Men of Harlech

"Men of Harlech" or "The March of the Men of Harlech" (in Welsh: Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech) is a song and military march which is traditionally said to describe events during the seven-year siege of Harlech Castle between 1461 and 1468. Commanded by Constable Dafydd ap Ieuan, the garrison withstood the longest known siege in the history of the British Isles. "Through Seven Years" is an alternative name for the song. The song has been incorrectly associated with the earlier, shorter siege of Harlech Castle around 1408, which pitted the forces of Owain Glyndŵr against the future Henry V of England.

"Men of Harlech" occupies an important place in Welsh national culture. The song gained international recognition when it was featured in the 1964 film Zulu.

History

Thomas Oliphant's words as they appear in "Welsh Melodies With Welsh and English Poetry" (volume 2), published in 1862

The music was first published without words in 1794 as Gorhoffedd Gwŷr Harlech—March of the Men of Harlech in the second edition of The Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards but it is said to be a much earlier folk air. The earliest version of the tune to appear with lyrics, found thus far, comes from a broadside printed c. 1830. Since then, many different versions of the English lyrics have appeared. It first appeared with Welsh lyrics in Gems of Welsh Melody, edited by the Welsh poet, John Owen (Owain Alaw), published in London, England and Wrexham, Wales in 1860. An edition containing Welsh and English lyrics was published in Ruthin, Wales, in 1862. The song was published in Volume II of the 1862 collection Welsh Melodies with the Welsh lyrics by the Welsh poet John Jones (Talhaiarn), and the English lyrics by Thomas Oliphant, President of the Madrigal Society. Another source attributes the Welsh words to the poet John Ceiriog Hughes, first published in 1890, and says that English words were first published in 1893, but this is clearly predated by the earlier publications.

Use and versions of the song

Men of Harlech is widely used as a regimental march, especially by British Army and Commonwealth regiments historically associated with Wales. Notably, it is the slow march of the Welsh Guards, and the quick march of the Royal Welsh.

It was first used on film during the titles of How Green Was My Valley (1941) and has featured in a number of other films. It is best known for its prominent role in the 1964 film Zulu, although the version of lyrics sung in it were written specially for the film. It is sung twice, only once completely, in the film (the British open fire on the charging Zulus before the start of the final couplet), in counterpoint to the Zulu war chants and the sounds of their shields.

Film editor John Jympson cut the scene to the song so that on either side of cuts where the British soldiers cannot be heard, the song is in the correct relative position. The song is also heard in the film Zulu Dawn, which is about the battle that precedes Rorke's Drift, the battle at Isandlwana.)

Rick Rescorla, Chief of Security for Morgan Stanley's World Trade Center office, sang a Cornish adaptation of "Men of Harlech" with a bullhorn, along with other anthems, to keep employee spirits high while they evacuated during the September 11 attacks. After helping save over 2,700 employees he returned to the towers to evacuate others until the towers collapsed on him.

"Men of Harlech" was used as part of the startup music for ITV station Teledu Cymru in the early 1960s and, until April 2006, in Fritz Spiegl's BBC Radio 4 UK Theme.

Adapted versions are sung by fans of several Welsh football clubs and as school or college songs around the world. The song was played by the marching band of Punahou School, Barack Obama's alma mater, at his second inauguration in 2013.

There is a humorous parody known variously as "National Anthem of the Ancient Britons" and "Woad", written some time before 1914 by William Hope-Jones.

Lyrics

There are numerous versions of "Men of Harlech", and there is no single accepted English version. The version below was published in 1873.

John Oxenford version (published 1873)

Verse 1 Men of Harlech, march to glory, Victory is hov'ring o'er ye, Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye, Hear ye not her call? At your sloth she seems to wonder; Rend the sluggish bonds asunder, Let the war-cry's deaf'ning thunder Every foe appall. Echoes loudly waking, Hill and valley shaking; 'Till the sound spreads wide around, The Saxon's courage breaking; Your foes on every side assailing, Forward press with heart unfailing, 'Till invaders learn with quailing, Cambria ne'er can yield!

Verse 2 Thou, who noble Cambria wrongest, Know that freedom's cause is strongest, Freedom's courage lasts the longest, Ending but with death! Freedom countless hosts can scatter, Freedom stoutest mail can shatter, Freedom thickest walls can batter, Fate is in her breath. See, they now are flying! Dead are heap'd with dying! Over might hath triumph'd right, Our land to foes denying; Upon their soil we never sought them, Love of conquest hither brought them, But this lesson we have taught them, "Cambria ne'er can yield!"

An earlier version (published in the year before the Prince of Wales's wedding) is thus:-

Thomas Oliphant version (published 1862)

Verse 1 Hark! I hear the foe advancing, Barbed steeds are proudly prancing, Helmets in the sunbeams glancing Glitter through the trees. Men of Harlech, lie ye dreaming? See ye not their falchions gleaming, While their pennons gaily streaming Flutter in the breeze? From the rocks rebounding, Let the war cry sounding Summon all at Cambria's call, The haughty foe surrounding, Men of Harlech, on to glory! See, your banner famed in story Waves these burning words before ye "Britain scorns to yield!"

Verse 2 'Mid the fray, see dead and dying, Friend and foe together lying; All around, the arrows flying, Scatter sudden death! Frighten'd steeds are wildly neighing, Brazen trumpets hoarsely braying, Wounded men for mercy praying With their parting breath! See! they're in disorder! Comrades, keep close order! Ever they shall rue the day They ventured o'er the border! Now the Saxon flies before us! Vict'ry's banner floateth o'er us! Raise the loud exulting chorus "Britain wins the field,"

See also

Rick Rescorla#September 11, 2001

Sources

• Volkslieder, German & Other Folk Songs Homepage Men of Harlech

External links

• "Men of Harlech - Slow March of the Welsh Guards" on YouTube
• Free typeset sheet music—various arrangements from Cantorion.org
• Men of Harlech—various versions of lyrics
• English version of John Hughes (Ceiriog) lyrics
• Royal Regiment of Wales' Band singing "Men of Harlech" (2.68MiB MP3)—recording, using John Guard lyrics, in the church at Rorke's Drift, South Africa on the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
• Men of Harlech public domain audiobook at LibriVox