Esgyrn gan Calfari

I was wondering if I could ask a favour…

I’m listening to lots of Welsh music to help train my ear and have come across this song which I love:

I was wondering if someone would kindly translate the lyrics? I can sing along to the bits I can hear well/recognise but there are some sentences (many, in fact) which I can’t! I’d like to be able to sing along in the car before doing my challenges to get me in the right head space…

Any help most appreciated
Diolch :wink:

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That’s a fair old lump of work - tricky stuff, that kind of translation - can you find the lyrics anywhere online? If you post the lyrics in here, maybe a bunch of people could take a line each, kind of thing… :slight_smile:

Thanks for the reply.
I’ve tried searching for them everywhere! If anyone knows where I can find them that would be fantastic but not sure where else to try…

Have you considered asking the band via social media? I’m sure they’d be willing to help you out. I know Adwaith replied to a request for lyrics for one of their songs recently.

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I think they are disbanding (sorry about the pun), unless I have misunderstood. Rob is SSiWs expert on these matters.

If so, you will have to be quick.

I think one of the members, Siôn Jones (Elin Fflur’s brother), was on Jules Holland’s programme this week.

Thanks for all the replies.
I’m not on social media but spurned on by you all to do another search, I have come across an email address which will hopefully be answered…
Watch this space!

Not needing it translating, just the welsh lyrics so I can learn the song!

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Y ddiwedd y taith arnan ni ar ben = The end of our journey has come
Y byd yn edrych llawer ar hen = The world looks old a lot
Ai be’ oedd unwaith yn dy feddwl di = What was once in your thoughts?
Dw i’n meddwl yn ol cyn trio symud yn nes - I’m thinking back before trying to to move [past?]
Mae’r bwyrdro deallach yn fy les = there is a battle of understanding in my [something]
Ti 'di gweld dy fyd yn troi mewn culloedd =You have seen your world turn into narrowness
Ti’n disgwyl oes oedd = You ever expected [?]

[Gets harder in the noisy chorus]

Ai i fynd i esgyn nef sy’n llifo ar hyd = Am i going to reach the heavens which are flowing along
dw i’n byw, dw i yma = I am alive, I am here
Yma o flaen y llew = here in front of the lion
a gwrth fy edrych lon = against my looks of [lon] (despite how I look?)
dw i’n taro fel sain = I’m striking like a sound [probably not sain!]
Dw i’n fyw, dw i yma - I live, I’m here
yma o flaen y llew = here in front of the lion

Dw i’n ateb dy cwestiwn ar dy = I answer your question of yourself
sy’n hunllef yn fy meddwl i = which is a nightmare in my mind
dw i’n gwerth fy oce dal i gadw fyth = I am worth my [oce] still I’m keeping always
a nawr mae cyfle wedi dod = and now the chance has come
a ti’n gallu gweld eu hunan fod = you can see yourself
Y dyddiau dywyll mae’n hawdd i ginio ddim = These dark days it’s easy to not have meals (not eat)
mor hawdd i cuddio hyll = as easy as hiding ugliness

[Chorus]

Ai mir yn esgyn ni? = Is [mir] reaching us?
sy’n llifo ar hyd = which is flowing along
dw i’n fyw, dw i yma = I live, I am here
yma flaen y llew = here in front of the lion

symud ymlaen a wedyn disgyn i llawr = moving on and then falling down
a codi a symud ymlaen ac wedyn disgyn i llawr = and getting up and moving on and then falling down
{ac yn y blaen} = and so on)

a codi = and getting up

nah it was easy, though I could never have done it without SSiW :wink:

To be honest, this is my life, listening to Welsh music, mishearing things, having often batty understandings of the lyrics, yet I enjoy it and this also happens in English too. I kind of make up lyrics when listening to things in other languages too!
I hope I’ve done the song reasonable justice. If not, really sorry Calfari fans!

Any better suggestions are of course welcome!

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Wow FairPlay. :facepunch:t2:

I can do the verses and some of the chorus …

Ar ddiwedd y daith dan ni ar ben
Y byd yn edrych lawr ar hyn
Ar be’ oedd unwaith yn dy feddwl di
Dwi’n meddwl yn ôl cyn trio symud yn nes
Mae’r brwydro bellach yn ddi-les
Ti 'di gweld dy fyd yn troi mewn cylchoedd
'Di disgwyl oesoedd

(cytgan/chorus)
A byr(?) fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew
Ac wrthi edrych 'nôl
Dwi’n taro fel drym(?)
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew

Dwi’n ateb dy gwestiwn ar dydd
Sy’n hunllef yn fy meddwl i
Dwi’n gwerthfawrogi dal i gadw ffydd
A nawr mae’r cyfle wedi dod
Ond ddim yn gallu gweld yr hyn yn fod
Mae’r dyddiau tywyll 'ma’n hawdd i guddio hyn
Mor hawdd i guddio hyn

(Cytgan/chorus)
A byr(?) fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew
Ac wrthi edrych 'nôl
Dwi’n taro fel drym(?)
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew

A byr(?) fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew

Symud ymlaen a dal yn disgyn yn ôl a codi (x7)

Some of it just doesn’t fit but I can’t think of other words to help it along. If you sang that in a kareoke bar I don’t think anyone would pull you up over it. :wink:

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Diolch yn fawr pawb! I wasn’t expecting such an enthusiastic response, chwarae teg!

Ansbaradigaethus :wink:

Thanks @Gruntius, that’s really helpful to me.
So with the help of a dictionary:

Gwerthfawrogi - to appreciate
nes = nearer, or in ‘symud yn nes’ = to move a little further away, to move to somewhere near?
les = to benefit, yn fy les = for my benefit ?
and of course, the title esgyrn = bones (not esgyn!)

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This may possibly be a better version of the lyrics, still not 100% sure

Ar ddiwedd y daith da ni ar ben - at the end of the journey we are over

Y byd yn edrych lawr ar hyn - the world looking down on this

Ar be oedd unwaith yn dy feddwl di - on what was once in your mind

Dw i’n meddwl yn ol cyn trio symud yn nes - I’m thinking back before trying to move closer

Mae’r bwyrdro bellach yn ddi les - the fight is now no use

Ti 'di gweld dy fyd yn troi mewn cylchoedd - you’ve seen your world spinning in circles

‘Di disgwyl oesoedd - have waited ages

A myr fy esgyrn I sy’n llifo o hyd - (myr possibly meaning byr?) my short bones are still flowing / grinding

dw i’n fyw, dwi yma - I am alive, I am here

Yma o flaen y llew - here in front of the lion

ag wrthi edrych nol - and whilst looking back

dw i’n taro fel llong (?) - i hit like a ship?

Dw i’n fyw, dw i yma - I am alive, I am here

yma flaen y llew - here in front of the lion

Dw i’n ateb dy gwestiynau di - i’m answering your questions

sy’n hunllef yn fy meddwl i - that are a nightmare in my mind

dw i’n gwerthfawrogi dal i cadw ffyth - I appreciate keeping the faith

a nawr mae cyfle wedi dod - and now a chance has come

Ond ti’m yn gallu gweld dy hun yn dod - but you can’t see yourself coming

Fel dyddiau tywyll mae’n hawdd i guddio hyn - like dark days it is easy to hide this

mor hawdd i cuddio hyn - so easy to hide this

[Chorus]

A myr fy esgyrn I - And my short bones?

sy’n llifo o hyd - are still flowing / grinding

dwi’n fyw, dwi yma - I am alive, I am here

yma flaen y llew - here in front of the lion

Ac wrth mi edrych nol - and whilst looking back

dwi’n taro fel long - I’m hitting like a ship

Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma, - i am alive, I am here

Yma flaen y llew. - here in front of the lion

A myr fy esgyrn i - and my short bones

Sy’n llifo o hyd - are still flowing / grinding

Dwi’n fyw dwi yma - i am alive, I am here

Yma flean y llew - here in front of the lion

symud ymlaen a da ni’n disgyn yn ol a codi (repeated) - moving forward and we are falling back and rising

Just listened to this for the first time - what a great song! And what a shame they’ve disbanded.
Thanks to everyone for supplying the lyrics and translation(s).

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It’s great! Some of their other songs are fantastic too - I would definitely recommend a listen on Spotify!

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Yep I’ve already listened to a few of theirs on YT, and they’re consistently good. I get the impression that they weren’t aware of their own talent.

They were, I told them enough times. :joy:

I saw them play live a few times, his voice is as good live as it is on the recordings.

Check out the new band Luna Cove, you won’t be disappointed. :thinking::wink:

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Lucky you, now that’s one band that would really have been worth turning out for!

Just been able to find ‘Gair gwyn’ so far - gwych! :+1: My wife Renella has been a more consistent rock fan than me from day one but is selective about who she endorses - and she’s given a big seal of approval to both of these bands! :heart: I know I should pay more attention to the Welsh Music thread but there’s so much on there it’s difficult to know where to start. :dizzy_face:

Coming back to ‘Esgyrn’, Geraint, those lyrics - they sound great, but then everything tends to do in Welsh. Would you say they are worth paying attention to - like the rock classics such as Stairway to Heaven or All Along the Watchtower, with that semi-mythical quality - or is that wishful thinking and they’ve just been slung together in the studio? Or something in between?

Thank you all for your lovely messages about the song, lyrics and the band! I’m the lead singer! It’s so heart warming to see things like this.

Thanks

Bryn

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Ok, I’ve gone to the source so these are the lyrics … I think. :joy:

Ar ddiwedd y daith dan ni ar ben
Y byd yn edrych lawr ar hyn
Ar be’ oedd unwaith yn dy feddwl di
Dwi’n meddwl yn ôl cyn trio symud yn nes
Mae’r brwydro bellach yn ddi-les
Ti 'di gweld dy fyd yn troi mewn cylchoedd
'Di disgwyl oesoedd

(cytgan/chorus)
A mur fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma o flaen y llew
Ac wrth’ ni edrych 'nôl
Dwi’n taro fel ton
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma o flaen y llew

Dwi’n ateb dy gwestiwnau di
Sy’n hunllef yn fy meddwl i
Dwi’n gwerthfawrogi dal i gadw ffydd
A nawr mae’r cyfle wedi dod
Ond ddim yn gallu gweld dy hyn yn bod
Mewn dyddiau tywyll mae’n hawdd i guddio hyn
Mor hawdd i guddio hyn

(Cytgan/chorus)
A mur fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma o flaen y llew
Ac wrth’ ni edrych 'nôl
Dwi’n taro fel ton
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma o flaen y llew

A mur fy esgyrn i
Sy’n llifo o hyd
Dwi’n fyw, dwi yma
Yma 'flaen y llew

Symud ymlaen a dal yn disgyn yn ôl a codi (x7)

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