New CD - The Best of /Gorau

Côr Cochion Caerdydd ... £12

contents / cynnwys
Mandela

Women of the Working Class
Only our Rivers run Free
Freedom is Coming
Gwaed ar eu Dwylo
Cân Victor Jara
Werin Daear
Last of the Great Whales
Our Own Democracy
Yamma Mwail Ilhawa
Erile
The Whole Wide World Around
Buddugoliaeth
Nkosi Sikelel'i Africa
Sinne laochra Fáil (Amhrán na bhFiann)
Hen wlad fy Nhadau
Internationale

Cost 12 UK pounds

Please make cheques out to 'Cor Cochion Caerdydd' and send to
Beaty Smith 20 Tyn-y-Graig Rd, Llanbradach, Caerffili, CF83 3LH, WALES or
Wendy Lewis 172 Pandy Rd, Bedwas, Caerffili, CF83 3LH, WALES.

1. Mandela

Billy Bragg with Côr Cochion; arr John Abraham

Mandela says fight for freedom
Mandela says freedom now
All we say's away with slavery
in this land of Africa
Rolillalla Mandela,
Freedom is in your hands
Show us now the way to freedom
in this land of Africa.

2. Women of the Working Class

We are women, we are strong
We are fighting for our lives,
side by side with the men
who work the nation's mines.
United by the struggle,
United by the past.. and it's
Here we go, here we go
For the women of the working class.


Don't need government approval
for everything we do,
We don't need their permission
to have a point of view.
Don't need anyone to tell us what to think
or what to say
We've strength enough and wisdom of our
own to go our own way.

They talk about statistics, about the

price of coal; the cost is the communities,

dying on the dole.

In fighting for our future, we find ways to organise;

Where women's liberation failed to move,

this strike has mobilised.

 

Ours is a unity that threats could never

breach; ours an education

that books could never teach.

We face the taunts and violence of Maggie's

thugs in blue;

When you're fighting for survival, you've got

nothing, nothing left to lose.

 

3. Only our rivers run free 
(first verse playing from this web page - note: limited quality available from web)

arr John Abraham

 

When apples still grow in November

When blossoms still grow from each tree

When leaves are still green in December,

it's then that our land will be free.

I wander her hills and her valleys,

but still through my sorrow I see,

A land that has never known freedom

And only her rivers run free.

 

I drink to the death of her people,

To those who would rather have died,

than to live in the cold chains of bondage,

to bring back their rights was denied.

Oh , where are you now that we need you?

What burns where the flame use to be?

Are you gone like the snows of last winter?

and will only our rivers run free?

 

How sweet is life, but we're crying,

How mellow the wine, but we're dry.

How fragrant the rose, but it's dying;

how gentle the breeze, but it sighs.

What good is in youth when it's ageing?

What joy is in eyes that can't see?

When there's sorrow in sunshine and flowers,

And still only our rivers run free.

 

4. Freedom is coming

Oh, freedom! Freedom is coming,
freedom is coming, freedom is coming,
oh yes I know.

Amandla, amandla wethu ...

Viva Sandino ...

Power is coming ...

Freedom is coming...

 

5. Gwaed ar eu Dwylo

 

words/geiriau:Myrddin ap Dafydd ;

arr/trefniad: John Abraham

This adaptation of "Willie MacBride"exposes the futility of war, and contrasts it with the struggle for freedom in Ireland

 

O Tomos John Williams, mi welaf dy fedd

Ar gaeau glas Ffrainc sydd heddiw mewn hedd

Rwyt heddiw mor unig, mor bell o Fron Goch

A'r pabi yn unig sy'n cofio gwaed coch.

Mi welaf nad oeddyt ddim ond deunaw oed

Wrth ddisgyn i'r Somme - dyna hanes erioed,

Wrth ymladd dros wledydd a thros eu rhyddhau

Mi gefaist yn ddeunaw i'r ddaear dy gau.

 

Ond ni che'st d'alw'n arwr, na dy gyfri'n wlatgarwr,

Ac ni chwifiwyd y faner ar hanner y mast,

Ac ni wnaed uwch dy waed unrhyw wylo

Gan y rhai oedd â gwaed ar eu dwylo.

A phwy oeddan nhw ddwedodd wrthyt ysgwn

Mai swanc oedd i lanc ysgwyddo y gwn?

A phwy oeddan nhw efo'u hiwnifform "swell"

A'th ddriliodd a'th fartsiodd, a'th fwrdrodd mewn sbel.

Ni welaist drwy hyn tan rhy hwyr yn y dydd

Ni che'st ti mo'r cyfle i dyfu'n ddyn rhydd

Ond drwy'r mwg a thrwy'r medals wrth ddisgyn i'r llawr

Mi welaist nad nhw fyddai'n wylo yn awr.

 

Roedd eraill mewn cell yn dy annwyl Fron Goch

Yn llwydaidd eu gwedd yn cael bwyd cibau'r moch

Ond fflam eu gwrthryfel a gadwant ynghyn

A Werddon a gododd drwy safiad di-gryn.

MI gawsant gaethiwed am geisio rhyddhau

Eu gwlad hwy o'r dwylo a'th yrrodd i'th wae

A mam yn Fron Goch oedd a'i chalon yn drom

Wrth glywed fod llencyn yn llwch yn y Somme.

 

Mae'r dynion yn Llundain a'u seddau Whitehall

Yn gyrru i ryfel rhai byth na ddon `nôl;

O slymiau tre Glasgow neu Cymru cefngwlad

Mae hogiau dinewid yn cyrchu i'r gâd.

I farw neu ynteu i ladd eu cyd ddyn

Yn enw rhyw rhyddid nas gwyddo ei hun;

Rwyt ti, Tomos Williams, dros ddim yn y byd

Yn disgyn yn `sglyfaeth i'r fffosydd o hyd.

 

 

6. Cân Victor Jara

Dafydd Iwan: arr /trefniad:John Abraham

They broke his hands to stop his song, but he sang on, his soul on fire.
(first verse playing from home web page - note: limited quality available from web)

 

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri

Canodd ei gân drwy'r oriau du,

Canodd ei gân yn stadiwm y trais,

Heriodd y gynnau â'i gitâr a'i lais,

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri.

 

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri

Canodd ei gân yn yr oriau du,

Canodd am ormes ar weithwyr tlawd

A`r llofrudd Ffasgaidd a laddodd ei frawd

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri.

 

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri

Canodd ei gân drwy'r oriau du,

Torrwyd ei ddwylo i atal y gân

Ond daliodd i ganu, a'i enaid ar dân.

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri.

 

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri

Gwelodd Victor Jara yr oriau du,

Poenydiwyd ei gorff gan anifail o ddyn

Fe'i saethwyd am garu ei bobol ei hun

Yn Santiago yn saith- deg- tri.

 

Mae cân Victor Jara i'w chlywed o hyd

Yn atsain yn uchel drwy wledydd y byd.

Fe erys y Ffasgwyr, erys y trais

Ond gwrando mae'r bobl am alwad ei lais,

Yn Santiago ein dyddiau ni.

 

7. Werin Daear

 

Tôn: traddodiadol

geiriau: TE Nicholas

Smash your chains- the beautiful day is coming

when the workers of Wales will be free

 

Werin daear o'ch cadwyni trwm,

Cerddwch i'r bryniau o nos y cwm

Clywch y tyrfaoedd ar y bryniau serth

I'r frwydr olaf, yn casglu nerth.

 

Drylliwch y cyffion, daeth yr hyfryd ddydd,

Fe ddaw gweithwyr Cymru yn weithwyr rhydd.

 

 

Dewrion y lofa a'r peryglon mawr,

Fechgyn y chwarel, daeth eich awr,

Dowch o'r bythynnod i'r fuddugol gad,

Y mae chwyldroadau'n siglo'r wlad.

Tyrfa'r heolydd, prin eu bwyd a'u gwaith,

Swn buddugoliaeth sy'n eu hiaith;

Y mae'r deffro'n cyffro tyrfa'r stryd,

A gwerin Cymru yn arwain byd.

 

Disgyn gwrhydri'r tadau ar y plant,

Esgyn gobeithion y byd o'r pant;

Anthem y Chwyldro sy'n atseinio'n groch,

Un yw gwerin byd dan y Faner Goch.

 

8. The last of the Great Whales

Andy Barnes, arr JCA; Hilary Robinson, soloAndy Barnes, arr JCA; Hilary Robinson, soloAndy Barnes, arr JCA; Hilary Robinson, soloAndy Barnes, arr JCA; Hilary Robinson, solo

 

My soul has been torn from me, and I am bleeding.

My heart it has been rent, and I am crying.

Oh the beauty around me fades, and I am screaming,

I am the last of the great whales, and I am dying.

 

9. Our own democracy

arr.: John Abraham

 

Cold and dark the morning, just before the sun

A new day is breaking - our struggle has begun.

The people are together- We shall be free

in this land, our homeland, our own democracy.

 

Come all you lads and lasses, rally to our cause,

and seek the abolition of those old fashioned laws.

Let us open every eye, let the people see,

What this land, our homeland, means to you and me.

On the road together, walk hand in hand,

and ring the bell of justice over all the land.

All the world is waiting, watching you and me,

in this land, our homeland, our own democracy.

 

How far must we travel till our journey's done?

How long must we struggle till the fight is won?

May we live in peace again, may we live to see

this land of ours, Ireland, a true democracy.

 

10. Yamma mwail ilhawa

Mahmoud Darwish: arr. John Abraham

It is better to walk on a path of daggers than to

suffer this injustice- a Palestinian lament for the loss of freedom under occupation

 

11. Erile

bass solo: Tony Bianchi

A call to freedom from the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa

 

12. The whole wide world around

JS Bach; words by Tom Glazer

 

Because we all are comrades,

Wherever we may be,

One union shall unite us

Forever proud and free.

No fascist shall defeat us,

no nation strike us down,

All those who toil shall greet us

The whole wide world around.

My comrades are all others,

Forever hand in hand.

Wherever people struggle

There is my native land.

My comrade's fears are my fears,

I shall not let them down,

My comrade's tears are my tears

The whole wide world around.

 

Let every voice be thunder,

Let every heart be stone.

Until all tyrants perish

Our work shall not be done.

Let every pain be token;

The lost years shall be found.

Let slavery's chain be broken,

The whole wide world around.

 

13. Buddugoliaeth

tôn: Cwm Rhondda; geiriau: T.E. Nicholas

 

Derfydd grym y cledd a'r fagnel,

Diffydd mellt y gwaedlyd gledd,

A thymhestlog ddyffryn galar,

A ddaw'n hyfryd ddyffryn hedd;

Daw tangnefedd, daw tangnefedd

I werinoedd daear lawr.

 

Os yw'r dyrfa mewn cadwyni,

Os yw'r merthyr yn ei gell,

Drwy y barrau tyr goleuni

Rhyddid pur y dyddiau gwell;

Fe ddaw gwerin, fe ddaw gwerin

Gwlad o'i holl gadwyni'n rhydd.

O dylodi y bythynod,

O beryglon pyllau glo,

O'r chwareli daw'r minteioedd

Yn fuddugol drwy y fro;

Buddugoliaeth, buddugoliaeth,

Gwerin gwlad a ddaw cyn hir.

 

14. Nkosi sikelelei'i Africa

Enoch Mankayi Sontonga

Adopted by the ANC and widely sung during the struggle against Apartheid;
now the anthem of multiracial South Africa

 

Nkosi sikelel'i Africa

Malapakanisw' uphondo lwayo

Yizwa imitandazo yetu

Nkosi sikelela - Tina lusapo lwayo

 

Woza moya, woza moya oyingkwele

Nkosi sikelela, Tina lusapo lwayo

 

Morena boloka sechaba sa heso

O felise lintoa le matsoenyeho

 

O se boloke - o se boloke

Sechaba sa heso

Sechaba sa Africa

 

15. Sinne laochra Fáil (Amhrán na bhFiann)

(The Soldiers' Song): Patrick Heeney

arr. .John Abraham

Sung during the Easter Rising of 1916, this is now the anthem of the Irish Republic.

 

16. Hen Wlad fy Nhadau

James James; words/geiriau: Evan James

The anthem of Wales, expressing pride in its poets, singers and heroes, and the resolve that its language shall endure.

 

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,

Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri

Eu gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,

Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.

 

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,

Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,

O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.

 

17. The Internationale / Yr Undeb rhyngwladol

 

music: Pierre Deguyter

Welsh words/geiriau Cymraeg : T.E. Nicholas

arr. John Abraham

 

Deffrowch, orthrymedigion daear,

Cyfodi mae'r newynog lu

Daw gwirioneddau'r bywyd newydd

I chwalu niwl yr oesoedd fu.

Wele gaethion y cystudd hirfaith

Yn ymuno'n fyddin fawr,

I gyhoeddi rhyddid i'r cenhedloedd

Ac i'r ddynolryw doriad gwawr.

 

Henffych weithwyr y gwledydd,

Dyma'r frwydr ola'i gyd;

Mae'r undeb rhyngwladol yn newid seiliau'r byd.