Lisa Lân

Lisa Lân (Fair Lisa) is a Welsh folk-song. It is a lover's lament for the late Lisa, ending when the heartsick lover asks Lisa to guide him to where she is, so that he may be reunited with her.

Lyrics

	Literal translation	Free translation
Bûm yn dy garu lawer gwaith Do lawer awr mewn mwynder maith Bûm yn dy gusanu Lisa gêl Yr oedd dy gwmni'n well na'r mêl. Fy nghangen lân, fy nghowlad glyd Tydi yw'r lanaf yn y byd Tydi sy'n peri poen a chri A thi sy'n dwyn fy mywyd i. Pan fyddai'n rhodio gyda'r dydd Fy nghalon fach sy'n mynd yn brudd Wrth glywed sŵn yr adar mân Daw hiraeth mawr am Lisa Lân. Pan fyddai'n rhodio gyda'r hwyr Fy nghalon fach a dôdd fel cwyr Wrth glywed sŵn yr adar mân Daw hiraeth mawr am Lisa lân. Lisa, a ddoi di i'm danfon i I roi fy nghorff mewn daear ddu? Gobeithio doi di, f'annwyl ffrind Hyd lan y bedd, lle'r wyf yn mynd. Hiraeth mawr am Lisa Lân. Hiraeth mawr am Lisa Lân.	I have loved you many times Yes many an hour in prolonged tenderness I have kissed you mysterious Lisa And your company was better than honey. My pure bough, my warm embrace You are the purest in the world You cause pain and anguish And it is you who steals my life. When I was strolling at nightfall My little heart melted like wax On hearing the sound of the little birds I feel great longing for Lisa Lân. When I was strolling at nightfall My little heart melted like wax On hearing the sound of the little birds I feel great longing for Lisa Lân. Lisa will you escort me To place my body in black earth? I hope you will come, my dear friend To the side of the grave where I am going. Great longing for Lisa Lân. Great longing for Lisa Lân.	Full many a time I came to woo, Oft, Lisa I came a courting you; I kissed your lips when we did meet, No honey ever was so sweet My dainty branch, my only dear, No woman comes your beauty near; 'Tis you who with my passion play 'Tis you who steals my life away When'er at eve I walk apart, Like wax will melt my lovesick heart, And but to hear the small birds sing, The longing to my soul will bring When'er at eve I walk apart, Like wax will melt my lovesick heart, And but to hear the small birds sing, The longing to my soul will bring Ah, will you come to bid good-bye, When in the earth my form must lie? I hope you too will there be found, When men shall lay me in the ground The longing to my soul will bring The longing to my soul will bring

Cultural references

• The song's melody is an instrumental theme throughout Paul Haggis's 2004 film Crash and an extract of the song itself is featured at the film's climax.

External links

• Welsh Tunebook, including "Lisa Lân"
• SoundtrackINFO: Crash (score) soundtrack
• "Lisa Lân" on YouTube, performed by Cerys Matthews on the Irish TV show Other Voices.