Many people are surprised to learn that Wales has its own national anthem - and while "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem of the United Kingdom, that is definitely not what you will hear at the beginning of any Welsh football or rugby match
What is the Welsh National Anthem?
Although it's not officially recognised, 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' is widely considered to be Wales's national anthem.
However, Wales is part of the United Kingdom so the official national anthem is 'God Save the Queen'. Sometimes, especially if there are royal connections to an event, it is sung alongside God Save The Queen.
'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' is sung in Welsh and you will hear it being performed before international sporting events, often stirring the crowd to great patriotic passion.
The meaning of the song is "Old Land of my Fathers". I have created a full literal and phonetic translation later in this article.
The full Welsh national anthem goes like this:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.
Chorus:
Gwlad! Gwlad! Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i fi.
Chorus
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Note that the first verse and the chorus are normally what is sung, and it is rarer to hear the entire song performed.
Who Wrote the Welsh National Anthem?
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was written and composed in January 1856 by Evan and James James (Ieuan ap Iago, and Iago ap Ieuan) - a father and son duo from Pontypridd. James James, who composed the melody, was a musician who played harp around the inns of Pontypridd. Whether the lyrics or the music were written first is uncertain, but the original title of the song was Glan Rhondda.
It was composed in 1856 which seems late, although that's less than a century after the English 'God Save the Queen' anthem was composed.
The first performance of the Welsh national anthem took place in the vestry of Capel Tabor in Maesteg in January or February 1856, by a singer called Elizabeth John, and it started to gain a lot of popularity after the Llangollen Eisteddfod of 1858.
The song was later published in the book Gems of Welsh melody (1860), which helped to ensure the popularity of the anthem across Wales
Wales started the tradition of singing an anthem before sporting events. In 1905, the Welsh rugby team decided to sing the anthem 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' in response to the intimidating Haka of the New Zealand All Blacks
Why Does Wales Have a Different National Anthem?
Wales has struggled to establish its identity as separate from England ever since it became part of the United Kingdom; to truly understand this, you only have to delve into the history of Wales and understand that many Welsh people today still see themselves as living under English oppression.
One likely reason for the surge in popularity of the anthem was that it came at a time when the Welsh were trying to hold on to many customs and traditions that had been lost or oppressed under English rule. For example, the 18th Century revival of the Eisteddfod, and the cultural revival largely pushed by Iolo Morgannwg, who established the order of bards largely based on evidence of tradition that later turned out to be fraudulent
Still, it is clear that the Welsh had a need to feel pride in traditions and culture of their own, and to be able to sing in their own language no doubt made people feel much more patriotic than singing to a royal family that very few people wanted.
What is the Welsh National Anthem in English?
There are many translations of the Welsh National Anthem in English, however, they typically capture the essence of the song rather than providing an accurate translation such as those by A.P. Graves, W.S. Gwynn-Williams, and Owain Alaw.
Here is a more faithful translation of the Welsh national anthem lyrics:
Old land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and famous people of note
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Lost their blood over freedom
Chorus:
Land! Land! I am faithful to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall
For this pure, dear land
Oh, may the old language endure.
Old mountainous Wales, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff is beautiful to my sight,
Through patriotic feeling, so enchanting is the whisper
Of her streams and rivers to me.
Chorus
Though the enemy may have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of Wales is as alive as ever,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the euphonious harp of my land.
How to Pronounce the Welsh National Anthem? [Phonetic Translation]
A note on phonetic translation: learning the way that letters correspond to phonemes in Welsh can be very helpful, as it is always consistent, unlike in English!
For example, a "ch" is always the sound you might hear in the word "loch", while our "r" is always rolled. As for "ll", you may need a small lesson in its pronunciation - luckily this sound doesn't come up much in the anthem!
Here is a phonetic translation of the national anthem:
My hern ‘lad vun had-aye uhn an-wil ee me
G’lad bay-r-th a chan-tor-yon, en-wog-ion or vree;
Ey goor-ol ruhv-el-wir, glad-gar-wir tra mad
Dros ruh--ddid coll-a-sant ey gwaide
Chorus:
G’lad, g’lad, play-dee-ol u-iv eem-g’lad;
Tra more, uhn vir eer bir hoff bai,
Or buh--thed eer hen-yaith bar-hai.
Hern gum-ri vuh-nuh-thig, par-a-dwis uh barth,
Pob duh-ffrin, pob klog-win, eem goh-loog sith harth;
True-ih day-mlad glad-ga-rol, more sue-win-ol iw see
Ey nen-tith, ah-von-ith, ee vee.
Oss tray-shoth uh gel-in vuh ngw-lard tan ey droid,
Mai hern yaith uh kym-rih more viw ag er-yoid,
Nee lith-iw-id uhr ah-wen gan erch-ill la-oo brard,
Nah thel-in ber-say-nee-ol vuh ngw-lard.
What is the Meaning of the Welsh National Anthem?
The lyrics of the anthem are not too difficult to follow from the translation - it is, like many anthems, a song of love and devotion to one's country.
What sets the Welsh national anthem apart from some others is that it starts with mention of poets and singers, rather than the glorification of violence or mention of killing the enemy that can be found in so many patriotic songs. It is, instead, a love letter to the song, beauty and nature of Wales - and a wish for the Welsh language to endure.
By the third verse, there is some mention of "the enemy" - no doubt a reference to the English, who have tried for centuries to stamp out the Welsh language.
However, even with mention of the enemy, there is no desire for vengeance or conquest - merely a defiant statement that the Welsh language is alive, its land still beautiful, its music still resounding.
Welsh National Anthem Sheet Music
Here you can find piano and vocal sheet music for Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Related Questions
Is Bread of Heaven the Welsh National Anthem?
No, the national anthem of Wales is not 'Bread of Heaven, it is 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau', or in English 'Old Land of my Fathers'.
Although it does not have legal or official status, it is commonly accepted as the anthem. Bread of Heaven is the popular name for the hymn Cwm Rhondda, which has also been sung before rugby or football matches.
Is the Welsh National Anthem Sung in Welsh?
Yes. the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, was written in Welsh and is normally sung in Welsh at events and before sporting matches in Wales. Several translations have been made into English, but are rarely actually sung.
What's the Welsh National Anthem Called?
The Welsh national anthem is called Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, which translates to "Old Land of my Fathers".
Published: 9 August 2022