It is usually used in English as a setting for William Williams' text "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" (or, in some traditions, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"),[1] originally Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch ("Lord, lead me through the wilderness") in Welsh.
[citation needed] John Hughes wrote the first version of the tune, which he called "Rhondda", for the Cymanfa Ganu (hymn festival) in Pontypridd in 1905, when the enthusiasm of the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival still remained.
The final line continues the musical development of the second and fourth (and generally carries a repeat of the text of the sixth).
On account of these vigorous characteristics, the tune was resisted for some time in both Welsh and English collections but has long been firmly established.
Pan yn troedio glan Iorddonen, Par i'm hofnau suddo i gyd; Dwg fi drwy y tonnau geirwon Draw i Ganaan – gartref clyd: Mawl diderfyn.
When I walk the bank of the Jordan, Cause all my fears to sink; Take me through the roughest waves Over to Canaan, a cosy home: Unending praise.
It was originally titled Gweddi am Nerth i fyned trwy anialwch y Byd (Prayer for strength for the journey through the world's wilderness).
Although some English-language hymnals today have replaced “Jehovah” with "Redeemer,” it’s common to see the hymn with the original English translation that includes the Divine Name.
[12] All but the second verse is given, with minor variations, in the Welsh Hymnbook of the Calvinist and Wesleyan Methodists, published by the assemblies of the two churches.
(The variations are mainly to update the language, e.g. in verse 1 ynwyf (elided to ynwy'), meaning "in [me]", has become ynof in more modern Welsh.)
Agor y ffynhonnau melys Sydd yn tarddu o'r Graig i ma's; 'R hyd yr anial mawr canlyned Afon iechydwriaeth gras: Rho i mi hynny, rho i mi hynny, Dim imi ond dy fwynhau.
Pan bwy'n myned trwy'r Iorddonen, Angau creulon yn ei rym, Ti est trwyddi gynt dy hunan, Pam yr ofna'i bellach ddim?
Lord, guide me through the wilderness, A pilgrim weak of aspect, There is neither strength nor life in me, As though lying in the grave, Almighty, It is Thou who shalt take me to that shore.
I wandered for long years, And saw not the break of dawn; I despaired, without Thy strength, Ever to leave the desert land; Do Thou grant, The occasion to escape.
Open the sweet springs Which gush forth from the rock, All across the great wilderness May a river of healing grace follow: Give this to me Not for me but for Thy sake.
The hymn was the informal anthem of Wales in the "Green and Pleasant Land" section of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
Arglwydd, arwain... is usually sung to the tune Capel y Ddôl[20] and Cwm Rhondda is the setting for the hymn Wele'n Sefyll Rwng y Myrtwydd by Ann Griffiths: Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd Wrthrych teilwng o fy mryd; Er o'r braidd 'rwy'n Ei adnabod Ef uwchlaw gwrthrychau'r byd: Henffych fore!
In 2007 a plaque was unveiled at Capel Rhondda in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd, to celebrate the centenary of the hymn's composition.
[21] A service celebrating the centenary was also held at John Hughes' burial place, Salem Baptist Chapel in nearby Tonteg.
There it is common for many voices to repeat of the last three syllables of the penultimate line of each verse ("want no more", "strength and shield" and "give to thee") to a rising arpeggio, which in church use is only sung in the alto and bass parts if at all.
[23][24][25] From the second half of the 20th century, English and Scottish football fans used often to sing a song based on this tune using the words "We'll support you evermore", which in turn led to many different versions being adapted.
As of 2016[update], the variation "You're Not Singing Any More" when taunting the fans of opposing teams who are losing remains extremely popular.