Sing for Cornwall
"The Song of the Western Men", also known as "Trelawny", is a Cornish patriotic song, written in its modern form by Robert Stephen Hawker in 1824, but having roots in older folk songs.
A good sword and a trusty hand,
A merry heart and true.
King James's men shall understand
What Cornish men can do.
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?
Then twenty-thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why!
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty-thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why!
Out spoke the captain brave and bold,
A merry wight was he:
"Though London tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawny free!"
"We'll cross the Tamar, land to land.
The Severn is no stay.
Then 'One and All' and hand in hand
And who shall bid us nay?"
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty-thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why!
"And when we come to London wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
'Come forth! Come forth! Ye cowards all!
Here are better men than you!'"
Trelawny he's in keep in hold.
Trelawny he may die.
But twenty-thousand Cornish Bold
Will know the reason why!
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty-thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why!
Cornish Authors Cornish Smugglers Cornish Language Famous Cornish People Notable Cornish Families