Huw Jones Lyrics

Davei

on Dwr

Rough transition into English - I'm sure someone else could do better:

Water
that flows over the land
where my mother and father
and my brothers and sisters
and I lived

The English came
with their effort
to put a layer of water
so delicate and gentle
over the dwellings of my district

This is where the fields were
This is where the trees were
where the valley children ran lightly of foot
This is where the school was
This is where the church was
This is where we lived

But water
is lapping in the breeze
and its surface is so calm
and innocent and cold and clean

But a man
with all his knowledge
uses the power of government
to end the life of this valley

This is where the farms were
This is where the road was
This is where the chapel was where many poets grew up
This is where the echo of voices broke on a long summer's day
This is where I lived

Water
was my friend as a child
and a weapon against
all that is dear and of value to me

Water
silences the voices of the farmers
from annoying the visitors
and the peace was struck with its noise

This is the water that is heavier
than any tombstone
and the silence that is never given to the soul of peace
This is where it was buried
a body that was still alive
This is where souls were murdered
by water