The famous Welsh marching song — inspired by the siege of Harlech Castle
Men of Harlech is one of the most famous Welsh folk songs, a stirring marching anthem that has become a symbol of Welsh national pride. The music was first published in 1794 (without words) as Gorchoffedd Gwŷr Harlech — March of the Men of Harlech. It takes its inspiration from the legendary siege of Harlech Castle during the Wars of the Roses, when a small garrison held out for seven years against the Yorkist forces — the longest siege in the history of the British Isles.
Men of Harlech, march to glory,
Victory is hov’ring o’er ye,
Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye,
Hear ye not her call?
At your sloth she seems to wonder;
Rend the sluggish bonds asunder,
Let the war-cry’s deaf’ning thunder
Every foe appall.
Echoes loudly waking,
Hill and valley shaking;
‘Till the sound spreads wide around,
The Saxon’s courage breaking;
Your foes on every side assailing,
Forward press with heart unfailing,
‘Till invaders learn with quailing,
Cambria ne’er can yield!
Thou, who noble Cambria wrongest,
Know that freedom’s cause is strongest,
Freedom’s courage lasts the longest,
Ending but with death!
Freedom countless hosts can scatter,
Freedom stoutest mail can shatter,
Freedom thickest walls can batter,
Fate is in her breath.
See, they now are flying!
Dead are heap’d with dying!
Over might hath triumph’d right,
Our land to foes denying;
Upon their soil we never sought them,
Love of conquest hither brought them,
But this lesson we have taught them,
“Cambria ne’er can yield!”
Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio,
A thafodau tân yn bloeddio,
Ar i Gymru gân ymganio,
“Rhyddid ac undeb.”
Llwŷr ddistrywier pob gorthrymder,
Gormes, twyll a brad a phob ffer,
Dros ryddid collwn ni ein gwaed—er
Mwyn ein gwlad a’n Dûw.
The song commemorates the garrison of Harlech Castle that held out for seven years (1461–1468) during the Wars of the Roses — the longest siege in British history. The Lancastrian defenders, supplied by sea, refused to yield to the Yorkist forces of King Edward IV. The story of their defiance became immortalised in song and, centuries later, in the saying “What Harlech holds, Harlech keeps.”
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