Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRIDE OF LLANFAIR (Matthew Edwards)
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 01:38 PM

THE PRIDE OF LLANFAIR
(Matthew Edwards)

It was on Sunday morning as the church bell was ringing,
The blackbird was singing his sweet notes in the air.
The girls of the parish to the church were all thronging,
And my love's among them; she's the pride of Llanfair.

As she walks through the churchyard, all the old men fall silent,
As they gaze on her beauty that shines like a star,
And the young men and boys are all secretly hoping,
For a smile from the lips of the pride of Llanfair.

O how sweetly her voice rings 'mid the church's high rafters,
In melodious hymns, while I whisper a prayer,
O dear God in Heaven, its to You I am praying,
For one word from the lips of the pride of Llanfair.

One kiss and a parting, for I must be going;
I'll return in the springtime, or in the new year.
In the green woods and valleys where the Banwy is flowing,
I will walk with my true love, the pride of Llanfair.


An 18th century broadside, fresh from the press! It owes something to a memory of a poem by Dafydd ap Gwilym about the girls of Lanbadarn, (except he was treated less generously!). Anyway its a small tribute to the town which has given so many happy memories at Llanstock. As for the air I think it comes from something in the singing of Gabriel MacArdle, but I haven't been able to pin it down yet.

ME

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: MMario
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 01:49 PM

pin that sucker down and figure out a way to get it to us, would you?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 02:04 PM

Those of us at the Llanstock II survivor's session this lunchtime were lucky enough to hear Matthew sing it for us. Great stuff!

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: Morticia
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 03:44 PM

wonderful song, Mathew....you are a very talented man!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 04:31 PM

Mmario, I would dearly love to be able to oblige. On seaching through my library the nearest I can come is the song Now Westlin Winds as sung by Gabriel McArdle on Dog Big, Dog Little on Claddagh CC51, but while this is a beautiful song, written by Robert Burns to celebrate the charms of Peggy Thomson of Kirkoswald, the tune is somewhat different. My tune is definitely not original; but I think I have also borrowed something from the singing of "The Reed Cutter's Daughter" as sung by Jeff Wesley from Northamptonshire on Veteran VT116, to whom I have been listening a lot recently.
Unfortunately I don't read music notation, and I can't transcribe a tune. With any luck Micca will have captured this on disc and will be able to provide the tune for you. Sorry!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 04:44 PM

a small tribute to the town which has given so many happy memories at Llanstock

See Llanstock 2 the conclusion and other linked threads.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: alanww
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 04:41 AM

Brilliant song Matthew and I enjoyed you singing it! I look forward to you singing it again next time I see you!

Time passes over more cheerful and gay ...!
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Pride of Llanfair
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 10:13 AM

Sorry I missed it Matthew.