Robert Stephen Hawker - Trelawny
Trelawny one of the most well known songs known relating to Cornwall was written by the Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker as a poem in 1823, entitled "Song of the Western Men", and later turned into a song. It has become the unofficial anthem for Cornwall and is often sung at many events and occasions where you find a congregation of Cornish people.
A Lowender Peran video of Trelawny being sung in Kernewek, the Cornish language is available by clicking on Rev R S Hawkers image below. Words can be followed easily by just following the bouncing ball.
English
A good sword and a trusty hand!
A merry heart and true!
King James's men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do!
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
Though London Tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawny free!
We'll cross the Tamar, land to land:
The Severn is no stay:
With "one and all," and hand in hand;
And who shall bid us nay?
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all:
Here's men as good as you.
Trelawny he's in keep and hold;
Trelawny he may die:
Here's twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Kernwek
Gans kledha da ha dorn yw lel,
Gwir lowen an golon
Yth aswon Mytern Jamys fel
Pandr'wrello Kernowyon.
Yw ordnys prys ha le ankow?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Ottomma ugens mil Gernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas.
'Verow Trelawny bras?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Ottomma ugens mil Gernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas!
Yn-medh an kapten, byw y woos,
Gwas joliv yn mesk kans:
"Tour Loundres kyn fe Karrek Loos
Y’n delirvsen dehwans.
Ni a dres Tamar, tir dhe dir,
An Havren ny’gan lett;
Ha skoodh reb skoodh, kowetha wir,
Piw orthyn ni a sett?
‘Verow Trelawny bras?
‘Verow Trelawny bras?
Ottomma ugens mil Gernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas!
Devedhys bys yn fos Loundres
"Gwel teg dhyn" ni a gri;
"Dewgh mes, ownegyon oll, dewgh mes,
Gwell dus on esowgh hwi!"
Trelawny yw avel felon
Fast yn karharow tynn
Mes ugens mil a Gernowyon
Godhvos an ken a vynn.
‘Verow Trelawny bras?
‘Verow Trelawny bras?
Ottomma ugens mil Gernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas!
A visual presentation is available entitled "Song of the Western Men" covering the life and times of R S Hawker and the creation of the song by that name, but better known as just "Trelawny".