Ar Lan y Môr

"Ar Lan y Môr" (Welsh for 'on the seashore') is a traditional Welsh folk love song. A single verse was published by the Welsh Folk Song Society in 1937,[1] and again (recorded from another singer) in 1948.[2] A slightly different version was recorded by the BBC in 1953.[3] Extra verses have been added, mostly from the 'Hen Benillion' (Old Stanzas).[4]

Recordings and performances

The song was a favourite of Welsh actor Richard Burton and was sung by Burton and Elizabeth Taylor on the premier episode of The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show on 7 January, 1966. The performance marked the first time the controversial couple had appeared together on TV.[5][6]

"Ar Lan y Môr" has been frequently recorded. Notably, the song features on the first Welsh-language concept album, Endaf Emlyn's Salem (1974).[7] A rendition appears on the only comedy album to top the UK Albums Chart to date, Max Boyce's We All Had Doctors' Papers (1975).[8][9] The song also appears on Ar Log's eponymous 1978 debut album, Bryn Terfel's album We'll Keep a Welcome (2000) and Katherine Jenkins' debut album Première (2004).[10][11][12] Recently Adwaith recorded a modern version of the song in 2020.[13]

Words, with English translation

Melodies

1. CAGC (1937) 3 p.125

\relative c'' { \time 3/4 \key f \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*3 c8 c8. c16 % 0 c4. a8 bes c % 1 bes4 a8\fermata c c8. c16 % 2 c4. a8 bes c % 3 bes4 a8\fermata c c8. c16 % 4 c4. a8 g f % 5 d4 f8\fermata f f d' % 6 c4. a8 g a % 7 g4 f8\fermata \bar "|." % 8 } \addlyrics { Ar lan y môr mae rho -- sys co -- chion; Ar lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy-- nion; Ar lan y môr mae ’ngha -- riad in -- ne Yn cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re. }

2. CAGC (1937) 3 p.126

\relative c'' { \time 3/4 \key bes \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*2 g8 d' %0 d4. bes8 c bes %1 c8 d4. g,8 d' %2 d4. bes8 c bes %3 c8 d4. g,8 d' %4 d4. bes8 c bes %5 c8 d4. es8 es %6 d4. bes8 c bes %7 a8 g4. \bar "|." %8 } \addlyrics { Lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy -- nion; Lan y môr mae li -- lis coch-- nion; Lan y môr mae ’ngha -- riad in -- ne, Cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re. }

3. Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975) p.137

\relative c' { \time 3/4 \key f \major \autoBeamOff \tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \partial 8*3 f8 f f %0 f4. f8 g a %1 g8 f4 a8 a a %2 a4. g8 a c %3 bes8 a4 c8 c c %4 c4. a8 g f %5 bes8 bes4 bes8 bes bes %6 \grace{bes} a4. f8 g a %7 g8 f4 \bar "|." %8 } \addlyrics { Ar lan y môr mae rho -- sys co -- chion Ar lan y môr mae li -- lis gwy-- nion Ar lan y môr mae ngha -- riad in -- ne Yn cys -- gu’r nos a cho -- di’r bo -- re }

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ar Lan y Môr.
  1. ^ Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 3 (1937):125-6
  2. ^ Cylchgrawn Alawon Gweryn Cymru 4 (1948):36-7
  3. ^ Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975), ed. P Kennedy, London: Oak Publications, p.137 and p.165
  4. ^ Caneuon Traddodiadol y Cymry, eds Arfon Gwilym, Menai Williams, Daniel Huws (2006) Penygroes: Cwmni Cyhoeddi Gwynn, p.123
  5. ^ "Watch: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor singing in Welsh on US TV". 10 November 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ^ "The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show". The Sammy Davis Jr.info. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^ Nobakht, David. "Salem Review". Buzz. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  8. ^ "We All Had Doctors' Papers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ McLaren, James (24 February 2011). "Max Boyce: Live At Treorchy". BBC Wales. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Ar Log – Ar Log". Discogs. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  11. ^ We'll Keep a Welcome at AllMusic
  12. ^ "Katherine Jenkins Première Review". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  13. ^ csweet (2020-02-15). "ADWAITH RELEASE NEW SINGLE 'LAN Y MÔR' VIA LIBERTINO RECORDS". Circuit Sweet. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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