h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>This is for two reasons. Firstly, unlike the unofficial English national anthem, Jerusalem , the original words themselves are unexceptional; even the lyricist's own mother would have been hard-pressed to rank him as a poet on a par with William Blake.

Blimey - and I'm an Englishman - that's wrong. William Williams words for Cwm Rhondha aren't bad - they're very good - but they're not a match for the other words usually sung with it, by Anne Griffiths. Visionary mystic, hill farmer, dead at the age of 29 in childbirth. Especially in Europe, theologians regularly compare her extraordinary ecstatic hymns with the medeival writings of St John of the Cross. Incredibly complex, very paradoxical.

She is very similar - in background and in complexity and power of religious thought - and from a very similar artisan background. The other visionary religious poet of her time I'd compare her with is Emily Bronte.

A full Welsh hwyl at Cardiff Arms Park to the words of Anne Griffiths leaves the (Tory) toffs of Twickenham (Singing a revolutionary anthem of Blake, I ask you?????) floundering.

.. it took me so long to register that i have forgotten what it was that i was going to say? typical really ... i think it was something to do with the fact that ... unm ??? don't know let me go back and reconsider statement ... i know it was totally sexist - i am welsh - we are pagans - women rule!

.. oh that's right - comparing the land of my fathers sung in its original language to anything that was written in anything but welsh my friend is an absolute abhorrent insult - how dare you or anyone prefer any english version - it's tantamount to saying the white dragon will eventually over throw the red - absolutely ridiculous! yes cardiff arms park - if it is even called that anymore - my favourite city in the world - rises to many a song sung by welshmen - the point being that we are the strongest people in the nation - never forget that you are welsh - no matter how lowly you think your background, birth is/was - be proud - keep the language alive - the blood flowing - and the flag flying!

.. unofficial??? guess i missed that the first time around - what does that mean exactly? are they going to come round to my house, haul me out, and deport me?