Calon Lân

"Calon Lân" (Welsh for 'a Pure Heart') is a Welsh song, the words of which were written in the 1890s by Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) and sung to a tune by John Hughes.[1] The song was originally written as a hymn,[2] but has become firmly established as a rugby anthem, associated with the Welsh rugby union, being sung before almost every Test match involving the Welsh national team.

In 2007 the song was one of the traditional Welsh songs to make it to the screen in an S4C television series Codi Canu, an attempt to bring traditional four-part harmony choral singing back to the Welsh rugby terraces.

In 2012, the Welsh group Only Boys Aloud sang Calon Lân on the British ITV show Britain's Got Talent. It has since become the most watched Welsh language video on You Tube with millions of hits. Only Boys Aloud came third in the final singing Calon Lân.[3]

"Calon Lân" is unusual among the most popular Welsh traditional songs in that an English-language version of the words is virtually never sung (unlike, for example, Cwm Rhondda), but the tune does appear, for example, in the British Methodist hymn book Hymns and Psalms,[4] set to the lyrics of "I will Sing the Wondrous Story" by P. P. Bliss.

A Spanish-language version of the song exists, sung mostly by Welsh Argentines in Y Wladfa, the former Welsh colony in Patagonia.[5]

On 10 September 2019, the song was sung in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom by Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour Party members of parliament who were protesting about Brexit and the prorogation controversy.[6]

The Calon Lân Centre is based at Mynyddbach Chapel, the burial place of Daniel James. The chapel and grounds were at the point of dereliction until 2011 but have been restored.[7]

Lyrics
OriginalEnglish translationAlternative translation in rhymeSecond alternative translationSpanish versionTranslation of Spanish version

Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.
(Chorus)

Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i'r nef ar adain cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.
(Chorus)

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.
A pure heart full of goodness
Is fairer than the pretty lily,
None but a pure heart can sing,
Sing in the day and sing in the night.

If I wished for worldly wealth,
It would swiftly go to seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart
Will bear eternal profit.
(Chorus)

Evening and morning, my wish
Rising to heaven on the wing of song
For God, for the sake of my Saviour,
To give me a pure heart.
(Chorus)

I'd not ask a life that's easy,
Gold and pearls so little mean,
Rather seek a heart that's joyful,
Heart that's honest, heart that's clean.
(Chorus)
Heart that’s clean and filled with virtue,
Fairer far than lilies white,
Only pure hearts praise God truly,
Praise him all the day and night.<ref>Full text available on author's website</ref>

I seek not life's ease and pleasures,
Earthly riches, pearls nor gold;
Give to me a heart made happy,
Clean and honest to unfold.
(Chorus)
A clean heart o'erflow'd with goodness,
Fairer than the lily white;
A clean heart forever singing,
Singing through the day and night.

If I cherish earthly treasures,
Swift they flee and all is vain;
A clean heart enriched with virtues,
Brings to me eternal gain.
(Chorus)

Morn and evening my petition,
Wings its flight to heaven in song;
In the name of my Redeemer,
Make my heart clean, pure and strong.
(Chorus)
Trans: Rees Harris<ref>Welsh and English Hymns and Anthems #66, The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, Inc.</ref>

Yo no pido vida ociosa,
Perlas ni un galardón:
Pido un corazón alegre,
Un honesto corazón.[5]
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

Si quisiera la riqueza,
Pronto pierde su valor;
Más un corazón bien limpio,
Cada día es mejor.
(Chorus)

Mi plegaria día y noche,
La elevo al Señor,
Solo pido al Dios clemente,
Un honesto corazón.
(Chorus)

I don't ask for an idle life,
For pearls or a reward:
I ask for a joyful heart,
An honest heart.
(Chorus)

If I wanted the riches,
It soon loses its value;
Plus with a very clean heart,
Every day is better.
(Chorus)

My prayer day and night,
I elevate to the Lord,
I just ask from a gracious God,
An honest heart.
(Chorus)

Alternative words in the Welsh version:

  • Verse 1, line 3: Gofyn wyf am fywyd hapus
  • Verse 2, line 2: Chwim adenydd iddo sydd
  • Verse 3, line 2: Esgyn ar adenydd cân
  • Chorus, line 3: Does ond calon lân all ganu

Music

Adaptations

References
  1. "John Hughes". Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  2. "Calon Lan the rugby anthem". Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  3. . Wales On Line https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/heres-what-only-boys-aloud-2050196. Retrieved 12 May 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Hymns and Psalms. Methodist Publishing House. 1983. ISBN 0-946550-01-8.
  5. https://www.clarin.com/viajes/destinies/huella-colonos-galeses-Patagonia_0_4yHAVYebW.html
  6. "Brexit: MPs sing Calon Lân in Parliament shutdown protest". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  7. "About the Calon Lân project". Calon Lân Centre. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2014-05-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhXbtVFEmOA
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