Rhondda Grey

[@Sid-qw3ho]

1965 born and breed a Rhondda boy and I bloody proud ov it ❤

[@stevegriffiths8772]

Saw Max perform last week, he sang this song, brought a tear to my eye being a Rhondda boy born and bred.

[@mouseshadow9595]

This song in particular brings tears to my eyes. Having torn myself away from the South Wales valleys in 1985; I still consider Wales my home. I’ve never had another. The Welsh are my family. Max Boyce epitomises the character of Wales. I console myself with the trick: if I’d never left, I wouldn’t miss it so much. Cymru am Byth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏

[@eileenpritchard9154]

PLEASE COME BACK, MY ARMS ARE OPEN FOR YOU,IT WILL ALWAYS BE HOME. 🤶🎅🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@edmundscycles1]

I now live in Yorkshire, but for 22 years I grew up just outside porthcawl. Then Ogmore Vale, Llantrisant and Cardiff, then ludlow (it's wales to me ) . I miss home and my fellow Welsh. I cry tears of heart break and love hearing this song . Nos dda .

[@SplashPix]

A lot of people thnk of Max Boyce for just his rugby songs and his fun songs, but in serious mode he could hold his place aming any folk - or dare I say it ,topical - songwriter. That goes not only for this song but the likes of "Did You Understand?", "Duw It's Hard", "The Price of Coal" and "Ten Thousand Instant Christians".

[@just-dl]

Hello...I'm from the US, with Welsh ancestry. Frankly, I've got a lot of different "ancestries," but my "welsh connection" has always been the strongest. I love this song, and the comments here are making me cry. such love for your homeland! I've visited Wales twice, and hope to go again. (would like to go for a very long visit if i could) This is a beautiful song, befitting a beautiful country. Be blessed!

[@michaeldenham3818]

You have been blessed from South Wales

[@seanhartnett79]

Me too. Rhonda valley. From the US. I hope to visit. I am Learning welsh.

[@iriscollins7583]

@@seanhartnett79 Well done.👍

[@kevinrees5687]

Rhondda boy born and bread. This song makes me proud to be Welsh and more importantly a Rhondda boy.

[@AndrewBrown-vu8yo]

Lovely song

[@peterhibbs3965]

Got out of bed and took a 'walk' around Treherbert, It's 11pm, here in Arizona, but Google lets you do that sort of thing. Opened up another tab and played this song several times whilst I walked down streets I haven't seen in years, and looked at houses I haven't lived in since I was very young. I spent so much time playing at the end of Station Road, on the railway tracks and up the mountain behind. My first school, Treherbert Infants, is long gone--how things change. Rhondda Grey s a beautiful song that stirred emotions for the past 30 minutes or so. Thank you, Max.

[@harrylerwill8915]

I do the same myself. Hiraeth.

[@peaceonearth24100]

hiraeth' stays with you.

[@peaceonearth24100]

Hiraeth

[@GarethKear]

I'm from Aberdare. Lived in Spain last 4 years. Visit home about twice a year. When we drive up the valley from Cardiff it makes us appreciate what a beautiful country Wales is.

[@nicoalphalpha]

One of the best songs about the mining industry. Max himself worked underground, and his father died underground in an accident. He sings with feeling.

[@just-dl]

didn't know that. explains alot....

[@caslox]

Lovely haunting song, my family comes from South Wales although it is the Rhymney Valley where we are from, we are all the same, both of my late parents (God bless them) loved this song, my dad died aged 62 from complications with his lungs caused by working in numerous collieries in our valley. I am so proud to come from this beautiful country and love her people with all my soul. Thanks for posting this song and video.

[@ayeshablackburn7991]

Im from there too. One of the best places to grow up x

[@philwilliams2505]

Tears for my ancestors and the land of my fathers..xx🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@robertbuckland8608]

Yes indeed I lived with my Grandparents in Rhymney My Grampa used to hum this song to himself in 197'0 s The valley was indeed grey due to mining and steel industry Those days are gone It's sad that the closures have led to unemployment But on other hand Last August I was driving along Heads of Valley I stopped at Rhondda Valley And loiked down upon it Beautiful green mountains and trees "How Green was my Valley" Came to mind Well It's returned But we must never forget those men who worked underground to sustain the Energy Industry and often sacrificed thier lives and health "Dyn Wedi Yn Nyd a Sha" "We did our best"

[@denisgibbard2683]

I went to school in Tirphil in 1945 when I was three my friends were older than me and they had started school so my mum asked the school if I could go as I missed my friends they said that it was no problem gave me a good start in life Max brings home fabulous memories I left Wales over 70 years ago and I go back most years my heart is always in the valley but the school went many years ago for housing

[@valleybandit3390]

New tredegar boy here!

[@robwise5400]

This song had me in tears when seen him live in blackwood, brilliant show.

[@milwyr]

I remember my father giving me Max Boyce albums 40 years ago...... so apt now the valleys haven’t changed but most of us saw the writing on the wall and left..... still cry when I come over the Severn Bridge x

[@jasondavies8221]

it`s free now.... but I know what you mean

[@dilwyn1]

Hiraeth !

[@johnkitchen4699]

A great song - I'm from a mining village in County Durham and this evokes memories for me and causes me to tear up every time, even though I'm in my sixties and live in the USA

[@philevans7181]

John, We have a word in Welsh, it is Hiraeth, pronounced Heeraith, it means LONGING, and in particular it means a longing for where you are from. A very powerful word in Welsh. I know you understand what I mean, for you Geordies, Makams, Takems etc are very much like us. Take care my friend. A South Shields guy is my best friend.

[@eileenpritchard9154]

@@philevans7181 w What a LOVELY COMMENT, 👍👍👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@slapmythigh]

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster. A black day in the history of the valleys, so tragic, so very sad. God bless them all .I was brought up in the Rhondda and Max has this so right, Rhondda grey but I can remember the sun and the green, green grass. I will go back. One day.

[@gianpierocroci9451]

I'm from Aberdare originally and now live in Italy for more than 30 years but every so often Hiraith comes to me and a grip in my heard comes back to me...

[@gianpierocroci9451]

I meant heart of course

[@stevengavrilovic1058]

Great song. Reminds me of the happy summer holidays I spent at my granny's house in the Rhymney Valley.

[@IanBateman]

Glad you liked them! I also hail from Ynyshir, hence the number of pictures. Mt grandmother lived in a house opposite The Eagle if you remember where that was! Ian

[@GwynnB]

Haven't heard this song for ages still sounds fab today

[@harriesbutcher3]

thanks for showing so much of ynyshir , my 8 yr old daughter didnt recognizr her own school untill she said "thats the ROCKET !"

[@lynnbanks6588]

my home, how it was so many years ago. The people, the life how it was. I am no longer there but it is in my heart and the tears in my eyes listening to this and remembering all the good times, and Aberfan where we did what we could.

[@brianswinscoe5412]

Brilliant xx

[@CharlieParker1959]

A fantastic advert for wales with a very unique voice

[@alunbrooks8280]

This reminds me of growing up in wales

[@TheSWolfe]

What a moving musical tale! I og hail from a mining state: WV. Many a friend's father wkd underground. Lost more than 1 before their time - wives, too - to tragedy & disease. The C-word's shadow weighed heavy across my friends & family: Grandma, Grandpa, Papa Hall, Daddy, Rita, & more. Beautiful song, tho. Dredges up memory & imagery both sad & sweet.

[@fredgovani6480]

Welsh passion and genius, So proud!!

[@scottcarey7860]

Best colour in the world if your a valley boy 👍

[@JonnyValleyBoy]

The emotional link I have to this and many other Max Boyce songs is so much a part of what makes me me,. #CaruCymru

[@hyweljames1086]

love it and love the Rhondda.

[@FlyingWoolf]

you can take the boy out of the valley but you cant take the valley out of the boy

[@TheLordRiddler]

This brought a tear to my eye. Max always has made amazing songs. I miss South Wales. Sospan Fach

[@TheDreamdragon]

Max is a legend!

[@diannewood5348]

Beautiful song and images, hadn’t realised your link with Max, even though you mentioned him at your presentation to Newcastle Camera Club last week 👍

[@shaqsta111]

what a beautiful song what a beautiful place thank u ;)

[@GARYINLEEDS]

Thanks for sharing, shared.

[@IanBateman]

Thanks Gary.

[@garethwilliams3819]

Remember when I first heard this (We All Had Doctor's Papers) that should I ever get the opportunity to go on Desert Island Discs, this would be one of my 8. The Valleys aren't grey anymore

[@UKProperPrepper]

Beautiful

[@barney8953]

0:36 Ynyshir infant school. Does anybody remember the black and white dog the caretaker used to bring with him to work every morning, during the mid 1970s to around 1986?

[@tanyaknowles6335]

I went to ynyshir infants.back in 69 xxx

[@paulreeve]

Great video to a great song !

[@jaolin6042]

A fantastic song, that I only recently discoverd through Martyn Joseph's cover. And in my opinion it only gets more touching by the fact that I believe it can be interpreted in different was. The straight (no pun intended) reading is about being proud of your local (working class) heritage. Or, in addition to that, proud of the heritage, but also acknowledging the hard work/suffering it has consisted of. But there is also, I guess, a more "Billy Elliot-ish" reading that is about being forced to stick to that old life-style. The father does not want the boy to find a different view of the world (by using new colours), but forces the boy to see the world trough the old grey: "And that's the colour that we want That no shop has ever sold You can't buy that in Woolies lad With your reds and greens and gold It's a colour you can't buy lad No matter what you pay But that's the colour that we want It's a sort of Rhondda grey"

[@jaolin6042]

Having said that, I of course believe Boyce's intention probably was the first one, but I do think the "meaning" is up for grabs once a work of art is released.

[@nigeljames83]

Classic¬ !

[@mouseshadow9595]

PS: thank you Ian.

[@IanBateman]

Thank you Mouse Shadow for your kind words. Ian

[@PennyTraition]

Haunting.'She walks in beauty,like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes..' She walked here and will evermore.She is every colour, rainbow enchantress.Know thyself.*love* xX She is Woman.

[@sidswift1223]

Gets me every time Xx

[@3tangle3]

The best thing was for these valleys to be paid back some of the value of the resurces stolen....4 trillion pounds according to one study (and thats in 1901 currency value!)

[@rogerphilpott8497]

There used to be a stone like table on the hills just behind a row of houses do you have any photos or videos of it as I used to play on it when I was a kid but I can't remember the name of the road my uncle used to live on

[@tanyaknowles6335]

My nan was born in Rhondda and I was born in Porth, she moved to weston super mare and when I stayed with her she always re washed my white clothes as she would say to put the grain back into them... So funny now and I hated the dreaded tide mark...😅😅😅😅

[@IanBateman]

I think it translates as something like "We have done our share"

[@robertsmith7120]

Spot on.

[@garethpant1]

Spot On!

[@lillianroyals3502]

geezes crist!

[@sacheus]

Ma'r Cymru'n dal i dalu!!!

[@Cadwaladr2012]

People before profit...Cymru rydd!

[@3tangle3]

Fideo Ardderchog! rhondda went from majority welsh speaking in WW2 to 8% in 1991...some decline eek

[@iriscollins7583]

So sad 😢 I believe it's getting better though, teaching Welsh in the schools I think.😊😊😊

[@0ldw3lshm4n]

This version with Sophie Evans is the best version kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKPQpYOrr7CVb7s

[@lifeinnahole1081]

hiraeth

[@grandslam1998]

The best thing they did was close down the coal mines in Rhonndda. The price of coal was too high