It has been a familiar anthem to Welsh speakers for some time, but Dafydd Iwan's Yma o Hyd has been given a whole new lease of life in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup, with fans up and down the country belting it out at every opportunity nearly 40 years after it was written.
The legendary singer has cemented his iconic status during a whirlwind few months, which saw him sing the song on the pitch at Cardiff City Stadium before Wales’ crucial World Cup play-off games against Austria and Ukraine, before it soared to number one in the iTunes chart following Rob Page's side historic World Cup qualification.
Since then, it has grown in popularity, with male voice choirs giving stunning renditions of the spine-tingling tune and the man himself stunning fans in Doha by turning up to a hotel and leading a sing-along with supporters who made the long journey to Qatar. You can watch that amazing moment here.
READ NEXT: Get your brilliant 48-page Wales at the World Cup preview special
The song has been a mainstay of pre-match preparations at Wales Women football matches, Wrexham AFC fixtures and rugby games for some time, while it has also been played before Cardiff City matches and, outside of sport, struck a chord with members of the Welsh independence movement.
It is no surprise, then, that Yma o Hyd was also selected as the official anthem for Wales’ appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the official song featuring the voices of 70,000 members of the famous Red Wall joining in unison.
The song was written by Iwan in 1983 and released at a time of political and economical turmoil in Wales, where the age of Thatcherism saw many coal pits closing and thousands of men and women losing their jobs as a result. The title translates to ‘Still Here’, a reference to the survival of Welsh culture and language despite these times of great hardship.
"It was a very dark time," Iwan told WalesOnline in a recent interview. "Margaret Thatcher was in power and closing factories and coal mines, farmers were feeling the pressure, there was a lot of uncertainty in regards to the future, economy and society as a lot of communities were ruined due to these changes. It was a difficult time and of course although things were improving with the language’s status, it still felt like we had to create songs to lift people’s spirits and Yma o Hyd became exactly that.
"‘Er gwaethaf pawb a phopeth, r’yn ni yma o hyd’ - that is the message of the song, in spite of everyone and everything, we are still here. In spite of the challenges we face, we are still here and I think people to this day can relate to that. We are still here, overcoming challenges and fighting for a better future.
"The strength of the song is that it can be relatable to anyone, politics or not. As individuals we might feel we have gone through difficult times, perhaps football or rugby teams may feel they have gone through difficult times too."
As Rob Page's men prepare to make history in Qatar, you're sure to hear the iconic anthem more than a few times over the coming weeks. To sing along with confidence with the fans out in Qatar, you can find the full lyrics below:
Yma o Hyd lyrics in full and translation
Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen
Does neb yn ei nabod o
Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoedd
Yn amser rhy hir i'r co'
Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o Gymru
Yn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri
A'n gadael yn genedl gyfan
A heddiw: wele ni!
(You don't remember Macsen,
nobody knows him.
One thousand and six hundred years,
a time too long to remember.
When Magnus Maximus left Wales,
in the year 383,
leaving us a whole nation,
and today - look at us!)
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
(We are still here,
we are still here,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything.
We are still here,
we are still here,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything.
We are still here.)
Chwythed y gwynt o'r Dwyrain
Rhued y storm o'r môr
Hollted y mellt yr wybren
A gwaedded y daran encôr
Llifed dagrau'r gwangalon
A llyfed y taeog y llawr
Er dued yw'r fagddu o'n cwmpas
Ry'n ni'n barod am doriad y wawr!
(Let the wind blow from the East,
let the storm roar from the sea,
let the lightning split the heavens,
and the thunder shout "encore!"
Let the tears of the faint-hearted flow,
and the servile lick the floor.
Despite the blackness around us,
we are ready for the breaking of the dawn!)
Cofiwn i Facsen Wledig
Adael ein gwlad yn un darn
A bloeddiwn gerbron y gwledydd
Mi fyddwn yma tan Ddydd y Farn!
Er gwaetha pob Dic Siôn Dafydd
Er gwaetha 'rhen Fagi a'i chriw
Byddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amser
A bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw!
(We remember that Macsen the Emperor
left our country in one whole piece.
And we shall shout before the nations,
"We'll be here until Judgement Day!"
Despite every Dic Siôn Dafydd,
despite old Maggie and her crew,
we'll be here until the end of time,
and the Welsh language will be alive!)
READ NEXT:
- The story of Yma o Hyd and how Welsh football fans left legendary folk singer Dafydd Iwan in tears 38 years after he wrote it
- The full video for Wales' World Cup song by Dafydd Iwan has been released and it is epic
- Wales get warm welcome on arrival in Qatar as they touch down for World Cup adventure
- Michael Sheen criticises Prince William's World Cup message to England as 'entirely inappropriate'
