Anthem Title: “Can Tus West” (Cornish) “Song of the Western Men” (English) “Trelawny” (alternate title (Cornish and English)) Description: Written in 1824 by a local Anglican vicar, the song is a telling of events (with a few inaccuracies) that took place in 1688. Trelawny, who the anthem is named after and the main figure in the song, is somewhat of a Cornish national hero. A Protestant bishop imprisoned by the Catholic king James VII of Scotland / James II of England, he was found acquitted of seditious libel after an uprising and war. Trelawney is an unofficial, local anthem, since Cornwall is a part of the United Kingdom. As well, no official anthem has been declared by any Cornish governmental body. As such, it is hard to distinguish what is the true anthem of Cornwall. Another song that also lays claim as the “Cornish national anthem” is “Bro goth agan tasow” (“Old Land of our Fathers”), using the same melody as Brittany‘s anthem (another Celtic area in the region). Special thanks to: Ken Westmoreland, David Ricketts, and Bert H de la Houssaye for some of this information, to Yan Cross for the Cornish lyrics, and to “Dr. Drake” for translation assistance on “Bro goth agan tasow”. Lyricist: Robert Stephen Hawker Composer: Robert Stephen Hawker Cornish lyrics Gans cledha da yn dorn yu lel Gwyr, lowen an golon Yth aswon Myghtern Jamys fel Pandr’wrello Kernowyon Yu ordnys le ha prys ancow? Trelawny dos dh’y fin? Mes ugans myl an dus Kernow Gothvos an praga ‘vyn. CHORUS: ‘Verow Trelawny bras? ‘Verow Trelawny bras? Ottomma ugans myl Kernow A woffyth oll an cas. 2. Yn meth an Capten, bew y wos, Gwas jolyf yn mysk cans, “Tour Loundres kyn fe Carrek Los Y’n dylerfsen dewhans!” Ny a dres Tamar, tyr dhe dyr By’ ny vyth Havren let, Ha scoth ryp scoth, cowetha gwyr, Pyu orthyn-ny a set? Chorus 3. Devedhys bys yn Fos Loundres Gwel dek dhyn, ny a gry- “Deugh mes, ownegyon oll, deugh mes! Gwell on agesough-why!” Trelawny yu avel felon Fast yn cargharow tyn, Mes ugans myl a Gernowyon Gothvos an ken a vyn. Chorus English lyrics With a good sword and a trusty shield A faithful heart and true King James’s men shall understand What Cornish men can do And have they fixed the where and when? And shall Trelawny die? Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why. CHORUS: And shall Trelawny live? And shall Trelawny die? Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why. 2. Out spake the captain brave and bold A merry wight was he Though London Tower were Michael’s hold We’ll set Trelawny free We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land The Severn is no stay Then one and all and hand in hand And who shall bid us nay. Chorus 3. And when we came to London wall A pleasant sight to view Come forth, come forth, ye cowards all Here are better men than you Trelawny, he’s in keep in hold Trelawny he may die But twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why. Chorus Reference: http://www.nationalanthems.info/cor.htm

• published: 02 Aug 2015
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