"Durrow"
(Harddwch Crist)
Words: John Thomas (1730-1840)
Traditional Irish Tune
English Translation: Iwan Llwyd
I heard this song on a release of a CD of hymns in Welsh by Lleuwen Steffan called Duw a Wyr that just blew me away. It is an ancient Gaelic hymn translated into Welsh.
Thanks to my friend and co-producer Maartin Allcock, I got to go to Wales to record it. I worked with some great musicians including Gwenan Gibbard who played harp and also coached me on my pronunciation.
PWY WELAF FEL F'ANWYLYD,
YN HYFRYD AC YN HARDD
FEL FFRWYTHLON BREN AFALAU'N
RHAGORI AR BRENNAU'R ARDD?
CES EISTEDD DAN EI GYSGOD
AR LAWER VAWOD FLIN;
A'I FFRWYTH OEDD FIL O WEITHIAU
I'M GENAU'N WELL NA'R GWIN.
GWELD WYNEB FY ANWYLYD
WNA I'M HENAID LAWENHAU,
TRWY'R CWBL GES I ETO
NEU FYDD GAF EI FWYNHAU;
PAN ELONT HWY YN EISHIAU,
PAM BYDDAF FIN YN DRIST
TRA CAFFWYF WELED WYNEB
SIRIOLAF IESU GRIST?
English Translation:
Who can I compare to my beloved,
Beautiful and fair
Like a fruitful apple blossom
Finer than all the other trees there?
I was allowed to shelter beneath him
During many a thunderstorm,
And a thousand times more pleasing than wine
On my lips were the fruits of his form
Seeing my beloved's face
Makes my soul sing out in praise,
For all that I have had already,
And will have 'till the end of my days;
When I lose these many blessings,
Why should I feel any sadness,
For while I can see Jesus Christ's fair face
My heart will be full of gladness
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