Song Review: Suo Gân

Personal Experience

I first discovered this beautiful melody while watching Christian Bale salute a squadron of Japanese Kamikaze pilots of the Zero-sen in Spielberg's 1987 cinematic masterpiece, Empire of the Sun. Spielberg adapted this WWII story with such beauty and sadness, it was incomparable to anything else I have ever seen. Bale's performance brought me to tears. I had never witnessed anyone his age give a truer performance.

For me, Bale's singing of this song was the central moment of this entire 2.5 hour, coming-of-age film. It perfectly captured the juxtaposition of boyhood innocence, and the horrors of war depicted throughout the flim. In a prison camp—infused with the hate of the Allies for their captors, sedated by Bales's youthful view of humanity, and countered by the extreme honor felt by the Japanese Zeros—Bale's character, Jim, exhibited great reverence and empathy for his fellow human beings, despite them being his enemies.

After viewing the film only once, the Welsh lullaby had been branded into my memory. Now, when I am in need of solace, I hum the tune serenely to myself. As I sing it, I replace the imagery of an infant being consoled at his mother's breast with that of me in the loving and all-powerful embrace of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He has succored me in my need. And I know he is able to comfort and uplift even the most-broken that humanity, war, and tragedy have to offer.

Lyrics

Huna blentyn ar fy mynwes Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon; Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat, Cariad mam sy dan fy mron; Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun, Ni wna undyn â thi gam; Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn, Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam. Huna'n dawel, heno, huna, Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun; Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu, Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun? Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu, Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon, Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno, Huno'n dawel ar fy mron? Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen Gura, gura ar y ddôr; Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig Sua, sua ar lan y môr; Huna blentyn, nid oes yma Ddim i roddi iti fraw; Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.[3]

Sleep child on my bosom Cozy and warm is this; Mother's arms are tight around you, Mother's love is under my breast; Nothing may affect your napping, No man will cross you; Sleep quietly, dear child, Sleep sweetly on your mother's breast. Sleep quietly, tonight, sleep; Sleep sweetly, the pretty of his picture; Why are you now smiling, Smiling softly in your sleep? Are angels above smiling, On you smiling joyfully, You smiling back in sleeping, Sleeping quietly on my breast? Do not fear, nothing but a leaf Knocks, knocks on the door; Do not fear, a small lonely wave Murmurs, murmurs on the seashore; Sleep child, there's nothing here Nothing to give you a fright; Smile quietly in my bosom, On the angels white yonder.

Wikipedia

Suo Gân (Welsh pronunciation: [sɨɔ ɡɑːn]) is a traditional Welsh lullaby written by an anonymous composer. It was first recorded in print around 1800. The lyrics were notably captured by the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858–1920). The song's title simply means lullaby (suo = lull; cân = song).
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