'Fflat Huw Puw' is probably the best-known of the many Welsh songs written by John Glyn Davies (1870-1953). He had experience of working with shipping companies in Liverpool, and often visited the Llŷn Peninsula for holidays, particularly Edern where his grandfather lived. He wrote most of his songs for children, to fill what he saw as a gap in the repertoire of accessible (i.e. not overly literary) songs. They caught on, and are still very popular in Wales today, particularly in Llŷn, which frequently gets referred to in the songs. Huw Puw was an actual person, who is recorded as the shipowner of a 'flat' (flat-bottomed boat) called 'Ann', which ended as a wreck on Ynys Tudwal (off Aberdaron) in 1858. John Glyn Davies usually adopted existing melodies for his songs, and this one was set to a melody called 'Dydd Cyntaf o Awst' (The First Day of August).
This is the version published in the 2022 reprint by Elin Williams of her father's songs, 'Fflat Huw Puw a cherddi eraill', published by 'Y Lolfa'.
1. Mae sŵn ym Mhorthdinllaen, sŵn hwylie'n codi: There’s a sound in Porthdinllaen, the sound of sails being raised: Blociau i gyd yn gwichian, Dafydd Jones yn gweiddi: All the blocks screeching, Dafydd Jones shouting: Ni fedra'i aros gartre yn fy myw; I cannot stay at home for the life of me; Rhaid i mi fynd yn llongwr iawn ar Fflat Huw Puw. I must go to be a sailor true on Huw Puw’s Flat. Fflat Huw Puw yn hwylio heno, Huw Puw’s Flat is sailing tonight, Sŵn codi angor; mi fynna'i fynd i forio: The sound of the anchor being raised; I will go to sea! Mi wisga'i gap pig gloew tra bydda'i byw, I will wear a cap with a shiny peak as long as I live, Os ca' i fynd yn llongwr iawn ar Fflat Huw Puw. If I can go to be a sailor true on Huw Puw’s Flat. 2. Mi bryna'i yn y Werddon sane sidan, In Ireland I will buy silk stockings, ‘Sgidie bach i ddawnsio, a rheiny â bycle arian; Little dancing shoes, and those with silver buckles; Mi fyddai'n ŵr bonheddig tra bydda'i byw, I would be a gentleman as long as I live Os ca i fynd yn Gapten llong ar Fflat Huw Puw. If I can go to be ship’s captain on Huw Puw’s Flat. 3. Mi gadwa i y Fflat fel parlwr gore, I will keep the Flat like the best parlour, Bydd sgwrio mawr a chrafu bob ben bore; There will be much scrubbing and scraping at the start of every morning; Mi fydd y pres yn sgleinio ar y llyw, The brass will shine on the steering wheel Pan fydda i yn Gapten llong ar Fflat Huw Puw. When I become ship’s captain on Huw Puw’s Flat.