Dic Penderyn (a lament)

Rain fell down on St. Marys
As the tears of a nation were shed
Chapel bells rang in the Valleys
Dic Penderyn is dead

The hangman has taken his shilling
So once more his family are fed
But the silver lies cold in his pocket
Dic Penderyn is dead

Private Black the man who bore witness
Sleeps hard on a garrison bed
A lightning flash brings him from slumber
Dic Penderyn is dead

The Deacons an Priests of the Clergy
Clutch bibles and lower their heads
Redemption is no trade for justice
Dic Penderyn is dead

His wife and his son pray for mercy
While the Lord is my shepherd was read
But vengeance is cheaper than mercy
Dic Penderyn is dead

The furnaces roared in the distance
Turning the Valley skies red
The masters agreed it was over
Dic Penderyn is dead

But the seeds of dissention were planted
And the flames of rebellion fed
An innocent man had been taken
Dic Penderyn is dead

Penderyn died for a reason
But the true charges never were read
Because Dic he lived for a Union
Dic Penderyn is dead

Forty three years later
Ieuan Parker confessed
Was he put a blade in the soldier
But Dic Pendery is dead
Dic Penderyn is dead

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  Dic Penderyn
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Dic Pendyrn whose real name was Richard Lewis, was tried and hanged as a ring leader of the Merthyr uprising. He in fact had no part in the riots and was innocent of the charge of stabbing a soldier. On the 13th of August 1831 Dic Penderyn was hanged in Cardiff. He was 23. His name lives on as a martyr to the cause of workers’ rights.


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