CANWR GWERIN CYMRAEG
WELSH FOLK SINGER
Twca Du Bach / The Little Black Knife
Alaw/Melody - Joseph Parry (1841-1903) Alaw ffidil/Fiddle tune: Tradd./Trad.
Geiriau/Words - Robert Davies ‘Bardd Nantglyn´ (1769-1835) + Albert Evans Jones ‘Cynan’ (1895-1970)
mi godaf yn gynnar ac allan a´r ci
i hela cwningen cyn brecwast i mi
a´r ceiliog sy´n cyfarch y bore yn deg
cyn dychwel y ci ag un braf yn ei geg
a minnau’n ei hagor heb ragor o strach
a´i blingo’n reit handi a’m twca du bach
nid oes gen i gyfoeth a dywed i chi
ond twca du miniog a cheiliog a chi
rel gêm ydi’r ceiliog, pencampwr y fro
pan wel ef y talwrn mae’n ffyrnig o´i go
sawl peint a sawl sylltyn enillodd i mi
a sawl tamaid ffrio a gafodd y ci
am hyn dwi’n ei drwsio yn deilwng o´i ach
a thrimio´i grib fflamgoch a´m twca du bach
mi godaf yn gynnar os byddach yn iach
i falu tobaco a´m twca du bach
a lwga i ddim os daw sgwarnog i’r rhwyd
a´r ceiliog yn canu cyn glasu o´i glwyd
ac os bydd rhyw gipar am agor fy sach
mi heriwn i hwnnw a’m twca du bach
I get up early and out goes the dog
to hunt a rabbit before breakfast for me
and the cockerel fairly greets the morning
before the dog returns with a lovely one in its mouth
and I open it without further hassle
and skin it quite handy with my little black knife
I don’t have wealth, I do tell you
only a little black knife and a cockerel and a dog
the cockerel is a real fighter, the champion of the area
when he sees the cock fighting pit he’s wild out of his mind
many pints and many shilling he’s won for me
and the dog has had many fried cuts
for this I do prepare him, becoming of his lineage
and trim his flame-red comb with my little black knife
I get up early if I’m in health
to cut up tobacco with my little black knife
and I won’t starve if a hare comes into my net
and the cockerel crows before setting out from its perch
and if some keeper opens my sack
I’ll challenge him with my little black knife