Empire of the Sun (1987)set to Suo Gân (1800)Performed by The Ambrosian Junior Choir Soloist James Rainbird
Lyrics + Welsh/English Translation
Huna blentyn ar fy mynwes - Sleep my baby, at my breast,
(hɨˈna blɛnˈtɨːn ar vɨː mənˈwɛs)
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon; - ’Tis a mother’s arms round you.
(ˈklɨːd a χɨːˈnes ˈədɨu hɔn)
Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat, - Make yourself a snug, warm nest.
(brəiˈχiːaɨ mam sɨːn dɨːn amˈdɑːnat)
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron; - Feel my love forever new.
(kɑːrˈjad mam sɨː dan vɨː mrɔn)
Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun, - Harm will not meet you in sleep,
(ni ˈχaif diːm am̥ɑːˈrɨθ gɨːnˈtɨn)
Ni wna undyn â thi gam; - Hurt will always pass you by.
(ni uːna ɨnˈdɨːn ɑː θiː gam)
Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn, - Child beloved, always you’ll keep,
(hɨˈnan daˈwɛl ˈanʊɨl blɛnˈtɨːn)
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam.- In sleep gentle,On Your Mothers breast
(hɨˈnan ˈvʊɨn ar ˈvrɔn dɨː vam)
Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen - Do not fear the sound, it’s a breeze
(ˈpaid ag ˈɔvniː dɪm oːnd dəiˈlen)
Gura, gura ar y ddôr; - Brushing leaves against the door
(ˈgɨrɑː ˈgɨrɑː ar ɨ: ðɔr)
Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig -Do not dread the murmuring seas
(ˈpaid ag ˈɔvniː tɔn vaχ ˈɨniːg)
Sua, sua ar lan y môr; - Lonely waves washing the shore
Huna blentyn, nid oes yma - Sleep child mine, there’s nothing here
(hɨˈna blɛnˈtɨːn niːd ɔɨs ɨmɑː)
Ddim i roddi iti fraw; - While in slumber at my breast
(ðɪm ɪ rɔˈðiː ɪtiː ˈvrau)
Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes. - Angels smiling, have no fear
(gwɛˈnan daˈwɛl ən vɨː mɘnˈwɛs)
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw - Holy angels guard your rest
(ar ər ˈeŋɨːl gʊɨnˈjɔn ˈdrau)
℗ 1987 Warner Bros. Record Inc. for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S.
Conductor, Producer: John Williams
Director: John McCarthy
Lead Vocals: James Rainbird
Performance: The Ambrosian Junior Choir
Recording Engineer: Shawn Murphy
Arranger: John McCarthy
Composer: John Williams
*It was first recorded in print around 1800 and the lyrics were notably captured by the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858-1920).
The song's title simply means lullaby (suo = lull; gân = song).
*