In the World Cup match between USA and Wales, the latter managed to secure a draw in approximately 64 years but the country managed to win thousands of hearts with their national anthem, know its lyrics meaning and the English translation of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
After the match, social media was flooded with the praises for the Welsh national anthem ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau,’ which translated as Land of My Fathers as the anthem was sung at the World Cup for the first time.
Wales National Anthem Lyrics And Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau English Translation Meaning
Iran fans booed and whistled their own national anthem against Wales. pic.twitter.com/zwa76NWFdc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 25, 2022
The moment Iran fans booed during their national anthem in protest to the government pic.twitter.com/NAJ7KcuRPX
— Kaboob (@KabobFn) November 25, 2022
Earlier in 1958, Wales sang God Save the Queen when the nation was last qualified for the World Cup. Their anthem is believed to have originated in 1905 in response to New Zealand’s rugby team’s haka.
Let us remind you, the Welsh team led by Gareth Bale at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium ahead of the opening fixture against USA, and they sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau with gusto.
For those who are curious to know more about the national anthem of Welsh, here’s all the details.
The national anthem of Welsh has only 3 verses and they goes as in Welsh:
Verse 1
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Chorus
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.
Verse 2
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.
(Chorus)
Verse 3
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
(Chorus)
The translation of Welsh national anthem into English goes like:
This land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Shed their blood for freedom
Chorus:
Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall
For this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.
Verse 2
Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me.
(Chorus)
Verse 3
Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.
(Chorus)
For those who are curious to know about the history of the nation’s national anthem, let us tell you, this anthem is a collaboration between harpist James James aka Glan Rhondda and his father Evan James.
The former wrote the melody while the latter wrote the lyrics of the ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau,’ anthem.
The anthem was first ever performed in January or February 1856 during the vestry of Capel Tabor in Maesteg. At the time, it was sung by a singer named Elizabeth John from Pontypridd.
ALSO READ: Who Is Mariacristina Masocco As Italy Based Hiker Fell To Her Death