Cwm Rhondda

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Cwm Rhondda, the Welsh name for the Rhondda Valley, is a popular hymn tune written by John Hughes (1873-1932). It is usually used in English as a setting for William Williams' text Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (or, in some traditions, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer),^[1] originally Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch in Welsh, translated by Peter Williams in the 1771 hymnal Hymns on Various Subjects. In Welsh it is usually a setting for a hymn by Ann Griffiths, Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd.

Apart from church use, it can often be heard sung by the crowd at rugby matches, especially those of the Wales national rugby union team. There it is common for all voices to sing the repeat of the last three syllables of the last-but-one line, e.g. evermore, strength and shield (which in church use is repeated only in the bass and alto parts, if at all). The hymn has also been sung on British state occasions such as the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother.

The tune has also long been popular with British football crowds, with the words changed variously to "We'll support you evermore", or the irreverent You're Not Singing Anymore, "Who's the bastard in the black", "Feed the Goat and he will score" or - directed at any Welsh or rural club, in reference to the urban legend that lonely Welsh farmers copulate with farm animals - "What's it like to shag a sheep?".

Welsh	English translation	English as usually sung
Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch, Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd, Nad oes ynof nerth na bywyd Fel yn gorwedd yn y bedd: Hollalluog, Hollalluog, Ydyw'r Un a'm cwyd i'r lan. Ydyw'r Un a'm cwyd i'r lan Agor y ffynhonnau melus 'N tarddu i maes o'r Graig y sydd; Colofn dân rho'r nos i'm harwain, A rho golofn niwl y dydd; Rho i mi fanna, Rho i mi fanna, Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau. Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau. Pan yn troedio glan Iorddonen, Par i'm hofnau suddo i gyd; Dwg fi drwy y tonnau geirwon Draw i Ganaan -- gartref clyd: Mawl diderfyn. Mawl diderfyn Fydd i'th enw byth am hyn. Fydd i'th enw byth am hyn.	Lord, lead me through the wilderness, Me, a pilgrim of poor appearance, I don't have strength or life in me, Like lying in the grave: Omnipotent, Omnipotent Is the one who brings me to the shore. Is the one who brings me to the shore. Open the sweet fountains Flowing from the Rock that is; Give a column of fire to lead me at night, And give a column of fog during the day. Give me manna. Give me manna, So that I shall not falter. So that I shall not falter. When I walk the bank of the Jordan, Cause all my fears to sink; Take me through the roughest waves Over to Canaan, a cosy home: Unending praise. Unending praise Will be to Your name for this. Will be to Your name for this.	Guide me, O thou great redeemer, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty, Hold me with thy powerful hand; Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain Whence the healing stream doth flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through: Strong deliverer, Be thou still my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell's destruction Land me safe on Canaan's side: Songs of praises I will ever give to thee.
Alternative Welsh	Poetic translation
Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd Wrthddrych teilwng o fy mryd; Er o'r braidd 'rwy'n Ei adnabod Ef uwchlaw gwrthrychau'r byd: Henffych fore! Henffych fore! Caf ei weled fel y mae. Caf ei weled fel y mae. Rhosyn Saron yw Ei enw, Gwyn a gwridog, hardd Ei bryd! Ar ddeng mil y mae'n rhagori O wrthddrychau penna'r byd ; Ffrind pechadur! Ffrind pechadur! Dyma'r llywydd ar y môr. Dyma'r llywydd ar y môr. Beth sydd imi mwy a wnelwyf Ag eilunod gwael y llawr? Tystio 'r wyf nad yw eu cwmni I'w gymharu a'm Iesu Mawr. O, am aros! O, am aros! Yn Ei gariad ddyddiau f'oes. Yn Ei gariad ddyddiau f'oes.	Lo, between the myrtles standing, One who merits well my love, Though His worth I guess but dimly, High all earthly things above; Happy morning! Happy morning! When at last I see Him clear! When at last I see Him clear! Rose of Sharon, so men name Him; White and red his cheeks adorn; Store untold of earthly treasure Will His merit put to scorn Friend of sinners! Friend of sinners! He their pilot o'er the deep. He their pilot o'er the deep. What can weigh with me henceforward All the idols of the earth? One and all I here proclaim them, Matched with Jesus, nothing worth; O to rest me! O to rest me! All my lifetime in His love! All my lifetime in His love!

Cwm Rhondda
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Williams Pantycelyn's hymn describes the experience of God's people in their travel through the wilderness from the escape from slavery in Egypt to their final arrival 40 years later in the land of Canaan. During this time their needs were supplied by God, including the daily supply of Manna. They were guided by a cloud by day and a fire by night. The story is contained in the Bible book Exodus. The words are also an allegory for the journey of a Christian throughout their life on earth requiring the redeemer's guidance and ending at the gates of Heaven (the verge of Jordan) and end of time (death of death and hell's destruction).

Some hymnals use this tune for the hymn "God of Grace and God of Glory", by Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930. There was already another hymn tune called Rhondda, so this one had be called Cwm Rhondda, afterwards.

^ John Richard Watson, An Annotated Anthology of Hymnsm Published 2002, Oxford University Press p. 228. "Hymns Ancient and Modern and the English Hymnal have always printed Guide me, O thou great redeemer, as the first line."