Goat on the rocks
'Cyfri'r Geifr' (Counting the Goats), also known as 'Oes Gafr Eto' (Is There Another Goat) after the first line, is a traditional folk song that has developed over the centuries. Most versions of the song are accelerando, with the song beginning slowly and increasing in speed for each new verse. It is usually sung accumulatively, with the first chorus just using 'wen' (white), the second using 'goch' (red) then repeated with 'wen', and so on. In addition, each chorus can be repeated, or just the chorus with the newly introduced colour being repeated. A particularly difficult 'tongue twister' can be performed by singing each verse twice, doubling the speed the second time through. A pink goat is usually saved for the final verse, as the repeated "binc" is the most difficult to sing at any speed. For these reasons, the song is often used as a demonstration of the singer's skill and is used as both a vocal warm-up and a performative showstopper. The song is a popular test-piece in Welsh choral competitions, and has been recorded by many singers and choirs.
Lyrics
Oes gafr eto? Is there another goat?
Oes heb ei godro? That's not been milked?
Ar y creigiau geirwon On the craggy rocks
Mae’r hen afr yn crwydro. The old goat is wandering.
1. Gafr wen, wen, wen. A white, white, white goat,
Ie finwen, finwen, finwen. Yes white lip, white lip, white lip,
Foel gynffonwen, foel gynffonwen, A bald white tail, a bald white tail
Ystlys wen a chynffon A white flank and tail,
Wen, wen, wen. White, white, white.
2. ... goch ... ... red ...
3. ... ddu ... ... black ...
4. ... las ... ... blue ...
5. ... binc ... ... pink ...
Recordings
Sian James sings it to a harp accompaniment in 2007.
Notes for Welsh learners
"Oes gafr eto" is literally 'Is there a goat again', where "oes" is the third-person singular present tense form of 'bod' (to be), which is uniquely used in interrogative and negative sentences when the subject is indefinite or unspecific.
"Oes heb ei godro" is literally 'Is [there one] without its milking'.
"Geirwon" is a plural form of the adjective 'garw' (rough, craggy); plural forms of adjectives are rarely used in spoken Welsh, except for some expressions.
"Finwen" and "Foel" are mutated forms of "Minwen" (whitelip) and "Moel" (bald), because they are describing a feminine noun, 'gafr' (goat); even though 'min' (lip) is masculine, the feminine mutated form 'wen' (white) is used in 'finwen' because 'gafr' is feminine.
Vocabulary
Gafr goat (f, geifr)
Godro to milk
Min lip (m, minau); 'gwefus' is more commonly used for 'lip'
