The Bells of Rhymney
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legacy / lyric song
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Pete Seeger/Idris Davies
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
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Lyrics:
"Oh, what will you give me?",
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.
"Is there hope for the future?",
Cry the brown bells of Merthyr.
"Who made the mine owner?",
Say the black bells of Rhondda.
"And who robbed the miner?",
Cry the grim bells of Blaina.
"They will plunder willy-nilly!",
Cry the bells of Caerphilly.
"They have fangs, they have teeth!",
Say the loud bells of Neathe.
"Even God is uneasy.",
Say the moist bells of Swansea.
And "What will you give me?",
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.
"Put the vandals in court!"
Say the bells of Newport.
"All would be well if, if, if, if!",
Cry the green bells of Cardiff.
"Why so worried, sisters, why?",
Sang the silver bells of Wye.
And "What will you give me?",
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.
"The Bells of Rhymney" is a poem by Idris Davies set to music by Pete Seeger.<br> Idris Davies (January 6, 1905 - April 6, 1953), was a Welsh poet, originally writing in<br> Welsh, but later writing exclusively in English. He is now known mostly for<br> this song, a song on a mining accident on the pattern of the nursery rhyme <br> "Oranges and Lemons". There is a dance tune named "Oranges and Lemons" in Playford's<br> Dancing Master but there is no known connection to the rhyme or the children's gamer<br> associated with it.<br> The locations mentioned in the song are located in the coal country<br> of southern Wales, not far from some of my family's roots in Merthyr Tydfil.<br> Times were tough in the 1920's, especially in the mining valleys and most of the<br> towns in the region were distressed. Wye, closer to England was not as troubled.<br> Davies was born and brought up in Rhymney Valley, Mid Glamorgan, Wales (formerly<br> Monmouthshire) and began work as a coal miner on leaving school at 14.<br> He studied by correspondence, having in 1926 decided to leave the pits after the<br> failure of the General Strike. He wrote from a Socialist perspective.<br> He qualified as a teacher through courses at Loughborough College and the University of<br> Nottingham. He took teaching posts in London, and then Wales, returning to Rhymney in<br> 1947. His second collection of poems was taken by T. S. Eliot for Faber and Faber (1945).<br> Davies died from cancer in 1953, aged 48.<br> "The Bells of Rhymney" was covered by The Byrds; and later by many others, including<br> Jimmy Page, Judy Collins, Dick Gaughan, Cher, Robyn Hitchcock, Oysterband and The Alarm.<br> Also by Bob Dylan live, and Robin Williamson on an album of readings. John Denver covered<br> this while with the Mitchell Trio and also performed it live by himself.<br> It was printed in Pete Seeger's book, also titled, The Bells of Rhymney.<br>
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