Calon Lân
Welsh Hymn By Daniel James (Gwyrosydd)
Calon Lân, meaning "A Pure Heart", was written in Welsh by Daniel James, who wrote under the bardic name Gwyrosydd. The words were published in his collection "Caniadau Gwyrosydd" in 1892.The familiar tune was composed by John Hughes (1872-1914). The words and Hughes's tune first appeared together in 1899.
The opening verse includes the words "Gofyn wyf am galon hapus", meaning "I ask for a happy heart".
Daniel James was born in Treboeth, Swansea, in 1848. He worked at Morriston ironworks and Landore tinplate works and later worked in the South Wales coalfield.
James wrote poetry in Welsh, first under the name Dafydd Mynyddbach and later as Gwyrosydd. His collections included "Caneuon Gwyrosydd" (1885), "Caniadau Gwyrosydd" (1892) and "Aeron Awen Gwyrosydd" (1898).
He returned to Morriston in 1918 and died in 1920. He was buried at Mynyddbach Cemetery, Swansea, Wales.
Related Scottish Country Dances
A Happy HeartCalon Lân By Daniel James (Gwyrosydd)
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.
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu,
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.
Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Esgyn ar adenydd cân,
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon 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.
Calon Lân - English Translation
Nor the world's gold or precious pearls;
I ask for a happy heart,
An honest heart, a pure heart.
A pure heart filled with goodness
Is fairer than the lovely lily;
Only a pure heart can sing,
Singing by day and singing by night.
If I desired worldly wealth,
It would quickly pass away;
The riches of a pure and virtuous heart
Will bring an enduring reward.
A pure heart filled with goodness
Is fairer than the lovely lily;
Only a pure heart can sing,
Singing by day and singing by night.
Morning and evening my wish
Rises towards heaven upon a song:
That God, for my Saviour's sake,
Will grant me a pure heart.
A pure heart filled with goodness
Is fairer than the lovely lily;
Only a pure heart can sing,
Singing by day and singing by night.
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Text from this original Calon_Lân article on Wikipedia.
The English translation above was prepared specifically for the Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary from the original public-domain Welsh text and is copyright Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary. It may not be reproduced without permission.