Open downloadable pdf file: Bro_Goth_Agan_Tasow

As sung by John Bolitho in St Clements Church Withiel, 2005

As sung by Buccas Four for Gorsedh Kernow in 2019

 

Notes:

Literal Translation
Old Land of thy fathers thy children love thee,
Dear Realm of the sunset, what land is thy peer?
Over all the world we are scattered abroad
But all our love is to thee.

Cornwall, Cornwall, we love Cornwall.
As long as the fair sea shall be like a wall around thee
We are “one and all” for Cornwall.

Country of King Arthur the saints and the Grail,
More loved by us is no other land.
In thee, every rock, valley, hill and house
Bear memory of our old tongue.

In the darkness of the mine and on the waves of the sea,
When we are wandering through the lands beyond the sea
In every place whatever and in every country
May we turn our hearts to thee.

Verses 1 and 2 plus chorus are from the singing of John Bolitho 03/08/2005 at St Clements Church Withiel. These are the verses used in the Gorsedh Kernow ceremonies and published in “Ordenal an Orsedh Kernow”. The melody is from the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Cornish words were originally written to this tune by Henry Jenner circa the 1920s and adapted by Robert Morton Nance for the inaugural Cornish Gorsedh held in 1928. An additional third verse was originally used by Nance and this is given here. The same tune and similar wording is used as the Breton national anthem “Bro Gozh ma Zadoù” thus making this a universal Brythonic anthem for Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. (The Gorsedd held at the Welsh Eistedfodd is the parent for similar organisations and ceremonies in Cornwall and Brittany).

See also
Ralph Dunstan, Cornish Song Book (London, Reid Bros,1929) p8.