Recorded and filmed live, and video produced by Juliette Daum, of Oak Wren Studio, on 29th July, 2022. This is my arrangement of a traditional Welsh folk song that dates back to the early 15th century.
At first glance it appears to be a kind of Welsh version of, 'Who Killed Cock Robin?', because it speaks of the murder of the Lark by the Hawk, and how the Swallow tells of the Faeries' distress over the issue despite their flower magic and crystals. In fact, the song uses bird names as codenames for real people who were having to hide their actual identities and live as outlaws. The 'Lark' is a 'rebel' soldier killed by the 'Hawk', an English soldier searching for the remnants of Owain Glyndwr's army.
Between 1400 and 1415, Wales was in the grip of rebellion against the English crown and a war of independence, led by Owain Glyndwr who was deemed as being the legitimate and native heir to the title of, Prince of Wales. His vision was for a free Welsh nation, with it's own laws, church and universities.
Ultimately, the rebellion failed and severe anti Welsh laws were put in place on a land ravaged by warfare. Glyndwr himself disappeared and was never caught, as the legend/history goes. But many from his armies had to live as outlaws too, never able to return to their former homes and lives, for fear of being horribly executed and their families punished.
These outlaws hid in the hills, still having to fight off the English soldiers searching for them and this song's origins is linked to those times. Some, like to think that the song is about Owain Glyndwr, but I prefer the idea that he at least escaped to live the rest of his life in peace, as the chroniclers said, and avoided the indignity of ultimate defeat and humiliation.
Translation:
V1: 'Mi a glywais' - 'I did hear', that the Lark, 'yr Ehedydd', (a fallen soldier), has died on the mountainside. If I knew this was true, I'd take a troop of armed men to escort the body home.
V2: I heard, that the Hawk, 'y Hebog', has been flitting again above the high peat-lands, and that his heart and his feathers, while passing the Lark's body, was beating cowardly, like the heart of a murderer.
V3: I heard from the Swallow, that the Fair People/Faeries have made an 'ark of crystals with a canopy of apple wood to bring the body back.
V4: In spite of bringing an army of armed men and scaring off the Hawk, and in spite of all the crystals, flowers and the 'Tylwyth Teg', the Fair People and their talents, the song of the Lark won't come home.
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