Calon Lân

Calon Lân is a Welsh hymn, the words of which were written in the 19th century by Daniel James (23 January 1848 - 11 March 1920) to a tune by John Hughes (1872–1914). The hymn is often associated with Welsh rugby union, being sung before almost every Test match involving the Welsh national team.

In 2007 the song was one of the traditional Welsh hymns to make it to the screen in an S4C series Codi Canu, as an attempt is made to bring traditional four-part harmony choral singing back to the Welsh rugby terraces.

"Calon Lân" is unusual among the most popular Welsh traditional hymns and songs in that the English version of the words is virtually never sung (unlike, for example, "Cwm Rhondda"), but the tune does appear, for example, in the current (British) Methodist hymn book, "Hymns & Psalms", set to the lyrics of "I will Sing the Wondrous Story" by P. P. Bliss.

Lyrics

Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
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.

(Chorus)

Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i'r nef ar adain cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.

(Chorus)

— Welsh

Alternative words:

• Verse 1, line 3: Gofyn wyf am fywyd hapus
• Verse 2, line 2: Chwim adenydd iddo sydd
• Verse 3, line 2: Esgyn ar adenydd cân
• Chorus, line 3: Does ond calon lân all ganu

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.

A pure heart full of goodness

Is fairer than the pretty lily,

None but a pure heart can sing,

Sing in the day and sing in the night.

If I wished for worldly wealth,
It would swiftly go to seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart
Will bear eternal profit.

(Chorus)

Evening and morning, my wish
Rising to heaven on the wing of song
For God, for the sake of my Saviour,
To give me a pure heart.

(Chorus)

— English translation

I’d not ask a life that’s easy,
Gold and pearls so little mean,
Rather seek a heart that’s joyful,
Heart that’s honest, heart that’s clean.

(Chorus)

Heart that’s clean and filled with virtue,

Fairer far than lilies white,

Only pure hearts praise God truly,

Praise him all the day and night.

Why should I seek earthly treasures,
On swift wings they fly away,
Pure clean hearts bring greater riches
That for life eternal stay.

(Chorus)

Dawn and sunset still I’m searching,
Reaching on a wing of song,
Give me Lord, through Christ my Saviour
That clean heart for which I long.

(Chorus)

— Alternative Translation in rhyme (by permission of author Malcolm Cowen )

Adaptations

• The tune of "Calon Lân" has been adapted to suit other lyrics, notably "A Miner's Lifeguard," "Life's Railway to Heaven" and "The Weaver's Song" (Almanac Singers).
• Faryl Smith recorded a version of the song for her debut album, Faryl.
• Adrian Mitchell has written a translation into English, "Shining Heart", for the show "A Child's Christmas in Wales". The lyrics appear in his collection "Love Songs of World War Three".

External links

• Free typeset sheet music for SATB from Cantorion.org
• Learn to sing "Calon Lân" online (S4C 'Codi Canu' Welsh programme site)
• Learn to sing "Calon Lân" online (Sing4Wales)
• English text to Calon Lân
• Calon Lan accompanied by a Welsh harp on Youtube
• Katherine Jenkins version also from Youtube
• Male voice version by Bryn Terfel with images of Wales landscape, castles and personalities