This song originally appeared in H. Williams’s Chartist songbook titled National Songs and Poetical Pieces (London, 1839) and was written by Thomas Jenkins.

Sons of Cambria!—come, arise,

   And no longer be

SERFs enslaved, whom all despise

   Who have known of me;

Will ye longer wear your chains?—

Still disgrace your native plains?

Will ye always bow so meek,

   To th’ imperious nod

Of a haughty race who seek

   To rule you by the rod?—

Say—shall ignorance and pride

Still the sons of Wallia guide?

Long, too long, have knaves and fools

   Lived in pomp and state—

Making you—their easy tools,

   On their pleasure wait;—

For their luxuries provide,

Whilst they wallow in their pride.

Loudly boast their minions still—

   Ye’ll, like brutes, be led;—

As before, to them ye will

   Give your children’s bread:

Cast the slander back again—

Shew the slaves that ye are men.

Shall the stupid, haughty crew

   Still enjoy your gains?

Fresh demands shall they pursue?

   Faster bind your chains?

Burst your shackles—and be free—

Sons of Cambria!—follow me!

See, around a thousand hills,

   How my sons unite;

Like your purest mountain rills,

   Forming for the fight;

Soon a torrent they’ll display,

Which shall sweep all mounds away;—

Mounds, which long the freeborn mind

   Compass’d like a wall;

And in thraldom held mankind,

   Body—soul, and all!—

Join my ranks, and every mound

Shall be levelled with the ground.

Justice, truth and equal laws,

   Claim we as our right!

Welshmen!—join the glorious cause—

   Arm ye for the fight!

Murd’rous arms ye need not find—

We bring—INTELLIGENCE AND MIND!

Leave to despots arms of steel

   Such the arms they wield;

(Madmen!—will they never feel?)

   Bring ye to the field

Hearts determined to be free

And glorious then the victory!

Carmarthen, April 10, 1839.