Ar Hyd y Nos

2025-10-27T12:58:01Z

137.119.66.206: Revert a change from 10 April 2025. While a mailing list may not generally be a reliable source, in this instance the mailing is the *sole* source of this translation.

{{Short description|Welsh song}}
"'''Ar Hyd y Nos'''" ({{Langx|en|All Through the Night}}) is a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[song]] sung to a tune that was first recorded in [[Edward Jones (Bardd y Brenin)]]' ''Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards'' (1784). The most commonly sung [[Welsh language|Welsh]] lyrics were written by [[John Ceiriog Hughes]] (1832–1887), and have been translated into several languages, including English (most famously by [[Harold Boulton]] (1859–1935)<ref>Krehbiel, Henry Edward, ed. ''[https://archive.org/details/famoussongsstan00krehgoog Famous Songs]''. Cincinnati: John Church Co., 1902.</ref>) and [[Breton language|Breton]]. One of the earliest English versions, to different Welsh lyrics by one John Jones, was by [[Thomas Oliphant (musician and artist)|Thomas Oliphant]] in 1862.<ref>published in ''Welsh Melodies, With Welsh And English Poetry'', by [[Talhaiarn|John Jones (Talhaiarn)]] & [[Thomas Oliphant (musician and artist)|Thomas Oliphant]]. Author: [[John Thomas (harpist)|John Thomas]]</ref>

The melody is also used in the hymns “God That Madest Earth and Heaven” (text by [[Reginald Heber]], 1821), "For the Fruits of His Creation" (text by [[Fred Pratt Green]], 1970), "Go My Children with My Blessing” (text by [[Jaroslav Vajda]], 1983) and "Father in Your Love Enfold Us<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.godsongs.net/2014/02/father-in-your-love-enfold-us-all-through-the-night.html | title=Father in your Love Enfold Us – All thru the Night }}</ref>".

The song is highly popular with traditional Welsh [[male voice choir]]s, and is sung by them at festivals in Wales and around the world.<ref name=Caneuon>{{cite book| last=Hywel| first=John| title=Famous Songs of Wales/Caneuon Enwog Cymru| location=Penygroes, Caernarfon| publisher=Gwynn| year=1987| isbn=0-900426-60-8}}</ref>

The song is also sometimes considered a [[Christmas carol]], and as such has been performed by many artists on Christmas albums, including [[Olivia Newton-John]] and [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]], who sang it as a duet on Newton-John's 2007 album ''[[Christmas Wish (Olivia Newton-John album)|Christmas Wish]]''.
[[Cerys Matthews]] sang it solo on her 2010 album ''Tir''.<ref name=CerysMatthewsversion>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/tir/id379444080|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015184937/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/tir/id379444080|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2013|title=TIR – Cerys Matthews – iTunes Preview|publisher=Rainbow City Records|access-date=30 May 2013}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{| border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"
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: '''Welsh'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.madog.org/dysgwyr/caneuon/can01.html|title=Ar Hyd Y Nos/All Through The Night|publisher=Cymdeithas Madog|access-date=23 February 2013}}</ref>
:Holl amrantau'r sêr ddywedant
:Ar hyd y nos
:"Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant,"
:Ar hyd y nos.
:Golau arall yw tywyllwch
:I arddangos gwir brydferthwch
:Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch
:Ar hyd y nos.
:Hyd y nos.

:O mor siriol, gwena'r seren
:Ar hyd y nos
:I oleuo'i chwaer ddaearen
:Ar hyd y nos.
:Nos yw henaint pan ddaw cystudd
:Ond i harddu dyn a'i hwyrddydd
:Rhown ein golau gwan i'n gilydd
:Ar hyd y nos.
:Hyd y nos.

| style="background:#f0f8ff" |
:'''Translation'''<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9503&L=WELSH-L&P=10056|title=LISTSERV 15.5 - WELSH-L Archives|publisher=LISTSERV Archives|accessdate=23 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125102/https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9503&L=WELSH-L&P=10056|archive-date=2011-07-21}}</ref>
:All the stars' twinkles say
:All through the night
:"This is the way to the realm of glory,"
:All through the night.
:Other light is darkness
:To show true beauty
:The Heavenly family in peace
:All through the night.
:Through the night.

:O, how cheerful smiles the star,
:All through the night
:To light its earthly sister
:All through the night.
:Old age is night when affliction comes
:But to beautify man in his late days
:We'll put our weak light together
:All through the night.
:Through the night.
|-
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Singable English lyrics to the same tune were written by Sir Harold Boulton in 1884:<ref>{{cite web| url = https://hymnary.org/hymn/WinS1996/213 | title = Hymnary.org entry }}</ref>

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:Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
:All through the night
:Guardian angels God will send thee,
:All through the night
:Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
:Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
:I my loving vigil keeping
:All through the night.

:While the moon her watch is keeping
:All through the night
:While the weary world is sleeping
:All through the night
:O'er thy spirit gently stealing
:Visions of delight revealing
:Breathes a pure and holy feeling
:All through the night.
|-
|}

===Variations===
There is evidence that the song has undergone the [[folk process]] to some degree, yielding several similar but modified versions.<ref name="FresnoStBallads 2020">{{cite web |url=http://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/FDWB410B.html |title=All Through the Night (Ar Hyd Y Nos) |work=Fresno State – The Ballad Index |publisher=[[California State University, Fresno]] |access-date=2020-07-12 |quote=I've seen a text which is about 95% identical to the one I know (too close to be an independent translation), but with some different words. – RBW }}</ref> In one alternative version, the second verse is replaced with:

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:Angels watching ever round thee
:All through the night
:In thy slumbers close surround thee
:All through the night
:They will of all fears disarm thee,
:No forebodings should alarm thee,
:They will let no peril harm thee
:All through the night.<ref>All Through the Night Translation, http://www.mcglaun.com/thru_night.htm</ref>
|-
|}

Another alternative version features a night song text:

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:Deep the silence 'round us spreading
:all through the night.
:Dark the path that we are treading
:all through the night.
:Still the coming day discerning
:by the hope within us burning.
:To the dawn our footsteps turning
:all through the night.

:Star of faith the dark adorning
:all through the night.
:Leads us fearless t'wards the morning
:all through the night.
:Though our hearts be wrapt in sorrow,
:from the hope of dawn we borrow
:promise of a glad tomorrow
:all through the night.<ref>Free Sheet music of All through the night, http://www.labbe.de/liederbaum/index.asp?themaid=5&titelid=83</ref>
|-
|}

Yet another alternative version of the second verse is as follows:

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:You my child a babe of wonder
:All through the night
:Dreams you dream can't break from thunder
:All through the night
:Through your dreams you're gently healing
:Visions of delight revealing
:Slumber time is so appealing
:All through the night
|-
|}

A. G. Prys-Jones wrote a more literal but still singable and rhyming version:

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:Ev'ry star in heaven is singing
:All through the night,
:Hear the glorious music ringing
:All through the night.
:Songs of sweet ethereal lightness
:Wrought in realms of peace and whiteness;
:See, the dark gives way to brightness
:All through the night.

:Look, my love, the stars are smiling
:All through the night.
:Lighting, soothing and beguiling
:Earth's sombre plight:
:So, when age brings grief and sorrow,
:From each other we can borrow
:Faith in our sublime tomorrow,
:All through the night.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
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The tune is also used in the hymn "For the Fruit of All Creation" by [[Fred Pratt Green]].<ref>Hymnal "Praise for the Lord" #919, words copyright 1970 by Hope Publishing Co.</ref> The first verse of Green's lyrics (used widely in the harvest season and at Thanksgiving) ends with these words: "For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, / Future needs in earth's safekeeping, thanks be to God."

In 1835, [[William Walker (composer)|William Walker]] compiled and published the [[shape note]] hymn and tune book ''[[Southern Harmony|The Southern Harmony]]'', which included the song "Welch" (page 109), using the tune for "Ar Hyd y Nos". The lyrics include the repeated phrase "O! how he loves!" Both the tune and the lyrics are unattributed.

== In popular culture ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2013}}

===In music===
* [[Joseph Haydn]] wrote a collection of Welsh folk songs for [[George Thomson (musician)|George Thomson]] (1757–1851) one of which is based on Ar hyd y nos (The Live Long Night)
*[[Ferdinand Ries]] used the tune and variations upon it in ''Ouverture bardique'' (WoO 24, 1815).
*English composer [[Cyril Scott]] used the tune for the first of his three ''British Melodies'' for piano (1912).<ref name="UofRochester 2022-2-9">{{cite web |url=https://urresearch.rochester.edu/institutionalPublicationPublicView.action?institutionalItemId=20295 |title=UR Research |work=University of Rochester Research |accessdate=2022-02-09 |quote=v. l. no.1. All through the night }}</ref>
*The doo-wop group [[The Mystics]], in the line-up that included [[Paul Simon]] (then recording as Jerry Landis) had a hit with a sped-up version.
*[[Peter, Paul and Mary]] sing a version on their children's album ''[[Peter, Paul and Mommy]]''.
*[[Tom Chapin]] sings a version on his 1990 album ''Mother Earth''.
* The chorus of [[Max Boyce]]'s song "[[Hymns and Arias]]", frequently sung by fans of the [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales rugby union team]], mentions "Ar Hyd y Nos": ''"And we were singing hymns and arias; 'Land of my Fathers', 'Ar hyd y nos'"''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/who-wrote-hymns-arias-whats-10183678 |title=Who wrote Hymns and Arias and what's it about? Why is it sung at Wales rugby matches? |last=Jones |first=Victoria |date=5 October 2015 |website=[[Walesonline]] |access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref>
*[[Alan Stivell]] sings the song in Breton, Welsh and English on his 23rd album ''[[Emerald (Alan Stivell album)|Emerald]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Alan Stivell - Emerald - Emrodez - Emeraude |date=2009 |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1572701-Alan-Stivell-Emerald-Emrodez-Emeraude |access-date=2025-10-24 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[The Kingston Trio]] sing a version on their holiday album ''[[The Last Month of the Year]]''.<ref name="DiscogsKTrioLstMonth">{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/440253-The-Kingston-Trio-The-Last-Month-Of-The-Year |title=Kingston Trio – Last Month of the Year |work=Discogs |date=1960 |accessdate=2022-05-09 }}</ref>
*[[Nana Mouskouri]] sings both Welsh and English versions on her 1974 album ''Nana's Book of Songs''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/master/47903-Nana-Mouskouri-Nanas-Book-Of-Songs | title=Nana Mouskouri – Nana's Book of Songs | website=[[Discogs]] | date=1974 }}</ref>

===In film===
*The film ''[[Knowing (film)|Knowing]]'', starring [[Nicolas Cage]], features his character's wife singing the English version of the song to their child.
*An [[a cappella]] version of the song occurs very briefly at the end of the Vulcan/Volcano scene in [[Terry Gilliam]]'s film, ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]'', (1988) as Vulcan kisses Venus. It is assumed that the [[Cyclopes]]/miners are the singers.
*[[Carter Burwell]]'s soundtrack to the film, ''[[The General's Daughter (film)|The General's Daughter]]'', features a version of the tune played on a [[glockenspiel]].
*In the 1945 film version of [[Emlyn Williams]]' ''[[The Corn Is Green (1945 film)|The Corn Is Green]]'', the children in the school are taught the English version.
*In the 1949 British Ealing comedy film, ''[[A Run for Your Money]]'', starring [[Donald Houston]], the song is sung at the Amateur Night performance and also heard as a theme on the train journey home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041831/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|title=A Run for Your Money (1949)|website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>
*The song is used in the 1940 film ''[[The Proud Valley]]'', starring [[Paul Robeson]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Proud Valley |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/smor.1940-29 |website=Library of Congress |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>

===In television===
*The TV movie ''[[A Child's Christmas in Wales]]'' features the family singing the song towards the end of the film, but in English.
*In season 3 of the series ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'', the character [[Daniel Holtz]] is frequently heard singing the English version of this song.
*In the episode "Thursday's Child" in season 5 of ''[[Road to Avonlea]]'', Alec King (played by [[Cedric Smith (actor)|Cedric Smith]]) sings the English version of this song to his son Daniel. However, the [[lullaby]] applies to everyone else awake in the household, given the recent bout of [[tuberculosis]] in the youngest daughter, Cecily, which has thrown the family into crisis.
*In Season 1, Episode 3 "[[Denial, Anger, Acceptance]]" of [[HBO]]'s popular television show ''[[The Sopranos]]'', [[Meadow Soprano]] and her choir sing the English version of the song, intercut with the mock execution of [[Christopher Moltisanti]], and the real execution of [[Brendan Filone]].
* In Series Two, Episode 26 of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', the first two lines of the Welsh version are heard as an opening to a sketch about Welsh coal miners.
* In Season Three, Episode 14 of ''[[Shining Time Station]]'', ''Stacy Forgets Her Name'', Grace and Rex in the Jukebox Band sing the first section of their lullaby medley to help Stacy Jones who has lost her memory.
*In season 2, episode 4 of the American television series ''[[The Alienist (TV series)|The Alienist]],'' nurse Libby Hatch is humming the melody as she is seen lying next to the Matron she just killed.

===In video games===
*[[The Oregon Trail (1985 video game)|The 1985 edition]] of the [[MECC|Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium/Cooperative]] (MECC) video game ''[[The Oregon Trail (series)|The Oregon Trail]]'' features the melody as background music accompanying its display of visual scenery associated with the trail's Green River crossing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty1zKbgRIzQ&t=2656s | title=Apple II Longplay – the Oregon Trail | website=[[YouTube]] | date=5 February 2018 }}</ref>
*Chapter IV of the 2015 video game ''[[The Order: 1886]]'' features the Sir Harold Boulton lyrics of the folk song on a collectible wax cylinder in the psychiatric ward of the [[Royal London Hospital]].

==Sheet music gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="175px">
Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night) 01.jpg|Page 1 ''Ar Hyd y Nos'' in ''Welsh Melodies for the Harp'' by John Thomas
Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night) 02.jpg|Pages 2–3 ''Ar Hyd y Nos'' in ''Welsh Melodies for the Harp'' by John Thomas
Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night) 03.jpg|Pages 4–5 ''Ar Hyd y Nos'' in ''Welsh Melodies for the Harp'' by John Thomas
Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night) 04.jpg|Pages 6–7 ''Ar Hyd y Nos'' in ''Welsh Melodies for the Harp'' by John Thomas
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Christian child's prayer#Lullabies|Christian child's prayer § Lullabies]]
*[[List of Christmas carols]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
{{wikisourcelang|cy|Ar hyd y nos}}
{{wikisource|Ar Hyd y Nos}}
* {{IMSLP2|work=All_through_the_night_%28Anonymous%29|cname=Ar Hyd y Nos}}
* [http://www.mcglaun.com/thru_night.htm Verse and prose translations]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Welsh folk songs]]
[[Category:Christmas carols]]
[[Category:Glen Campbell songs]]
[[Category:Peter, Paul and Mary songs]]
[[Category:Lullabies]]

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Ar Hyd y Nos