It's a pretty easy tune to learn as, besides the first verse which mentions the other nations, the lyrics are – rather predictably – 'As long as we beat the English'. He continues to play an active role within this community, having been the president of Glynneath RFC in recent years [21] and the Club President of Glynneath Golf Club, where the "Max Boyce Classic" is held every two or three years. Boyce first learned to play the guitar as a young man, but he showed no particular flair for the instrument, [4] nor an actual desire to become a performer. I remember as a nine-year-old taking home books like Being and Nothingness (Jean-Paul Sartre) and Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) to impress the librarian, and I let the titles slip out on the way home on the bus. Despite the admission fee being only 50 pence, uptake was low and an audience was rounded up by offering free entry to people in nearby pubs.

Here she is singing the song live at Glastonbury in 2007 in the most amazing pink feathery dress designed by Merthyr’s Julien Macdonald and a full orchestra. Nevertheless, Boyce remained virtually unknown beyond the music clubs of the South Wales valleys for the time being, where he continued to perform.As Boyce's popularity became established across Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom, he became involved in many side projects, including three books, several television series and televised concerts, and three multi-part television specials produced by Opix Films. citation needed] His spoken and sung poetry was first collected in Max Boyce: His Songs and Poems in 1976, with an introduction by Barry John. Although reaching a peak position of 21 on 11 October 1975 it kept a presence in the charts for 38 weeks, making a final appearance 22 April 1978. Happily, a shorter version makes even more impact with lots of impassioned South American shouting at the end.

Music and poetry have always played a big part in my life and I loved Eifion Wyn’s ‘Cwm Pennant’ and the monologues of my childhood, Abiah Roderick’s (Trebanos) ‘Hen Genuine’ (‘Old Genuine’), which should always be read in a Swansea Valley dialect (tafodiaeth Cwm Tawe).A little less conversation, a little more action, please, All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me A little more bite and a little less bark” although of course the King probably didn’t have rugby in mind. Here’s Rhydian Roberts, Bryn Terfel and Only Men Aloud singing it at Wales Millennium Centre for Children In Need in 2009. Boyce has a wife and children, who live away from the public eye in his hometown of Glynneath, in South Wales. Unlike the other nations, Ireland has two national anthems, both of which will be played before any matches begin, and the ballad 'The Fields of Athenry' can also make an appearance during the game. The album contains a mixture of comedic songs and poems along with Boyce's interactions with the crowd at Treorchy Rugby Club.