John Hughes (1873 – 1932)

A Welsh composer born in Dowlais in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, eldest son of Evan Hughes. His parents removed to Holly Bush, Llantwit Fardre (Llanilltud Faerdref) in 1874; the father was deacon and precentor at Salem Baptist church there. John Hughes started work in a mine at 12 years of age, but later became clerk and evetually an official in the traffic department of the Great Western Railway. He married in 1905 Hannah Maria David, and had a son and a daughter. Like his father Evan, John became deacon and precentor at Salem church and it was for the 1907 anniversary services at Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, that he composed his best known hymn-tune, Cwm Rhondda.

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda – 3 Verses) – Organ

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer ~ Lyrics

Also known as Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, or Arglwydd, Awain Twy’r Aialwch in the original Welsh.

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;
Be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

Meter: 87 87 47. Original lyricist William Williams (1717 – 1791), translated by Peter Williams (1727 – 1796). Public Domain.

Cwm Rhondda ~ Recordings

Original Key – G Major


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Lower Key – F Major
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Video

Guide me, O thou great redeemer
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Score

Available from MobileHymns.org

The Welsh Original

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer was originally a Welsh hymn, the first line translates as Lord, Leading Through The Desert

Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch,
Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd,
Nad oes ynof nerth na bywyd
Fel yn gorwedd yn y bedd:
Hollalluog, Hollalluog,
Ydyw’r Un a’m cwyd i’r lan.
Ydyw’r Un a’m cwyd i’r lan
Agor y ffynhonnau melus
‘N tarddu i maes o’r Graig y sydd;
Colofn dân rho’r nos i’m harwain,
A rho golofn niwl y dydd;
Rho i mi fanna, Rho i mi fanna,
Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau.
Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau.
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. Mawl diderfyn
Fydd i’th enw byth am hyn.
Fydd i’th enw byth am hyn.