Short Poem 06

The Bells of Rhymney by the Socialist Idris Davies (1905-1953) has a special place in my affections as it is written by a poet from my own home county and mentions places that are familiar to me. He originally wrote in Welsh but then exclusively in English. Like me, he became an exile in England, returning only a few years before his death. This ballad about a mining disaster is based on the nursery rhyme and is his best known work thanks to the folk singer Pete Seeger. It was covered by The Byrds and later many others, including Jimmy Page, Judy Collins, Cher and The Alarm. Bob Dylan has sung it on occasion. Singers tend to say 'Rimney' which the rhyme 'give me' would suggest but the place is called 'Rumney'.

Wikipedia article here.

Oh what will you give me
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future
Say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner
Say the black bells of Rhondda
And who robbed the miner
Say the grim bells of Blaina.

They will plunder willy-nilly
Say the bells of Caerphilly
They have fangs, they have teeth
Shout the loud bells of Neath
Even God is uneasy
Say the moist bells of Swansea
And what will you give me
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.

Throw the vandals in court
Say the bells of Newport
All would be well if if if if if if
Say the green bells of Cardiff
Why so worried, sisters, why
Sang the silver bells of Wye
And what will you give me
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.