dublinka

The Welsh poet, Idris Davies, was the source of inspiration for the Byrds song The Bells of Rhymney on their 1965 debut album Mr Tambourine Man. Originally the lament, which mimics the structure of Oranges and Lemons, was set to music by Pete Seeger, afterwhich it soon entered the folk cannon. Despite, or perhaps because of being one of that eras great elegies, it quixotically compelled the flower children of the age to dance effervescent the moment they heard it.

Is there hope for the future?
Say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner?
Say the black bells of Rhondda
And who killed the miner?
Say the grim bells of Blaina

Variously a coalminer, teacher and friend of Dylan Thomas, Davies work has aged well. Witness the following poem Rhymney in his own handwriting. It just makes you hungry for more.