Agit Disco 12 by Sian Addicott « A G I T D I S C O

Agit Disco 12 by Sian Addicott

This selection is inspired by some research I undertook into the effects of the Welsh language on Welsh identity (of both Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers)

Undeniably, English colonialism has consistently affected Welsh identity. From the ‘Welsh Not’in the 19th cnetury to the flooding of the Tryweryn valley (see image on CD) to provide water for the city of Liverpool in the 1960s, such potent, visual examples of repression have had lasting effects.

These songs are not all related to language, some are in Welsh but all have something of a political message from poking fun at the monarchy to highlighting the economic situation which makes so many young people leave Wales (despite this the ‘Hiraeth’ remains strong!)

Track 1. ‘Freedom Train’ by Paul Robeson (from the Freedom Train and Welsh Transatlantic Recordings 1954, poem by Langston Hughes set to music)

The history between Paul Robeson and Welsh miners spans back some 50 years, both finding an affinity in the others socialist convictions and fight against oppression. Robeson performed in the working men’s clubs in the valleys and was invited to perform at the 1954 Eisteddfod held in Mountain Ash (my father’s home town). The US government had confiscated Robeson’s passport, accusing him of Communist links and ‘anti-Americanism’. As a result Robeson performed in secret via a trans-atlantic telephone call. ‘Freedom Train’ is taken from these recordings.

Track 2. ‘Carlo’ by Dafydd Iwan (satirises the investiture of Prince Charles 1969)

‘Carlo’ by Dafydd Iwan was composed in response to the investiture of Prince Charles in 1969. The lyrics poke fun at Charlie’s ‘love’ for the Welsh language..and raises issue of colonial rule. Apparently the Carlos song by Dafydd Iwan sold 13,000 copies in the first week! So I guess it must have been on vinyl.

I found some translated lyrics:

Mae gen i ffrind bach yn byw ym Mycingam Palas

A Charlo Winsor yw ei enw e;

Tro dwetha yr es i i gnoco ar ddrws ei dŷ,

Daeth ei fam i’r drws a medde hi wrtha i:

Cytgan:

‘O Carlo, Carlo, Carlo’n whare polo heddi,

Carlo, Carlo, Carlo’n whare polo gyda dadi.’

Ymunwch yn y gân, daeogion fawr a mân,

O’r diwedd mae gyda ni Brins yng Ngwlad y Gân.

© Cyhoeddiadau Sain

I have a little friend who lives in Muckingham Palace

And Carlo Windsor is his name;

The last time I went to knock on the door of his house,

His mother came to the door and she said to me:

Chorus

‘Oh, Carlo, Carlo, Carlo, he play polo today,

Carlo, Carlo, Carlo, he play polo with daddy.’

Join in the song, serfs great and small,

At last we have a Prince in the Land of Song.

Track 3. ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ by John Cale (Dylan Thomas’ poem set to music 1992)

‘Do not go gentle..’ (Dylan Thomas’s famous poem set to music by Welsh musician John Cale).is a protest song of sorts. Raging against death.. I was born and brought up in Swansea (Dylan’s “ugly, lovely town”). As a non-Welsh speaker some have argued that during his life Thomas was appreciated more in England and America than in Wales. ‘Do not go gentle’ also breaks grammatical rules, in some ways Thomas is making the English language his own

Track 4. ‘P.C.P’ by Manic Street Preachers (from Holy Bible 1994)

‘PCP’ for the lyrics:

Teacher starve your child, P.C. approved

As long as the right words are used

Systemised atrocity ignored

As long as bi-lingual signs on view

Track 5. ‘Sixty Eight Guns’ by The Alarm (great mullets…!) 1983

Track 6. ‘International Velvet’ by Catatonia (International Velvet 1998)

This song contains the lines “Everyday when I wake up, I thank the Lord I’m Welsh’and the song is often played before rugby internationals at the Millenium Stadium with the crowd singing along without irony… The song seemed to come at a turning point in recent welsh identity, termed ‘Cool Cymru’, when being Welsh no longer seemed to be a such a bad thing.

Track 7. ‘How I Long’ by Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci (How I long to feel the Summer in my heart 2001)

Chosen for the lines:

Out here in the country

Where stars they shine

You can even take a walk by moonshine

Though I long to stay

I’ve just got to go

Where money is made

Cold winds blow

Track 8. ‘Man Don’t Give a Fuck’ by Super Furry Animals (1996)

Performed live this song has even more energy than the recorded version. Despite the desolate chorus there’s something uplifting about thousands of people singing along in a kind of desperate solidarity:

Out of focus ideology

Keep the masses from majority

Experts, brain washed, tumble dried

Left to bleed whilst vultures glide

You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else (X8)

You know they