Dafydd Jones (Dewi Dywyll)
Dafydd Jones or Dewi Dywyll (1803 – 1868) was a Welsh balladeer.[1] His father was a carpenter in Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire, and he was born on the estate of Dolau Bach there. He was also known as Deio'r Cantwr (Davy the Singer) and Dewi Medi (Harvest Dave). Dafydd Jones gained the name Dewi Dywyll, which means Blind Davy, due to being blinded by accident. He wrote ballads and sang them.[2]
He gained his fame for his impromptu singing all over Wales in an age of wandering balladeers who were popular characters. He wrote about 60 ballads — at least 70 according to the National Library of Wales.
He died at Lampeter in 1868.
Examples of his work
Mewn gweithfeydd sydd yma'n Nghymru, |
In workplaces here in Wales |
| —Dewi Dywyll, 1840 (from New Welsh Review) |
Arddunol iaith barddoni - oludog, |
The language of poetry is sublime and rich, |
References
- ^ Room, Adrian (10 January 2014). "Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed". McFarland. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ "JONES, DAVID (1803 - 1868), ballad-writer and strolling ballad-singer | Dictionary of Welsh Biography". Biography.wales. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
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