Suo Gân

Suo Gân (Welsh pronunciation: [sɨɔ ɡɑːn]) is a traditional Welsh lullaby written by an anonymous composer.

It was first recorded in print around 1800. The lyrics were notably captured by the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858-1920).

The song's title simply means lullaby. (suo = lull; cân = song).

Lyrics

Huna blentyn ar fy mynwes Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon; Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat, Cariad mam sy dan fy mron; Ni cha' dim amharu'th gyntun, Ni wna undyn â thi gam; Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn, Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam. Huna'n dawel, heno, huna, Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun; Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu, Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun? Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu, Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon, Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno, Huno'n dawel ar fy mron? Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen Gura, gura ar y ddôr; Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig Sua, sua ar lan y môr; Huna blentyn, nid oes yma Ddim i roddi iti fraw; Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.

Sleep my baby, at my breast, ’Tis a mother’s arms round you. Make yourself a snug, warm nest. Feel my love forever new. Harm will not meet you in sleep, Hurt will always pass you by. Child beloved, always you’ll keep, In sleep gentle, mother’s breast nigh. Sleep in peace tonight, sleep, O sleep gently, what a sight. A smile I see in slumber deep, What visions make your face bright? Are the angels above smiling, At you in your peaceful rest? Are you beaming back while in Peaceful slumber on mother’s breast? Do not fear the sound, it’s a breeze Brushing leaves against the door. Do not dread the murmuring seas, Lonely waves washing the shore. Sleep child mine, there’s nothing here, While in slumber at my breast, Angels smiling, have no fear, Holy angels guard your rest.

A direct, word-for-word translation is as follows:

Huna blentyn yn fy mynwes	Sleep child on my bosom
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;	Cozy and warm it is.
Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat,	Arms (of your) mother are tight around (you),
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron;	Love (of a) mother is under my breast.
Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun,	Not can nothing (nothing will) affect your napping,
Ni wna undyn â thi gam;	Not do one man (no man will) with you cross (cross as in crossing someone).
Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn,	Sleep quietly dear child,
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam.	Sleep sweetly on breast (of) your mother.
Huna'n dawel, heno, huna,	Sleep quietly tonight sleep;
Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun;	Sleep sweetly the pretty of (a) picture. (idiom for handsome)
Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu,	Why are you in sweetness are smiling,
Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun?	Smiling softly in your sleep?
Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu,	Are (the) angels above are smiling,
Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon,	On you are smiling joyfully?
Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno,	You (also) smiling back in sleeping,
Huno'n dawel ar fy mron?	Sleeping quietly on my breast.
Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen	Don't you fear, only but (a) leaf
Gura, gura ar y ddôr;	Knocks, knocks on your door.
Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig	Don't you fear, wave small lonely
Sua, sua ar lan y môr;	Mumurs, murmurs on (the) edge of (the) sea.
Huna blentyn, nid oes yma	Sleep child, isn't there here
Ddim i roddi iti fraw;	Nothing to give you (a) fright.
Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes	Smile quietly in my bosom,
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.	On the angels white yonder.

Suo Gân is also a Welsh carol, featured in the American Edition of the Orff-Schulwerk Music for Children book with the following verses:

Suogân, do not weep, Suogân, go to sleep; Suogân, mother's near, Suogân, have no fear. Suogân, Eastern Star, Suogân, from afar; Suogân, shepherds sing, Suogân, newborn King. Suogân, from above, Suogân, song of love; Suogân, blessed morn, Suogân, Christ is born.

In popular culture

"Suo Gân", as performed by James Rainbird and the Ambrosian Junior Choir directed by John McCarthy, is featured prominently in the film Empire of the Sun, where it is lip-synched by a young Christian Bale. It also appears, instrumentally, in the beginning of the movie Dutch.

Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel has performed this song in several of his Christmas concerts, most notably with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Kathleen Battle performed this song with guitarist Christopher Parkening on their holiday album Angels' Glory.

The rock band Savatage used the song as a base for their song "Heal My Soul" on the 1991 album Streets: A Rock Opera.

The men's choir Chanticleer covered the song for their 2001 album, Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)

The pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards covered the song for their 2007 album, Spirit Of The Glen.

The Vienna Boys' Choir features Suo Gân (entitled "Suo-Gan") on "The Christmas Album".

It is on The Irish Tenors album Home For Christmas.

It is also featured in the finale episode of the anime show Kuroshitsuji II, in which a demon sings it at the opening of the episode.

In the hymn book Songs Of Praise (1931) Hymn 380 is set To Suo-Gan (Welsh Traditional Melody).

External links

• “Suo Gân” performed by the King’s College Choir in their 2004 ‘Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols’ (YouTube)

• Bryn Terfel sings Suo Gan with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (You Tube)
• Suo Gan performed by Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening. (You Tube)
• Suo Gan in the movie Empire of the Sun. (You Tube)