At first glance Martyn Joseph is (just) another gifted singer songwriter. First impressions are there to mislead of course: Joseph's ambition is broader than entertainment, deeper than commerce. Some musicians want to move your feet, some just want to move you: Martyn Joseph wants to move heaven and earth. Somewhere back in the middle distance Martyn Joseph emerged from the pack and we began to notice. For a moment there he might have been a pop-star, certainly a protest-singer, a balladeer now and then, a Celtic rock star before they were in vogue, a folk troubadour and then, just, Martyn Joseph. Darkness on the edge of Cardiff. If he has a reputation onstage as a raconteur, extemporizing lyrics to fit every occasion, his songs have always been infected with a discreet but defiant god bothering, music more interested in the forgotten than the remembered, the way things might be than the way they have become. It is less the ghost of Tom Jones than a Holy Ghost music, an aching and a longing for another way, another place, where you can treasure the questions that have no answers. Depending on where he was at the time, some of these songs have had a fortune spent on colouring them in while others are the second-take line drawings from the home studio or Polaroid's snapped live in the back of beyond.
The consistency is the voice the place where he stands, from where he chooses to look at life. This is music that articulates a yearning for another world that is yet to be born, songs of sorrow acquainted with grief but, nevertheless, melodies carried in sunlight, thunder and rainbows from the same sky. And as his 'Best Of' collection illustrates, Joseph's work matures with age. If these songs are already word-perfect to fans, in the future they will be covered by Britain's two leading contemporary music magazines Q, and, MoJo, respectively, describe Martyn Joseph as having 'a depth, resonance and emotional punch, which belies comparisons', and as being 'an artist of enduring worth'. Meanwhile The Guardian was transfixed by this gifted and gracious Welshman's 'burnished voice' whilst Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music and iconic songwriter himself, regards Martyn as one of Britain's 'most charismatic and electrifying performers'. The Boston Globe concluded that the man was a 'profound experience'. Such press plaudits, and there are many more to choose from, would make any publicist purr with pleasure, but for Martyn Joseph, he regards them in a detached, almost incidental kind of way. For Martyn, 'it's the song that matters'. Yet such is Martyn's stature as an acoustic artist of almost hypnotic ability that BBC Radio 2, Britain's most listened to radio network, featured Martyn in their peak-time series on Singer/Songwriters. To be awarded the garland of your own programme on the Sony 'Station Of The Year', and placed alongside the likes of Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin Carpenter really says it all about Martyn's abilities.
Martyn's 20 year career has embraced some notable achievements including 5 Top 50 UK chart positions, with such songs as 'Dolphins Make Me Cry', 'Working Mother' and 'Let's Talk About It In The Morning', and appearances and tours with, amongst others, Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Joan Armatrading, Clannad, Chris De Burgh, Jools Holland, Art Garfunkel, and even, Celine Dion. However, for Martyn, these various accomplishments, satisfying though they are, count as just part of the process, the necessary presentation aspect. As he says, 'Really what I do is try and write songs that might make a difference'.
His touring work and appearances over the years, on both sides of the Atlantic, have helped to establish this gifted and gracious Welshman as one of the foremost singer/songwriters of his generation. As Janis Ian said of sharing a stage with Martyn 'I loved working with him. I loved listening to him, I'd love to work with him again, anytime, anyplace'. Martyn's particular strength is in the lyrical narrative of his songs, be they contemporary protests against injustice and inhumanity, a musical psalm to the fulfillment and fragilities of love, or a piercing précis of social history, 'it's the song that can soothe, explain, and even in a small way save us'. In this manner he carries on in the tradition of the six string balladeer as both catalyst and interpreter of our raddled and rewarding times, our personal and communal stories sung out loud in the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Ewan MacColl, Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen. That tradition, and sound, that thankfully still emerges from The Hallowed Hobo's Hall of Fame.
Across a 10 year cycle of albums from the Sony days of 'Being There' to his recent two volume live compilation 'Don't Talk About Love, Martyn's song catalogue is an awesomely impressive archive of our times, our tribulations, our wonder and our wounds. Amongst the considerable collection of positive reviews of Martyn's recording and live work, the two regularly recurring words describing, in particular, his performances are 'passion' and 'humour'. One observer after seeing Martyn in concert likened the experience and content to 'the beautiful business of being alive with all its jokes, absurdity and sadness, seared by music for the heart and head'. When you encounter Martyn Joseph, you'll hear likewise...
Dic Penderyn
Martyn Joseph Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But on this day thousands stood their ground
A silent crowd who's heads are bowed in helplessness
Bid farewell
And the wife of a Richard Penderyn
Supported there to weak to stand
Disbelieving anger and sorrow
For her innocent man, an innocent man
Let me see the one I love
Lift me up oh lift me now
Let me see the man I love one more time
Broken by starvation and poverty
While the iron masters sip their wine
Young and old together marched for justice
But the bayonet and the bullet's what they find
"Bread or blood" cried a collier
"We've come to far lads to run"
But in our Myther town in 1831
They were cut down by the government guns
And in the midst of senseless slaughter
One soldier wounded in the thigh
Who later swore on oath at the trial
That Dic Penderyn was not the guy
Though he had stood for everything they wanted
And rose up with his people on that day
It could not have been he that harmed the soldier
But some there with a grudge put him away
Said they'd stitch him up one day
Despite petitions and cries for mercy
All that the facts had to say
Neither king nor his parliament would listen
Even the judge was turned away
Hey Lord Melbourne how did you sleep then
With all that evidence in your face
Well you shot down 24 so why not hang someone?
Got to keep those workers in their place
He slowly climbs the steps to the gallows pole
The last few moments of a life
His eyes survey the crowd of gallant Welsh
Looking for his wife, he can't see his wife
She says, lift me up oh lift me boys
Let me see the one I love
Lift me up oh lift me boys
Let me see the man I love one more time
But louder and longer than the sound of guns
Is the memory of what was done
You can only trample people down for so long
Time will show you have not won
And long before all this on a hill in Palestine
They strung another up they say was a friend of yours and mine
Dying in the place of another one
But in the morning comes the sun
Lift me up oh lift me now
Let me see the one I love
Lift me up oh lift me now
Let me see the one I love one more time
The lyrics of Martyn Joseph’s song Dic Penderyn gives a poignant insight into a historical event in Welsh history. It narrates the story of Richard “Dic” Penderyn, a worker and trade unionist who was wrongly accused and executed for his involvement in the Merthyr Rising of 1831. The first verse depicts the scene of thousands of people gathered on St. Mary St., where Penderyn's wife is supported by those around her as she bids a final farewell to her innocent husband.
The song then goes on to describe the injustices and social inequalities that led to the Merthyr Rising, where the poor, starving, and oppressed working people marched for justice but were met with bayonets and bullets. Despite evidence to the contrary, Penderyn was falsely accused and hanged, and neither the king nor the parliament was willing to listen. The song ends on a hopeful note, reminding the listener that time will eventually show that those who attempt to oppress others will not ultimately succeed.
In summary, the lyrics of Dic Penderyn describe the tragedy of a Welsh worker who was falsely accused and executed for his involvement in a historic event, highlighting the social inequalities and injustices that led to the Merthyr Rising and the struggle of the working-class people to attain justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Thunder rolled and the rain came down St. Mary St
The day was dark and gloomy when the events of the song took place in St. Mary Street.
But on this day thousands stood their ground
Thousands of people showed up united to fight for justice on this day.
A silent crowd who's heads are bowed in helplessness
The crowd was quiet and helpless but determined.
Bid farewell
The crowd said their final goodbye to the person who was about to die unjustly.
And the wife of a Richard Penderyn
The song mentions the wife of Richard Penderyn.
Supported there to weak to stand
She was weak and could not stand without support.
Disbelieving anger and sorrow
She felt disbelief, anger, and sorrow for her innocent husband.
For her innocent man, an innocent man
Richard Penderyn was an innocent man who was wrongly accused.
She says, lift me up oh lift me boys
The wife pleads to the crowd to lift her up so she can see her husband for the last time.
Let me see the one I love
She wants to see her husband who she loves dearly.
Broken by starvation and poverty
The people who stood up for justice were weakened and broken by poverty and hunger.
While the iron masters sip their wine
The ones who caused poverty and injustice were enjoying luxuries like wine.
Young and old together marched for justice
People from all age groups marched together for justice.
But the bayonet and the bullet's what they find
The march for justice was met with violence from the government in the form of bayonets and bullets.
"Bread or blood" cried a collier
The miners cried for bread or blood, meaning they wanted justice or they were ready to fight for it.
"We've come to far lads to run"
The people had come too far to give up and run away from their fight for justice.
But in our Myther town in 1831
The song refers to events that happened in 1831 in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.
They were cut down by the government guns
The government used guns to stop the march for justice, killing innocent people.
And in the midst of senseless slaughter
The violence was senseless and unjustified.
One soldier wounded in the thigh
One soldier was injured in the events that took place.
Who later swore on oath at the trial
The soldier testified in court.
That Dic Penderyn was not the guy
The soldier confirmed that Richard Penderyn was not the person who attacked him.
Though he had stood for everything they wanted
Richard Penderyn fought for justice and stood for what they all wanted.
And rose up with his people on that day
He stood with the people in their fight for justice.
It could not have been he that harmed the soldier
Richard Penderyn was innocent and did not harm the soldier.
But some there with a grudge put him away
Despite being innocent, Richard Penderyn was put to death because someone had a grudge against him.
Said they'd stitch him up one day
They planned to falsely accuse and convict him from the very beginning.
Despite petitions and cries for mercy
Even with pleas for mercy and petitions, the government did not show mercy.
All that the facts had to say
The facts were not enough to convince the government of Richard Penderyn's innocence.
Neither king nor his parliament would listen
The king and parliament did not show any interest in listening to the people's pleas for justice.
Even the judge was turned away
The judge did not help in clearing Richard Penderyn's name.
Hey Lord Melbourne how did you sleep then
The song addresses Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister of the UK at the time, and questions if he could sleep well knowing about the injustice that took place.
With all that evidence in your face
Despite having enough evidence proving Richard Penderyn's innocence, the government did nothing.
Well you shot down 24 so why not hang someone?
The government killed 24 people during the march for justice, so hanging one more person did not seem like a big deal.
Got to keep those workers in their place
The government's actions were meant to keep workers from fighting for their rights.
He slowly climbs the steps to the gallows pole
The song describes Richard Penderyn's final moments as he climbs the steps to the gallows pole where he will be hanged.
The last few moments of a life
Richard Penderyn's last few moments on earth.
His eyes survey the crowd of gallant Welsh
He looks at the brave and courageous Welsh people who stood up for justice.
Looking for his wife, he can't see his wife
Richard Penderyn could not see his wife for the last time before he was hung.
But louder and longer than the sound of guns
The memory of the events that took place will stay with the people for a long time.
Is the memory of what was done
The memory of the government's injustice and cruelty will stay with the people for generations.
You can only trample people down for so long
The people will not stay oppressed forever and will rise up for their rights eventually.
Time will show you have not won
The government might have won in the short term but time will show that they did not win in the long term.
And long before all this on a hill in Palestine
The song takes a reference from a previous event in history, describing the crucifixion of Jesus on a hill in Palestine.
They strung another up they say was a friend of yours and mine
Jesus, who was a friend to many, was also punished unjustly by being crucified on the cross.
Dying in the place of another one
Jesus died in the place of others, taking their punishment on himself.
But in the morning comes the sun
Despite the darkness of the events described in the song, there is hope that the morning will bring a new light.
Lift me up oh lift me now
The song ends with the wife's plea to be lifted up to see her husband for the last time.
Let me see the one I love
She wants to see her husband, whom she loves dearly, for the last time before he is hung.
Writer(s): Martyn Joseph
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kristopher Ashley
Cofio Dic Penderyn, Love Singing this Song with My Patriotic Welsh Butties Darren, Stefan, Mez and my Brawd Mawr, in Darren's!!! Continuously Belting it out in Memory of the Great Dic Penderyn❤️ We Will Remember You, Innocent Man Killed at the Hands of Saxons!!! Visited Dics Grave this year in Aberavon Cemetery. Every Welshman and Woman should pay their Respects, 13th August Every Year!!! Fe Godwn Ni Eto Cymru Rydd✊🏻
cymru rydd 1282
Kristopher Ashley cymru rydd brawd fe godwn ni eto