The oldest Welsh Lullaby: Dinogad's Smock (Pais Dinogad)

[@Knappa22]

Pais Dinogad is old... as in seriously old. It probably dates from the 7th century. The most interesting line historically is the one about the father fishing on Rayadyr Derwennyd which means the Waterfall of Derwent. This is Derwentwater in the Lake District of England, and the waterfall is thought to be the Lodore falls nearby. The poem is so old it dates from the period when Old Welsh was spoken throughout the whole of England, before the Anglo-Saxons came.

[@malcfw9518]

+Knappa22 So, Brythonic then.

[@malcfw9518]

I've got to agree with you - cool; and although the origin may be Brythonic, the words sung were current Welsh.

[@nathanarcus8628]

+Knappa22 Anglo-Saxons were wide spread through out Mercia, Wessex, Kent etc. by the 7th century though? Though seeing as a lot of Britons just intergrated into the new culture I'm sure this language was still widely spoken across much of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms

[@LeinadEvans]

+Knappa22 A lost culture for the British then

[@minutescience7817]

Isn't it thought to date from the 6th century?

[@GwenCrysroxx]

It's quite weird, being a welsh speaker, hearing words that sound similar to modern welsh even though the words are from the seventh century

[@seniamax]

How interesting indeed, and were you able to understand something? (apart from the numbers and giff-gaff, that is:) Has the language changed much since? By the way, I've just been to Wales and was confronted with the problem of saying Llanelli. There was no way I could do that, however hard I tried!

[@chrissyroberts1497]

LL is putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth...lol I get you.

[@drychaf]

It's easier than people think - just form an 'L' and instead of saying the L, just blow. That's an 'LL'.

[@chrissyroberts1497]

It seems everything is an LL location where I am , LLay for one.

[@drychaf]

gwych!

[@bcchiriac4512]

I hope Welsh people preserve their identity and their culture and music. Beautiful tradition. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🤝🇷🇴

[@AlysIThink101]

Why are you showing a romanian flag in this comment?

[@jackieroberts7895]

@@AlysIThink101 because they are Romanian

[@romanianspy4277]

me too 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇷🇴

[@stevie5100]

We're trying, although westminster are making it hard for us

[@jackdavid2898]

Wales forever 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 the land of my father's

[@imogencarney3421]

if fairies had a language I imagine it being something like old welsh

[@alienapple010x5]

it would be irish gaelic cause fairies are irish

[@philldavies7940]

@@alienapple010x5 I hope you don't go down the the pub and shout that out, may well get black eye. But Leprechauns come from Irish tradition, I think folk tails of fairies are pretty much universal, probably dating back to the earliest humanity, certainty in European tradition. The name itself derives from old French.

[@alienapple010x5]

​@@philldavies7940 tuatha de danann are exclusively irish. But I see your point, it is sort of just a general mythos

[@jacjolly8214]

@@alienapple010x5 fairies can be found in many Celtic countries. The tylwyth can be found everywhere in Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@camerakitty8167]

I imagine faeries would speak the local language, with slang from their places of origin

[@nigelsheppard625]

This is very old. Some of the animals that Dinogad's father hunts are not found in Europe let alone Wales or Cumbria. The only time they could've been in Britain was during the Roman Empire. This song might well have been sung by a Brythonic mother wife to a Roman who'd seen Lion's either as part of a Gladiator show or a managerie in Roman Gaul, Italy or Spain (or either further afield perhaps even Roman Asia or Egypt).

[@alicequayle4625]

I'd guess she hadn't seen lions but people would still talk about them for a while after the romans left, eg they are talked about in the Bible.

[@guywelsh9589]

Or it could have just been made up for a song. Songs and stories are not historically accurate especially from preliterate societies. Modern rappers perform tracks about shooting people in clubs while shoving bundles of cash up women's arses but it's not necessarily true.

[@thegreenmage6956]

The song clearly mentions the Eurasian Lynx, which we had in Britain, up until the Middle Ages possibly, in Scotland. Like wolves, boars and bears, they were a part of this land, but much rarer.

[@norfolkdragons866]

Lions were in europe until fairly recently - they probably were exterminated c200BC, which wouldn't be that long ago for whoever invented this song. All the other animals are still in Britain today.

[@basedgod6016]

she never says he has hunted lion, she just likens him to a lion in his hunting ability, all the rest of the animals were very present in the British Isles before Roman occupation began, and lions were known about by people who hadn't seen them (like another commenter mentioned, the bible)

[@gilyat]

She is counting. Yan tan tethra etc. I live in the Lakes close to Derwentwater and even today some of the old shepherds count this way. Yan Tan Tethera is a sheep-counting rhyme/system traditionally used by shepherds in Northern England and earlier in some other parts of England and the British Isles. Until the Industrial Revolution, the use of traditional number systems was common among shepherds, especially in the dales of the Lake District. The Yan Tan Tethera system was also used for counting stitches in knitting. The words derive from a Brythonic Celtic language.

[@my2cents2u]

Thank you for that!

[@flossie5432]

Jake Thackray wrote a song incorporating this counting system."Molly Metcalfe". on KZbin (not actually related to him,but the counting system is real.)kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipq7eoGrm5qhmKs

[@DivyaAgarwalDb105]

so informative... Thank you

[@yoyoholck]

some of the numbers are the exact same as the irish language. it really shows the connection. celtic nations unite

[@stoneageprude3021]

its a lullaby sung by sheepheards. are they counting sheep?

[@kellytostada8403]

As an American, this is the most beautiful language I've ever heard in my life. It sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale.

[@haitianboym]

Kelly Tostada I know right!!? I'm American too and people ask me why I'm learning Welsh and I say, well it's one of the most beautiful languages I've heard. They look at me in confusion. I don't get it. Sounds so dreamy.

[@Castiwr]

JRR Tolkien thought so as well and based the Elvish language in Lord of the Rings on Welsh.

[@scottemanuel-trinca1735]

The entire country is like a fairy tale (incredibly proud of my country. Cymru am byth!!)

[@kirisuta8496]

Lol it's weird when you read most fantasy books and they have welsh names like they're all different. When you're welsh you kind of smile and roll your eyes a little haha.

[@rajeangallagher5043]

Kelly Tostada i concur. A familiar childhood dream.

[@lumis5896]

Somehow this makes me want to cry each time I hear it, it's so touching. I can imagine a celtic mother singing it to her child all those centuries ago.

[@jackryder-sw9rk]

They sing it to their children now.

[@seniamax]

He killed fish from his coracle Like the lion killing small animals. When your father went to the mountains He would bring back a roebuck, a boar, a stag, A speckled grouse from the mountain, And a fish from the Derwennydd falls. At whatever your father aimed his spear - Be it a boar, a wild cat, or a fox - None would escape but that had strong wings.

[@Candlewick14]

Arseniy Maximov so so beautiful..and I'm a vegetarian!

[@Sojiebee]

+1

[@hannahrenay3057]

Thank you!!!

[@soledadosraige369]

is this the english translation?

[@Luke_05]

Soledad Osraige yes..

[@sophiawilliams1408]

My grandma used to sung it to me when I was a little girl... I truly love this music.

[@jwon2889]

My grandmother sung this to me aswell ...still brings tears to my eyes to hear this

[@RealEstateinTucson]

so did my Mamgu

[@BeadsandFlowers]

That... was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I'm Italian, and I find this language to be so musical. It may only be because it's so different from mine, but I truly believe there is something magical in it.

[@seniamax]

I agree - it sounds like some magical language of elves to me... and this wonderful music, so simple and yet so beautiful...

[@ZazzilasArden]

+BeadsandFlowers The entire Welsh language is based on song. Every consonant and every syllable are meant to flow into each other seamlessly and musically. That's kind of why the written language looks so crazy.

[@andikyte9751]

+Arseniy Maximov J.R.R Tolkien thought the same, so he created Elvish Sindarin by using Welsh sounds. ;]

[@seniamax]

+Aja Void Did he actually? That explains it! ))

[@andikyte9751]

Arseniy Maximov Yep. ;] Tolkien spoke fluent welsh because he said it was 'pleasing to his ears' as the words flow so perfectly. Thats why if you listen to someone speaking welsh, and someone speaking sindarin in the movies, they sound extremely similar, infact Tolkien actually borrowed words from welsh and put them in sindarin and gave them a new meaning. ;] Osgiliad for example means oscillation in welsh, but it sounds extremely close to Osgiliath in Gondor, if you add another 'd' onto Osgilliad it becomes Osgiliadd and the 'dd' in welsh sounds the same as 'th' in english.

[@jackcooper4998]

As a Cumbrian this really hit me when I heard the “Yan Tan...” from the traditional counting system. I believe the song is set/ mentions Derwent Water which at the time was a (Old) Welsh/ Cumbric spearing area. (Hence CUMBERland)

[@soledadosraige369]

I love that she incorporated that into the song. Its told as one might have imagined it being done at the time, as a piece of evening story telling, esp with the spoken parts. the melody, to me, depicts someone creeping through the forest while hunting. ..

[@Gaia_blooooom]

First born Aussie of a welsh, Scottish and Scandinavian heritage here. Super happy to hear this. Some of my family speaks fluent welsh, and my relatives living in wales most certainly do. Between welsh and old Norse I feel amazingly empowered hearing things like this, and heilung and Wardruna. Much love

[@nyeg2501]

First born Aussie of a Welshman here also, a bit of German and God knows what else too, I'm a bloody mongrel!

[@welshpete12]

I'm Welsh , there is something about the Welsh language that lends it's self to music .

[@evilcommunistpicklerick3175]

that's how the language was written

[@venmis137]

Well it's not a coincidence that Wales is well known for songs and poetry, the language practically demands it.

[@eifionjones559]

it is all to do with the mutations and the way the pitch rises towards the end of a sentence

[@guywelsh9589]

Yeah me too, could never master Welsh language but I always enjoy listening to songs in Welsh.

[@arianbyw3819]

It's also because most old Welsh stories were not spoken but sung.

[@MegazoneMusic23]

I think this is such a beautiful , heartfelt Lullaby. I started listening to it because I needed to get an example of Welsh music for a potential movie, and I ended up listeing to the whole thing and forgetting about everything else but the melody. This is such a stunningly serene piece. When the spoken word happens Im captivated Im a new fan of traditional Welsh music now

[@jacobforreal5221]

Oldest song I've ever heard in my life!!!!! Thank you for the upload my ancestors are Welsh.Love this!

[@rachelmcdonough1506]

Jacob Prince if you wanna hear something even older, look up the Hurrian Hymn!

[@myth0s307]

ur ancestors are from wales? cool, do you live in wales or another country? i myself have never even seen any other country than wales before lmao

[@angelduarte5569]

wow, amazing language. I´m not white or welsh and this is beyond my culture, yet i love old stuff. As an artist i try to mantain/pass on what my older generation did. I think it´s a pretty solid thing humans do.

[@ariaxrose1]

Thank you for appreciating my culture

[@angharad.9743]

I'm Australian but my grandmother was from Wales. Though she died before I was born so I have sadly never had any connection to my Welsh heritage I've never even been to Wales but somehow I feel more Welsh than Australian

[@alisonanthony1228]

"All the water in the Wye cannot wash the Welsh blood out of your body". If you ever come home to Wales, we'll welcome you with open arms.

[@quakeranne4116]

I bet this song is the origin of people saying to “count sheep” to go to sleep, since it used the same counting as shepherds.

[@robertevans8010]

yes you are Correct. my Mam and Magu(grandmother) sang it to me when I was littleand now I am103. Prynhhawn da.

[@nicolamastro9250]

Wow😲

[@jakejw4769]

Cont gwirion

[@Kate_Alexander_06]

I’m Welsh and Scottish, and it is so beautiful to see so many people appreciating the language here. My Welsh lessons in school are incredibly dull, so this is amazing. I’m definitely passing this song onto my children (if I have them). Keeping some parts of our culture alive.

[@rebeccamd7903]

I now know my fathers Welsh family tree dating back to 300AD & can’t wait to learn the language. I’m an opera singer & learning songs helps my with linguistic inflection & historical significance! Thank you!

[@kleojacques5494]

Duolingo is a great free app u can learn Welsh on.. I recommend it ✌💗

[@bradleylloyd3872]

Proud Welshman listening to this beautiful piece of history..

[@HoIIandC]

@Celtic Revival / Adfywiad Celtaidd I don't know if you'll see this but could you tell me if my surname is Welsh? It's Hoyle. Different sources say its origins are Welsh, others say Northern English.

[@philldavies7940]

@@HoIIandC I live in South Wales, never heard of anybody with the surname Hoyle around here. It seems to derive from Northern England (eg Lindsay Hoyle the new speaker of the house of Commons) an anglo-saxon name for a hole or hollow. But you can be guaranteed to have welsh and Irish, Scottish, English, German, French etc blood if you're from Europe, every generation the number of your forefathers doubles, if you go back 1000 years (~50 generations) you theoretically have more than a thousand trillion predecessors (which is impossible): geneticists reckon every Caucasian European is related to a woman who lived in Germany in the 14th century.

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

EDIT Wow, thanks to all the people who ruined this(!) My son is named Seren in honour of my beloved Welsh Nanny. He is one month old today. He has been crying for hours and nothing we did stopped his wails. I had played different songs but none soothed him. The moment he heard this he immediately went quiet to hear it. Directly after it finished he gave a contended sigh. A minute later he seemed as though he was becoming restless again so I put it on a second time and he is now sleeping. Thank you 💖

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

@Owen Cradoc I can't thank you enough for your beautiful comment. It brought tears to my eyes.

[@erikaannabosnyak9307]

He carries the ancestors DNA and his name probably strengthen this heritage.

[@larissastevenson3720]

That is such a kind comment!!! God bless you and your son!!!!

[@doc6904]

Serena is a feminine name, definitely an interesting choice either way Edit Seren*

[@guzimAntonova]

Mate seren is feminine here in Wales

[@jenjenneration]

If you listen closely the chorus is counting up and down Un (een) Dwy (die) Tri (treem) Pedwar (pehd- wah) Pump (Peemp) Chwe (Wesch) Saith (s-eye-th) Wyth (oyth)

[@robkenyon8786]

Un - Een. Dwy - Doo-ee. Tri - Tree Pedwar - Pedwar Pump - Pimp. Chwech - Chwech ( accent over 'e', no English approximate) Saith - Saeeth Wyth - Ooeeth Naw - NAhw (Not Noh-oo) Deg- Dehg. One letter one sound. And in Welsh the stress is more often on the first syllable, unlike English.

[@LadypilotOlsonHilary]

Jenny Maridowe I have always tried to keep my Welsh language and when I listened to this song through tears I sang along

[@guywelsh9589]

Yeah I speak hardly any Welsh and even I caught the numbers :-)

[@nataliyakravchenko4994]

I am not a Welsh speaking person. Even English is not my native language. But I understood this part too. Names of numbers have common roots in indoeuropean languages. It was interesting.

[@teiloturner2760]

​@@nataliyakravchenko4994 :)

[@alganhar1]

My mother used to sing this to me as a child, her mother to her, and so on. I sung it to both my daughters, unfortunately I do not own a particularly good sense of tune, as my wife would say, my singing is possibly a crime against humanity. Still, my daughters did not seem to mind, at least until they were older! Sospan fach and Hela'r Dryw were also staples of my childhood....

[@virgosupercluster208]

This poem is encompassed in a body of work attributed to the bard Aneirin who was the court bard the Gododdin. The British Gododdin tribe's land was located where Lothian is in Scotland today and Dun Eidyn (today's Edinbrugh) was it's capital. I can recommend to anyone interested in the history of this period to read, 'The Men of the North' by Tim Clarkson.

[@rhisiartmorgan3997]

Brythonig you mean British is an English construct.

[@rajeangallagher5043]

Virgo supercluster thank you.

[@taffyducks544]

@Marc Delaney yeah, Wallace was Norman for Welshman. Implying he was most likely of Welsh or maybe even Cumbrian descent.

[@tannhasuervonhohenstein3728]

@@rhisiartmorgan3997 British is not an English construct. Britain was England, Wales and Scotland. The term British can refer to the Brythonic peoples before the Romans arrived.

[@tannhasuervonhohenstein3728]

Also you're slightly wrong, Gododdin also likely had Bryneich (Bernicia) (Northumberland today) inside of its borders before the Angles arrived.

[@jordanclark67]

this is so beautiful it made me tear up

[@siontaliesin5213]

I’m so proud to be welsh this makes me so happy

[@eifionjones559]

yfi hefyd

[@rhodrillewelynpianto5347]

Wi’n Cymrô yn unig🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@teiloturner2760]

​@@rhodrillewelynpianto5347 di ni dy enw genedigol?

[@oswaldthree]

This has been one of my all-time favourites, since discovering it on YT some years ago - I never tire of listening to it!! If only I was able to sing along sometimes, but my Aussie mouth just won't mould into the right shapes, LoL!! ..... sigh ..... RjB

[@jesseh.5223]

Me too, respect to you from the states

[@LEONINMusic]

It talks to the soul

[@alunevans380]

The Welsh people are the most ancient people of the British Isles, Beautiful ancient song.

[@patois12]

I'm American with Welsh and Irish ancestry and I believe that Welsh is the most beautiful of the British Isles music and language. It evokes absolutely fairytale magic and I could listen to it forever 💖

[@izumikosuzuhara8651]

This is really beautiful. It's so full of emotions. I love it.

[@chrism3910]

It's crazy to.think somewhere down my family line this was sung to them by their mothers. It speaks to my soul.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Moving from Wales to where the old gododdin kingdom use to exist, is quite surreal. I feel like a Welshman returning to the ancient Hen Ogledd. Cymru am byth. :)

[@gwynwilliams4222]

this is the lanuage that king Arthur and merlin and St Patrick spoke old welsh

[@minutescience7817]

They spoke Late British, the ancestor to Old Welsh (and Cumbric, Cornish and Breton).

[@randalphmiller82]

king Arthur never existed. the story of King Arthur was the retelling of the biblical king David.

[@gwynwilliams4222]

No you are thinking about micky mouse he didn't exist

[@HeatherDeweyPettet]

Actually, some scholars say the origin of the King Arthur story is some of the oldest mythology in the world, possibly from much further back, like 20 thousand years ago. Not approximately two thousand or three thousand.

[@minutescience7817]

Heather Dewey Pettet Nonsense. The first mention of Arthur is the seventh century.

[@larissastevenson3720]

Just stunning!! I love old lullaby's like these, also this takes me back, as my mother used to sing this to me when I was little!!!

[@cathblackfeather3084]

Lynne has such a talent for hearing the tune of these ancient songs - they always feel just right :)

[@lydiamorgan3860]

I have always wondered about my welsh heritage, my grandfather never talked much about it. I would like to visit someday, find out where my bloodline originated.

[@towy-fisher]

Lydia, you would be welcomed as a returning Sister. Hwyl Fawr.

[@MrSpock..]

This is going to sound quite odd, but we have the same last name (and first initial) and both have grandfathers with welsh heritage! How coincidental :)

[@rogerdavies8586]

It sounds just about identical to modern Welsh. There's also a mountain in the area called Pen-y-ghent which sounds Welsh as does another local mountain, Helvellyn. I have heard there was a Celtic language spoken there as late as the time of William the Conqueror but can't confirm it. It is more like Welsh than Gaelic because it was home grown in Britain. Gaelic came from Ireland Marianee

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Anything with Pen, Aber, Llw, is heavily influenced from Brythonic place names. For example Pen, is top or head. So ‘Pen Y Fan’, is the highest peak in Brecon Beacons, translates to “Head/Top of There”.

[@joshroberts2008]

The Welsh name for Lancashire is Caerhirfryn which translates as fort long hill, which refers to Pendle Hill( ,of hanging witch fame), which is a long hill which had a fort on it! Practical description eh?

[@rogerdavies8586]

The comment is by my partner. But I agree! :)

[@Lady_Barbara]

Absolutely beautiful - thank you for sharing this treasure!

[@parsifalvonvaterland8510]

Beautiful. It gave me goosebumps. It’s got to be genetic and a spiritual connection to my ancestors

[@venmis137]

@CAVKING19DELTA TEXAS It's in the lake district in England if you ever want to go, near keswick.

[@Ewochable]

Parsifal Von Vaterland nope, Got Them too and have no connection 2 Them bro

[@seniamax]

Thanks for your comment! To my mind, it's AMAZINGLY beautiful - it immediately struck me as one of the most touching lullabies ever.

[@kcarter0265]

My son loves this song, he’s only 10 months old. He reacts very well to the welsh language, and I feel that’s because we descend from the Bleddyn welsh lineage. I, myself am learning to speak welsh so I can converse natively when we finally travel to Wales.

[@bleddynwolf8463]

ty'n cael llawer o gwaith o flain ty, ond fy'n gwybod bydd ty gallu neid e.

[@briton3851]

the real royal blood

[@kcarter0265]

@@briton3851 what do you mean by the “real” royal blood?

[@Worldsbestcupofcoffee]

This is so beautiful. Surreal.

[@justushall9634]

Notice how they count "Yan, tan, tether..." starting at 2:13? British sheep-counting, "yan tan...", still used in parts of Britain. From Cumbric, a Brythonic (or Brittonic) Celtic language once spoken in northern England and southern Scotland (Hen Ogledd [the Old North] / Kingdom of Strathclyde); unattested but known via indirect evidence such as this sheep-counting. Cumbric died out ~1100-1300. Extant Brythonic languages: Welsh, Cornish, Breton. The name Cumbric is reflected in Cumberland / Cumbria / Cymru (Welsh name for Wales) / Cambrian (after Cambria, poetic and Latin name for Wales). Other lost Brythonic language besides Cumbric: Pictish.

[@peterforden5917]

Well done for pointing this out, ofcourse scots will call you a racist but as the Book says The truth will find you out, it might take a while though!

[@melantha4331]

[Modern Welsh] Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - wythgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - saithgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - chwechgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - pimpgaith. Un, dau, tri, pedwar, pump, chwech, saith, wyth…1 Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - tairgaith.2 Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - dwygaith.3 Yan, tan, tether, pedder, pimp, sether, hither, hother…4 Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - ungaith. [Old Welsh] Pan elei dy dat ty e helya; llath ar y ysgwyd llory eny law - ef gelwi gwn gogyhwc. Giff, gaff! Dhaly, dhaly! Dhwg, dhwg! ef lledi bysc yng corwc mal ban llad. llew llywywg! Pan elei dy dat ty e vynyd dydygai ef penn ywrch, penn gwythwch, pen hyd, penn grugyar vreith o venyd, penn pysc o rayadyr Derwennyd. Or sawl yt gyrhaedei dy dat ty ae gicwein - o wythwch, a llewyn, a llwyuein - nyt anghei oll ny uei oradein. [Modern Welsh] Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - wythgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - saithgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - chwechgaith. Pais Dinogad, fraith, fraith, o grwyn balaod ban wraith. Chwid! Chwid! Chwidogaith. Gochanwn, gochenyn - pimpgaith. Un, dau, tri, pedwar, pump, chwech, saith, wyth…

[@alphalunamare]

Not sure I know this song .. .but when I shut my eyes and go again with its words that appear from the mists in my mind ... I remember understanding.

[@jesseh.5223]

It's been two years but I feel the same way

[@franjocorazon260]

Wie schön das klingt. Obwohl ich kein Walisisch spreche hab ich das Gefühl, dass mich diese Musik und ihre Sprache trägt und mein Herz mehr berührt, als alles andere. Waliser gebt acht auf Eure wunderschöne Sprache und Euer wunderschönes Land.

[@Green-bj1zx]

From Spain a very sweet sound for my baby. This song does works to make her sleep...

[@adahannamusic]

I learned this tune while walking the walls of Harlech; unforgettable.

[@cristinaisac7959]

I absolutely love it!!

[@elisopantskhava2425]

So beautiful

[@janetta98]

The counting from 1-8, at least, is the same as today. Marvelous lullaby.

[@rachaelstanley7986]

It's modern Welsh based on the original lyrics.

[@kis4659]

The song is Cumbric, some parts of the language still live on in Cumbria and other parts of the Northwest today, though close to dying out completely in the next few decades. For example counting system is still used by some. Yan, Tan Tethra, Methra Pimp.

[@richardcarlyon241]

The original words are to be found in The Myvrian Archaiology (sic) of Wales, Vol 1, page 19, beginning on the left column on line 5. The work was first printed in 1801, my copy is the printing of 1870, a 'print on demand' copy off the volume held by Harvard. Anyone may obtain a copy through a good bookseller, just ask. If you fail try Queens Park Bookshop in London NW6. Words are in 'Gododin', 'The North', a poem dealing with a conflict at Catterick.It is subtitled 'Aneurin Gwawdrydd a'i Cant.'

[@philldavies7940]

I saw a documentary a while back, somebody had scribbled the lullaby in the margins of the Gododdin (the circa 7th century Welsh poem) , they were probably bored, distracted and doodling whilst having to recite the Gododdin. Thank goodness as otherwise it would have been lost to history.

[@Dyadactic]

Really good quality recording, considering it being 7th century.

[@bonzey1171]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@ratfrog]

This is my first time listening to this but it sounds like something I've heard in my dreams

[@cliffhendon7668]

I count myself to be Welsh because my dad wes born in Wales and my Great Grand Mother was made to wear the WelshNot. I don't speak Welsh but more of it seems to be coming up from my childhood memory. I love the music and the sound of Welsh and feel robbed that I have the WelshNot.

[@kleojacques5494]

I recommend Duolingo, a free app u can download. Its fun easy learning. ✌💗

[@iestynfoster6138]

This is so beautiful!

[@jocelyncooper1738]

Celtic languages are very musical

[@lautarosolis208]

Dwi'n byw yn Yr Ariannin, dwi'n 18 oedd a dwi wedi dechrau dysgu Cymraeg yn 2020. Anyway, great song, greetings for all from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@odonkor989]

Greetings from Germany to Argentina 💙🤍

[@DesertWolfSurvival]

❤️

[@evilcommunistpicklerick3175]

Cyfarchiadau! Diweddariad am 2022?

[@lautarosolis208]

@@evilcommunistpicklerick3175 shwmae! dwi ddim wedi dysgu llawer yn diweddar... dwi ddim wedi cyrraed cyflawniad pwsig (am dysgu cymreag) dwi'n caru ieithoedd, dwin licio dysgu a dwi'n licio Cymreag, dwi'n dal yn cofio llawer o Gymreag hahahha gwna i ddychwelyd, dwi'n gwybod gobeithio dy fod di yn iawn

[@evilcommunistpicklerick3175]

@@lautarosolis208 Dawch! Diolch yn fawr iawn, gobeithio eich bod chi'n iawn hefyd! Mae eich Cymraeg chi yn hynod o dda yn barod, mae'n edrych fel bod dawn gennych chi am ieithoedd

[@dianemickelson4384]

This is so beautiful and awesome. Trying to listen to music and such of my Welsh ancestors

[@shadow_hillsgrandma8224]

Gorgeous. So old that mama sings about daddy hunting!

[@ChelseaH1]

So fascinating.

[@chezlover21]

Very beautiful.. Thank you for uploading

[@elizabethlyons1066]

< of Welsh descent and in love with this!

[@Emily-oz5cz]

I heard about this ancient form sang oldest verse as from the beginning creation storyline as eves stoneaged Stonehenge lullaby

[@seniamax]

Dinogad's shift is speckled, speckled, It was made from the pelts of martens. `Wee! Wee!' Whistling. We call, they call, the eight in chains. When your father went out to hunt - A spear on his shoulder, a club in his hand - He called on his lively dogs, `Giff! Gaff! Take, take! Fetch, fetch!'

[@glynnisthomas9165]

Thank you for translating. Even without knowing the language I was mesmerized, but now I am enthralled!!!

[@bradleylloyd3872]

Diolch

[@abrahemsamander3967]

I’m 55 seconds in and it’s already so beautiful!

[@yuinurahilyon5711]

Wonderful it gives a unique feeling.

[@eifionwynwilliams-iffy1288]

Staggeringly old, and staggeringly beautiful.....ah, hiraeth.

[@kokobwild2413]

......just like Angela Rippon.

[@brandydinsmore8214]

I love the cello in this.

[@jesseh.5223]

Same

[@zqxzqxzqx1]

Wish I could save this to my favorites!

[@DesertWolfSurvival]

Something stirs within me. Like the sweet kiss of a rightful mother to a lost child. 🔥❤️🔥

[@miguelvictorkovacevich3843]

Federico García Lorca said that real folk music should be searched in lullabies. Guess he was right! Greetings from Argentina

[@irishelk3]

This is what you hear when you fall down a rabbit hole.

[@karenrendell7369]

Beautiful song in a beautiful language, Cymru am Blythe!

[@rateeightx]

I Originally Heard This Song From History With Hilbert's Channel, And I Immediately Had To Listen To The Full Song (As Soon As His Video Was Over, Of Course!), And This Song Is Just​ Beautiful! I May ​​Not Speak Enough Welsh Yet To Understand Most Of It, But It's Still Probably My Favourite Song Not From The 20th Century.

[@DivyaAgarwalDb105]

Even without understanding the essence word to word, you can still sort of figure out that it's something empowering, I feel..

[@13rinslet]

The song is so beautiful. If I haven't read the the translation, I would think this was a spell for blessing or something.

[@rachaelstanley7986]

Pretty much spot on - a spell to make children sleep!

[@jacobforreal5221]

Wow my ancestors are Welsh and this is quite awesome to hear,not to mention it's from the 7th century OMG

[@LucyGem98]

Owain Glyndwr* good attempt though

[@philldavies7940]

@C Croft Was he related to the last true Prince of Wales and Wales greatest hero, Owain Glyndwr? He must have been well over 500 years old when he had your father.

[@mizi_ivy]

não sei como ou quando eu achei essa música, só sei que ela trás um ar de mistério, amor e solidão que é de outro mundo

[@dianavirginiairiarte9979]

Bella y mágica.

[@Inquisitor_Vex]

Utterly enchanting. Diolch yn fawr 🍻

[@rhisiartmorgan3997]

Y Gododdin. was 300 verses written by Aneurin who was at the battle the battle of Cattraeth in the 6th century. Some say he was not allowed to carry weapons so there for did not fight. Others think he fought by the side of he 300 men that went to fight the Saxons. Some Welsh sauces also say that Taliesin was with him. The most famous reference was at the end of the poem he wrote 'He fed the heads of is enemies to black ravens on the rampart of a fortress Though he was no Arthur

[@marquisdehoto1638]

It has something incredible soothing

[@jiminsbeautifulbratzdollli6916]

One of my favourites! :)

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

Very beautiful!

[@MarkHusey]

Sublime: what a blessing.

[@facilityhues]

Does anyone know where the artwork from 2:20 is from? It's beautiful and I would love to look for more pieces in the style

[@paulsoncain6615]

The feeling i get from listening to this is the same as the feeling I got when I was six years old and saw The Last Unicorn for the first time. Anyone else?

[@MrDaan70]

precious!

[@ジョンシナ420]

If you wanna put that song into historical context, it's in the same date range as the legend of king Arthur and his roundtable. It's old as fuck.

[@juliagresham400]

This is gorgeous.

[@irishfield1]

So beautiful ever awesome so much thank you

[@zoejeffery3149]

I am welsh and so singing this to my sister

[@philldavies7940]

Is she English?

[@FelixHelixihare]

I have no idea what I'm listening. I can't follow it but it's very beautiful.

[@Kobzar3374]

Hello, I find this song really appealing, well, like almost every specimen of Celtic music I have listened to so far, and still more because it dates from the seventh century A. D., that is, so far as I know, from a very brilliant age in the history of Celtic insular culture. Thank you for sharing this beauty, and for providing some information about its origin, as well as the lyrics in both Old and Modern Welsh (which unfortunately I cannot understand yet) and in English (laymen and foreigners like me appreciate it). I just have a question: you allude to the manuscripts containing the lyrics, but what about the music itself, I mean, the score? When was this music written down? Thank you very much in advance, keep up the good work, and warm greetings and New Year wishes from Spain!

[@eifionjones559]

the Celts were anything but insular

[@loganwynn2337]

unfortunately, I do not come from a family that practices the traditions of our ancestors; of course, given that my most recent immigrant ancestor came when Prussia was still a country, it's not that surprising. But I LOVE everything that I've learned so far about my family and through it Wales! My wish is to one day visit the land of my ancestors, the Gwynedd's, and to visit the grave the Kings of Gwynedd. gorffwys mewn heddwch, fy Nhadau

[@bloodandroses_jpg]

I’m not even joking, I heard the intro and felt like I knew this. I have welsh and Cherokee ancestry but when she started humming I hummed along with her and instinctively knew all the notes. I feel like I’m crazy

[@jesseh.5223]

I've felt that with some 20s songs before. Idk genetic memory or someth. But youre not alone