(Double click on pictures to enlarge.)
The valleys were green And the twin rivers clean In a place called Rhondda Many years ago. From Maerdy in the West, To Blaenrhondda in the East And down to Porth, Gateway of the Rhondda, That’s all that could be seen Was a sea of green. It was an ecologist’s dream.
A little girl wrote that In a place called Rhondda Many years ago, A squirrel could go From Maerdy to Porth Without touching the floor, But that was so long ago In a place called Rhondda.
Then Mr. Coffin came To survey the green. Profit was his scheme, Coal was his dream And Death became Queen In a place called Rhondda Many years ago.
Death came to the valley floor And the trees were no more, As coal pits took their place And men and boys attacked the "face" In the never ending race To line the pockets of the not so poor, In a place called Rhondda Many years ago.
The twin rivers gleamed And were so clean In a place called Rhondda Many years ago. But then they darkened With coal dust, As rain flowed from the black tips That looked as if from Hell they were thrust.
Every mile up the valley floor From Porth to Blaen’ And Maerdy too. A shaft was sunk To search for a "seam", And "Rhondda No 3" Became an answer to Mr. Coffins dream, In a place called Rhondda Many years ago.
The Rhondda changed from pastoral green As industrial schemes became the theme. Because, you see, Coffins coal Once acclaimed with loud voice, Soon became not the fuel of choice, And oil was used to fire, And miners were not for hire In a place called Rhondda Many years ago.
The valleys are green again In a place called Rhondda, But not by much, As green gives way to developers greed And inch by inch the land recedes
For parking lots and shopping malls.
There is a little green again But there is not much room for oak or fir Because all you can see are cars that whir By so fast You wonder how long it could last Before the valleys would be green no more, In a place called Rhondda, Not many years to go.
If you wish to further explore the past,
and the present,
double click on the links below:
"A Welsh RareBite"
"A Nation of Amens"
"Only For A Day"
"The Oasis"
"Lost Songs"
"Those Men in White"
Wales v England 1999
If you wish to correspond with Denis
please select:
Denis Scott