"Etifeddiaeth Deg/Earth Shall Be Fair"
Audio in Welsh/Cymraeg: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=5452292
Audio in English: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13509789
YouTube Welsh/Cymraeg video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3erN09zeM0c
YouTube English video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ODIMc3g5M
This particular ditty was written for a Christian Aid Fund Raising Appeal launched by the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1992 that focused on poverty in Brazil. In particular the plight of the children forced to live on the Streets. It's also my only ever attempt at a Welsh language recording... other than offering a few backing vocals on a couple of songs while playing with Welsh language groups during college days. That's another story for another time.
I used the song in a number or worship services that supported the appeal,was interviewed on Radio Wales about it, and eventually the song was picked up and used as part of a S4C documentary about the plight of Brazil's street kids that aired in 1993. (That is where the video clips are from.) The documentary was produced by a former warden of Colg-Y-Bala, a place dear to my heart in my younger days.
It was gratifying that the song did raise some money for the appeal, but sadly was just a drop in an ocean of need. Thankfully others are taking the work further than I ever could. The registered charity "Task Brasil" http://www.taskbrasil.org/ continue to support relief efforts.
Their work was given a boost in 1997 with a very generous donation by Jimmy Page, of Led Zeppelin fame. The money he donated was used to buy a plot of land in Santa Teresa, 'Casa Jimmy.' Although originally began in the UK, Task Brasil opened an office in the US in the summer of 2002. Updates on their continuing work (and an opportunity to support their mission) can be found on their Facebook page: https://pt-br.facebook.com/taskbrasiltrust
It's an amazing gift to be able to help other folk through your music! I hope that the song will be a reminder that little efforts can plant seeds that others may bring to fruition.
Of invaluable help in the recording process were, of course my wife Yvonne, and Susan Williams (then Susan Rice-Hughes.) It was Susan who painstaking led me phrase by phrase through the Welsh translation she had created. A lady of infinite patience and a gifted singer/songwriter in her own right. Still have a copy of her Cassette Tape "Neb Yn Nabod." The recording was done by Robert Graeme at "Sound advice" studios in North Wales.
(Welsh friends... please forgive any spelling errors in the Cymraeg lyric. Corrections happily accepted. My spell checker is not up to the task!)
Etifeddiaeth Deg
(Translated by Susan Williams)
Mae Pablo fachgen bach sy'n byw ar y stryd,
Dim bwyd yn ie stumog, mor llwm yw ei fyd,
Paid gofyn pam mae'n un o saith milwn llawd ei wlad.
Pob nos fe gwsg mewn ofn, ac weithiau geilwr ar Dduw
"O gwared fi rhag drwg. Mintai sydd am fy ngwaed"
I'r rhelyw o'r boble, di-enw yw a gwael ei stad.
'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg
Domingo oedd a fferm a chlwtyn bach o dir
Ond milwyr milain, arfog heliodd o o'i sir
Dihangodd rhag eu llid nhw i fyw'n ddiogel yn y dref
Ond nawr mae'n byw mewn bocs ar y stryd
Ai wraig a'i eido prin, mor anodd yw eu byd
Yn brwydro byw mewn llodi, ac anobaith blin yn llenwi eu llef
'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg
Dewch i'n wrando ar lais yr Iesu'n galw, yn
Llef anghenus brodyr llawd
Beth bynnag y gwnei dros y lleiaf o mrodyr i
Rwyt ti'n ei wneud i mi
'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg
Rhyw ddydd bydd ein byd yn deg
Earth Shall Be Fair
Pablo's just a boy who lives on the streets
He's got an empty stomach and no shoes on his feet
Don't ask him why there are seven million just the same
At night he sleeps in fear, sometimes he prays to God
Deliver me from evil, save me from the death squad
To most of the people he doesn't even have a name
It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair
Domingo used to farm upon a plot of land
Till soldiers with machine guns took it from his hand
He headed fir the city to build himself a future there
But now he lives in a cardboard home
With a blanket, a wife and broken radio
United to his neighbors in a community of despair
It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair
Let us listen for the voice of Jesus calling
speaking to us through their need
"Whatever you do for the least of my brothers
You're doing it for me"
It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair
That one day earth shall be fair