Tune traditional, words J. Glyn Davies.
“Homeward bound halliard shanty. Brìg y Bercin (short i in Brìg) was a well known brig (a square rigged two master.) Bercin Abercin near Llanystumdwy. Iardiau’n sgwâr, with yards squared to run before the wind”. (J. Glyn Davies). All the Welsh place names in this song are on the Llŷn.
* Santander refers to the port in northern Spain about 60 miles west of Bilbao, not the bank.
Words
Mae Brìg y Bercin ar y môr:
Ffarwél i lenydd Sbaen!
A Dafydd Jones yn Gomandôr
Hwrê am Bortinllaen!
Mae’r gwynt yn deg a’r iardiau’n sgwâr:
Ffarwél…
Mae’r Brìg yn mynd fel man-i-war:
Hwrê…
Ffarwél Santander* wlad yr haf!
Mae’r Brìg yn rowlio adre’n braf.
Rhaid setio’r royals at y gynt:
Wel haliwch, bawb, awn adre’n gynt.
Cawn weld Pen Cilan cyn bo hir,
A’r tai yn wynion ar y tir.
Cawn weled Penllech, Dinas Garn
A Nefyn, Edern, Ceidio, Sarn.
Cawn weld yr Eifl a Charreg Llam,
A thrwyn Siôn Huws a hwnnw’n gam.
Translation
The Abercin brig is on the sea:
Farewell to the glens of Spain!
And Dafydd Jones as Commander
Cheers for Portinllaen!
The wind is fair and the yards are square:
Farewell …
The brig goes as a man-of-war:
Cheers…
Goodbye Santander* country of summer!
The brig is rolling home nicely.
The royals must be seated quickly:
Well heave, everyone, let’s go home quickly.
We will get to see Pen Cilan before long,
And the white houses on the land.
We will get to see Penllech, Dinas Garn
And Nefyn, Edern, Ceidio, Sarn.
We see Yr Eifl and Carreg Llam,
And Siôn Huws’ nose and that is wrong (or that is bent, or that is a step – the translation is difficult to guess for a learner!)