Dafydd Jones (Dewi Dywyll)

Dafydd Jones or Dewi Dywyll (1803 – 1868) was a Welsh balladeer.^[1] His father was a carpenter in Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire, and he was born on the estate of Dolau Bach there. He was also known as Deio'r Cantwr (Davy the Singer) and Dewi Medi (Harvest Dave). Dafydd Jones gained the name Dewi Dywyll, which means Blind Davy, due to being blinded by accident. He wrote ballads and sang them.^[2]

He gained his fame for his impromptu singing all over Wales in an age of wandering balladeers who were popular characters. He wrote about 60 ballads — at least 70 according to the National Library of Wales.

He died at Lampeter in 1868.

Examples of his work

Mewn gweithfeydd sydd yma'n Nghymru,
Gwelir Saeson yn busnesu;
Rhaid cael Cymry i dorri'r garreg,
Nid yw'r graig yn deall Saesneg.

In workplaces here in Wales
One sees the English meddling;
They must get the Welsh to break the rock,
The rock does not understand English.

—Dewi Dywyll, 1840 (from New Welsh Review)

Arddunol iaith barddoni - oludog,
Ni lwyda ei thlysni:
Iaith gwyddor, rhaith a gweddi,
Iaith y nef yw ein hiaith ni ...

The language of poetry is sublime and rich,
Its beauty shall not fade:
The language of science, law and prayer,
Our language is the language of Heaven.

References

^ Room, Adrian (10 January 2014). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via Google Books.
^ "JONES, DAVID (1803 - 1868), ballad-writer and strolling ballad-singer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

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[1] Room, Adrian (10 January 2014). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via Google Books.

[2] "JONES, DAVID (1803 - 1868), ballad-writer and strolling ballad-singer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

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