Princess Diana's Funeral Part 19: Derry Air and Cwm Rhondda

The Archbishop finishes the Prayers and the choir sings 'An Air from County Derry':
I would be true, for there are those that trust me.
I would be pure, for there are those that care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving, and forget the gift,
I would be humble, for I know my weakness,
I would look up, laugh, love and live.
The Archbishop led the recitation of The Lord's Prayer.
After The Lord's Prayer, The Archbishop said The Blessing.
There then followed the most beautiful piece of music, in my opinion, of the whole service: the de facto National Anthem of Wales, Cwm Rhondda, with words of the hymn 'Guide Me, O Great Redeemer':
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.
Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.
The hymn was chosen as a tribute to Diana as Princess of Wales as was the choice of Welsh soldiers as pall bearers. The BBC appropriately chose to close up on people outside with Welsh flags.
In the last verse came the indication that the most emotional part of any funeral service was about to happen...
When I first saw this in 1997 as it was happening, both myself and my mum took as cue to let it all go in terms of tears:'-(
The Dean of the Abbey and the Verger walk on and bow to the Cross while the Welsh Guards position themselves ready to take Diana's coffin away.

[@rmegna]

Yes, I watched the entire broadcast. It was one of the most moving ceremonies I have ever seen. The music was sublime and heart-rendingly beautiful. It was one of the greatest tragic moments of our times, one that we all shared wherever we were in the world, and one that will linger in our memories all of our days! Thanks for sharing these memories with us!

[@oshawa1061]

I was so touched by this piece of music that I sing it at visitations for the dead. I also sang it at the grave of my mother-in-law during the interment of her ashes in 2006. When my mother died in December 2013 I had the organist and trumpeter at her funeral play the Air From County Derry as her coffin was removed from Christ Church in Pelham, NY to be interred in Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, NY. It also brings tears to the eyes of those I sing it to when I sing it.

[@oshawa1061]

In addition, when my father died in April 2014 I had the Air From County Derry played as his coffin was being taken out of the Christ Church in Pelham, NY for the last time to be interred at the Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, NY.

[@dottieme3848]

The most beautiful, compassionate member of the Royal family has gone. " Diana, you were the Royal family, you gave it life and meaning " since your death they no longer shine.. You will never be forgotten.................

[@crossbike]

Thank you Tom for the upload of this unique welsh hymn! tears in my eyes. with deeply respect! greetings from Switzerland!

[@OziMarika]

Crying my soul out again.On her anniversary of losing her life.

[@Katencantada]

Oh dear, I'm in floods of tears again.

[@Piggybjorn]

countless prayers and unlimited time of prayers, I believe that Lady Diana is now peace and happy.

[@nicolelawless9942]

RIP Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

[@PrincessDi1997]

It's the unofficial, sort of second National Anthem you often hear the crowd singing at Welsh Rugby Matches. It's also a favourite of Welsh male voice choirs.

[@3tangle3]

Appropiately inspiring irish and welsh hymns for an inspiring woman.

[@ukgolfa]

A wonderful woman who married into a family of in-breds; the song however, takes me back to memories of Cardiff Arms Park, Barry John and Gareth Davies, and the happy memories this Englishman spent among the Welsh when living in Coedpoeth in the mid-80's. Cheers.

[@dandaman99]

The first song in this clip is to the tune of "An Air from County Derry" but the words are a poem by Howard A. Walter written in 1917 (the tune was written in 1910 by Frederick Weatherly and most commonly known as "Danny Boy"). This performance still moves me. That audio quality is not perfect but the words and music remain inspirational. My many thanks for posting this.

[@TrueImage66]

Thank you. x

[@chriscfaria7819]

Impressionante como A Princesa de Gales era amada !!!

[@Amarventris]

One can only imagine what these musics made Uk people feel like.

[@ivanhendrik516]

Above the hills of time the cross is gleaming, Fair as the sun when night has turned to day; And from it loves pure light is richly streaming, To cleanse the heart and banish sin away. To this dear cross the eyes of men are turning, Today as in the ages lost to sight; And for Thee, O Christ, mens hearts are yearning, As shipwrecked seamen yearn for morning light. The cross, O Christ, Thy wondrous love revealing, Awakes our hearts as with the light of morn, And pardon oer our sinful spirits stealing, Tells us that we, in Thee, have been reborn. Like echoes to sweet temple bells replying Our hearts, O Lord, make answer to Thy love; And we will love Thee with a love undying, Till we are gathered to Thy home above.

[@cazamir]

She was everyones Princess

[@tonybarde2572]

Oh Danny boy the pipes the pipes are calling From glen to glen and down the mountain side The summer's gone and all the flowers dying 'Tis you 'tis you must go and I must bide But come ye back when summer's in the meadow Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow 'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow Oh Danny boy oh Danny boy I love you so But when ye come and all the roses falling And I am dead as dead I well may be Go out and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an ave there for me And I will hear tho' soft you tread above me And then my grave will warm and sweeter be For you shall bend and tell me that you love me And I will sleep in peace until you come to me

[@PrincessDi1997]

Yes, apologies for that. The tape was played a lot in different video recorders in the years afterwards and VHS is not a very robust format. Things are different with DVDs now and I'm thinking of getting a DVD copy made. When I digitised it for upload on here, it was the first time I'd played the tape in about five years.

[@douglasabbott472]

Lady Diana, Pray for Us

[@PrincessDi1997]

I would think that it's a beautiful tune and is connected with the country Diana was Princess of is more important than what Christian domination it's asssociated with.

[@PrincessDi1997]

Point taken, that's why I describe it as the 'de facto' national anthem in the description. The BBC reporter in Cardiff describes it as "the national anthem" in the interview from there

[@PrincessDi1997]

She died in an accident. As her friend Rosa Monckton said, some people loved to invent lies about her when she lived and the conspiracy theories are just a manifestation of those lies continuing after her death.

[@violator9696]

That was my Welsh Flag on 4.43 Welsh Guards.

[@3tangle3]

Maybe but its a bloody awesome and moving song! Btw you only need to know one thing about Wales, just one thing....... Cymru is gonna be free!! All hell can't stop us now. :)

[@Sportymike]

I don't know whether to be happy or mad that they used this air at a member of the Royal family's funeral.

[@poverud]

that's listed in the first part as the 'Air From County Derry'

[@wellscot]

no she wasnt..she was the princess of people that saw her true value and courage,care and compassion a woman used by the royals and betrayed by them..while all the time so much better than any one of them..

[@PrincessDi1997]

Point taken but arguably it's ruled by Dr. No with Martin McGuinness as his sidekick now. The Queen barely gets a look in. I know a man who used to drive Diana whenever she visited the North of Ireland btw.

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

It's a little 'ditty' called the Derry Air. Danny Boy, as we know it, is put to this beautiful tune. Played even better by Phil Coulter ;-) GC88

[@BomberKommando91]

Makes me proud to be Welsh, shame she died though.

[@PrincessDi1997]

Are you talking about Ian Paisley? I haven't noticed him in the footage if you are.

[@PrincessDi1997]

Well Derry is in the Protestant part of Éire! The person was referring to the Welsh hymn at the end of the clip. Incidently, I was at a Catholic mass at Christmas and saw that Cwm Rhondda was hymn nine hundred and something in the Catholic hymnary.

[@joeyenicks920]

진짜 Diana ):.

[@jonsabine29]

R.I.P Tom Fleming

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

'Dr. No'...LOVE IT!!!! He's NO longer in power, having steped down last month! GOOD riddence to him, in my opinion! GC88

[@cheekykirsty123]

CYMRU AM BYTH!!!

[@martinevans123]

How good for all that is. Not just a Protestant hymn, of course, but a Non-conformist anthem. Which tradition, strangely, has often felt more at home with the Catholic Church. But I suppose Diana must have been the most non-demoninational Royal of all time. Can't help but feel, for all the controversy, that this service was worthy of her.

[@jonsabine29]

@iabud23 ascends, surely?

[@poumista]

she had very little connection to wales,had no home there and rarely visited

[@shamr0ck]

ehhhhh the choir boys are singing danny boy? where is the welsh national anthem?

[@bripat22]

Ah, you forget Hen Wlad Fy Nhaddau

[@JoinRitt]

Lewis Daniel Miller Sarah Miller James

[@huwwilson650]

i'm always one for political correctness and so i have to say she was only the Princess of Wales from 1981-1996. After that, she lost the style HRH and the title Princess of Wales but aquired the style Diana, Princess of Wales. This style meant vaguely Diana, [formerly] Princess of Wales. So, from 1996-1997 she wasn't the Princess of Wales.

[@martinevans123]

only a Principality, oh dear. Diana then "only a Princess"? True, Wales is not a Kingdom, but then of course neither is England. We live in what is quaintly termed "The" United Kingdom, even though we have no king and are often anything but united. Why does Wales have a National Museum, A National Library and a National Assembly? Perhaps Diana's memory deserves more than a pointless debate about where we live. She lived on planet earth and so should we.

[@Gruntol5]

Better still, why not just sever Wales from England and just let it drift off into oblivion. I don't think anyone would even notice.