The song first appeared in 1785 in English in
Liberty Hall which was a comic opera in two acts, written and produced by
Charles Dibdin. It was first performed at the Theatre Royal in
Drury Lane in London on 8 February 1785, and also contained other popular songs entitled Jock Ratlin, and The Highmettled Racer. The text to the opera, entitled
"Liberty-Hall: or, a test of good fellowship. A comic opera, in two acts. As it is performed with the greatest applause at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane" was published by the author, and printed and sold by G. Kearsley, in 1785. An example of this discussion follows:
Frank Kidson wrote in the entry "Welsh Music - Doubtful Melodies" in
Grove: scholar and singer John Thomas (1795-1871), also known by his bardic name Ieuan Ddu. The belief was that he had written it for one of his students, a talented singer of the time, Eliza Phillips, or Morfydd Glyntaf as she was known and it had been sung at an Eisteddfod in Abergavenny in 1838, but this was later discounted. There is no record of Ieuan Ddu ever claiming this song himself, and the idea of it being his composition seemed to gain popularity after his death. The belief was so popular that an article was written refuting the idea, describing 'Liberty Hall' as the true origins of the song. There are several versions of this song in print in English and in Welsh. A widely used version was from
The National Song Book of 1905. This gives the English words as written by the song collector and editor
A.P.Graves. It also states that
"The more appropriate title would probably be "The Bells of Abertawe" (Swansea, South Wales)". Other later references to Abertawe being its origin suggest this may be as there were church bells at Abertawe but not Aberdovey when the song was written. ==Lyrics==