be honest it's difficult to work out what the lyrics are really supposed to mean. Maybe something gets lost in translation, but a fair percentage of it reads like gibberish to me.

And that's the point. It's not difficult to work out what the lyrics mean.

[Wash DC Blue]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Y

Shame you couldn’t hang on for the Swansea game. Safe trip:thumbup:

Thank You SP.

[splott parker]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Considering it was penned by a former president of Plaid Cymru who has a conviction for defacing English language road signs, I assumed it was a pro-independence song of some sort. But to be honest it's difficult to work out what the lyrics are really supposed to mean. Maybe something gets lost in translation, but a fair percentage of it reads like gibberish to me.

A stirring song, no doubt but it does seem like it was written by a 321 script writer.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Yma O Hyd

And that's the point. It's not difficult to work out what the lyrics mean.

Well it's got me. I'm not being facetious, I genuinely don't know what the lyrics are supposed to mean.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Well it's got me. I'm not being facetious, I genuinely don't know what the lyrics are supposed to mean.

Despite the best endeavours of others like Thatcher, the country established by Macsen, the Welsh Roman Emperor 1600 years ago is still here. Give or take a bit of poetic licence.

[blue matt]

Re: Yma O Hyd

If only songs were this simple, like in the old days :hehe:

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Despite the best endeavours of others like Thatcher, the country established by Macsen, the Welsh Roman Emperor 1600 years ago is still here. Give or take a bit of poetic licence.

And some inclement weather, apparently.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Yma O Hyd

And some inclement weather, apparently.

Doh, it wouldn't be Wales otherwise!

[JamesWales]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Sorry, just read that again. Is the singer (and the song) not linked heavily with pro-independence then? Genuine question. Some stuff I was reading the other day suggested otherwise.

This was talked about in another thread where I said I liked the song but suggested the FAW may not want to get too close on what is quite a partisan song politically in a climate in Wales that may get more political in coming years with the independence debate.

My interpretation is that it's very much about the Welsh language but the singer is very much about the Welsh language and independence so I still think the FAW should not get overly cosy.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Yma O Hyd

If the translation I've read is accurate, one section of the song goes as follows:

"Let the tears of the faint-hearted flow and the servile lick the floor."

So who does Dafydd Iwan regard as the faint-hearted and the servile?

That's followed with:

"Despite the blackness around us, we are ready for the breaking of the dawn!"

What is the blackness around us? And what does the line about the breaking of the dawn signify?

Another line says:

"Despite every Dic Siôn Dafydd...."

What does the song's author mean by that?

[blue matt]

Re: Yma O Hyd

Another line says:

"Despite every Dic Siôn Dafydd...."

What does the song's author mean by that?

they are a character in a poem of the Welsh satirical poet Jac Glan-y-gors

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Yma O Hyd

What does the song's author mean by that?

We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
The crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
She said "there is no reason"
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
Would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might have just as well've been closed
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
And so it was that later

[Swiss Peter]

Re: Yma O Hyd

This was talked about in another thread where I said I liked the song but suggested the FAW may not want to get too close on what is quite a partisan song politically in a climate in Wales that may get more political in coming years with the independence debate.

My interpretation is that it's very much about the Welsh language but the singer is very much about the Welsh language and independence so I still think the FAW should not get overly cosy.

Thanks. I missed the other thread. I can see where you are coming from with this. It is what prompted my question really.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Yma O Hyd

What does the song's author mean by that?

Can't say I recall A Whiter Shade of Pale being sung at Welsh internationals, but I've missed a fair few in recent years.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Yma O Hyd

they are a character in a poem of the Welsh satirical poet Jac Glan-y-gors

I'm aware of that. But who is the author of Yma O Hyd referring to? Who are the 'Dic Sion Dafydds' as far as he and those who champion this song concerned? What is the context?