Music and Lyrics by H. Davies (Pencerdd Maelor)
Huw Davies (Pencerdd Maelor) (1844-1907) was born in Garth near Ruabon (north of the River Dee in the Llangollen valley and near Pontcysyllte) and left school at age 8 to work in J. C. Edwards’s brickfields, eventually becoming deputy manager. He composed many songs including for children and his works were popular across Wales, although some are to get hold of now. He was also a competition adjudicator and conductor, and from 1895 a Calvinistic Methodist minister in Plasmarl, Swansea. He was buried in Garth.
Words
Tri o forwyr llawn ydym,
Er yn hoffi gwlad a thref;
Mil hoffusach ydyw’r cefnfor
A’i ardderchog donnau ef.
‘R’ym yn hoffi gwel’d y mynydd,
Mil hoffusach ydyw’r môr;
O mor swynol su ei donnau
Yn ddidaw yn moli’r Ior.
Pan yn gadael holl gyfeillion
Mae rhyw brudd-der dan ei bron;
Mynd a wnawn er hynny’n wrol
I fwynhau persainiau’r don.
Pan fo’r gwyntoedd yn ymosod,
Pan fo’r tonnau’n fwyaf erch,
Cofio’r Hwn sy’n eu marchogaeth
Sy’n cryfhau addolgar serch.
Wynebwn y tonnau er mwyn ein cyd-ddynion,
Gan ddwyn i deuluoedd fil myrdd o gysuron,
A phan ar y cefnfor yng nghanol unigedd,
Mae myrdd yn ein cofio wrth orsedd trugaredd.
Tri o forwyr ydym llon a rhydd
A’n hyfrydwch ar y tonnau nos a dydd.
Translation
Three true sailors are we,
Although we like the country and the town;
A thousandfold more likeable is the ocean
And its wonderful waves.
I like to see the mountain,
A thousandfold more likeable is the sea;
Oh how charming are its waves are
Sweetly praising God.
When we leave all our friends
There is soms sadness in our hearts;
Go we will courageously despite that
To enjoy the charms of the wave.
When the winds strike,
When the waves are most dreadful,
Remembering the One who rides them
Who strengthens worshipful love.
Let us face the waves for the sake of our fellow men,
Bringing to (our) families a thousand myriads of comforts,
And when on the ocean in the midst of solitude,
There is amyriad remembering us, round the throne of mercy.
Three sailors happy and free are we
And our delight on the waves night and day.