Calon Lân is a very famous Welsh song, originally a hymn but now most known for being sung before rugby matches with the chorus often chanted by fans during the match. But what does it mean, and what is the song’s history?
What Does Calon Lân Mean?
“Calon” is the Welsh word for “heart”, while “glân” means clean. The overall meaning of “calon lân” refers to a heart that is pure – so, basically, “A Pure Heart”.
Calon Lân Lyrics
Here are the full song lyrics to Calon Lân in Welsh:
Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.
Chorus:
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.
Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Chwim adenydd iddo sydd,
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.
Chorus
Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Esgyn ar adenydd cân,
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.
Chorus
When Was Calon Lân Written?
Calon Lân was originally written as a hymn in the early 1890s. The lyrics were written by Daniel James “Gwyrosydd”, a man of humble beginnings born in 1848. He later took the name Gwyrosydd, meaning “man of the moors”, as his bardic name.
The story goes that he composed the lyrics to Calon Lân on the back of a cigarette packet in 1891 - although a similar story seems to abound for many great works of literature, so we will probably never know for sure just how true this might be
Calon Lân’s lyrics were originally put to a song by Thomas Bedford Richards, but John Hughes wrote his own tune to go with the words. John Hughes started working for the Dyffryn Steel works at Morrison in Swansea at the age of twelve, eventually climbing the ranks and becoming the marketing manager.
Note: He is not the same John Hughes who wrote the music to Cwm Rhondda, who he is often confused with. John’s tune seemed to be preferred and quickly became the main melody associated with the song.
Calon Lân became particularly popular during the Welsh Revival of 1904-05; the largest Christian revival in Wales
Calon Lân Phonetic Lyrics
Below, I have put together a full phonetic translation of Calon Lân for English speakers.
A word of warning; because English is not a phonetic language, that is you can rarely guess how to pronounce an English word from its spelling unless you know it, it is very hard to write accurate phonetics for Welsh words in English – not to mention all the sounds that don’t exist in English (such as the 'LL' which is pronounced like this).
Nevertheless, play a recording of Calon Lân along with these phonetic lyrics and adapt them as makes sense to you.
Here is a full phonetic version of Calon Lân:
Need ooh-in go-vin buh-wid mo-i-this,
Ah-ir uh bead nai behr-lai marn,
Go-vin oo-iv am ga-lon ha-pis,
Ca-lon o-nest, ca-lon larn.
Chorus:
Cal-on larn, uhn lla-oon die-o-nee,
Te-cach i-ooh nar lee-lee dlors,
Dim ond ca-lon larn all ga-ni,
Ca-nir dirth a cha-nir nors.
Pear da-min-oon ol-id buh-dol,
He-din bee-an gan-though sihth;
Go-lid ca-lon larn, reen-weth-ol,
Uhn doo-in buh-thol e-loo vith.
Hoo-ir ah boh-re vuh num-in-iad,
Goo-id eer nerv ahr a-dine carn,
Ahr ee thiw, er moo-in vuhng hay-id-wad,
Roh-thi ee-mee ga-lon larn.
Calon Lân English Translation
So, we know how to pronounce the song, but what does it actually mean?
Below, I have translated the song from Welsh to English being as literal as possible. This translation was inspired by the version from Catrin Haines-Davies, a volunteer at Swansea University.
Here is the English translation of Calon Lân:
I do not ask for a luxurious life,
The world’s gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
A truthful heart, a pure heart.
Chorus:
A Pure Heart, that’s full of goodness,
Fairer than the delicate Lily:
Only a pure heart can sing,
Sing the day and sing the night.
Chorus
If I desired worldly riches,
It would swiftly go to seed:
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart,
Will reap eternal profit.
Chorus
Late and morning my wish,
Rising to heaven on the wing of song,
So to my God for the sake of my saviour,
Give to me a pure heart.
Another translation worth looking at, which might more accurately capture the original time and formality of the song as well as its rhyming nature, is written by Rees Harris.
What is Calon Lân About?
The meaning of the song Calon Lân is about the desire to live a pure, honest life and not to live a life of luxury or material wealth. As the lyrics of the song clearly express, the meaning of life is thought to be an honest heart, full of joy, that is much more fulfilling than a life of worldly possessions.
The song could be seen as an expression of the desire to live a virtuous life, free from the temptations and trappings brought by capitalism.
The final verse mentions God, which connects the song with its original incarnation as a hymn. During the Welsh Christian Revival of 1904-5, the song was thought to express a spiritual desire and longing for personal holiness or salvation
Wales is often known as the Land of Song
Calon Lân Sheet Music
Hymn sheet music from Hymnary.
Play Calon Lân on the piano with this sheet music from 8notes.
Choral sheet music for your choir or singing group from Free Scores.
Best Covers of Calon Lân
Calon Lân has been sung my many artists and choirs over the years, but here are perhaps some of the most famous examples:
- Bryn Terfel and Duvnant Male Choir
- Katherine Jenkins
- Only Boys Aloud – Britain’s Got Talent 2012 audition
Related Questions
Is Calon Lân a Hymn?
Yes, Calon Lân was originally written and composed as a hymn, however, it has since become popular in its own right, often sung at the beginning of rugby matches or in concerts and Eisteddfodau.
Is Calon Lân religious?
Yes, Calon Lân is religious because it contains some references to God in the last verse. Although it was originally a hymn to sing in church, it has since become a patriotic song rather than one of religious intent and the final verse with religious references is rarely sung.
Published: 11 August 2022