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Watch: Welsh singer re-writes Delilah in viral video

By Emily Price
Marc Edwards from Merthyr Tydfil belting out his own version of 'Delilah'

A singer from Merthyr Tydfil has re-written the Tom Jones hit ‘Delilah’ in a viral video where he belts out “We’ll sing until Delilah is free!”.

The Big Guy aka Marc Edwards responded to news of the song being banned by rugby chiefs with his own version of the 1968 Tom Jones song.

@thebigguy0 Delilah remake in lifht of the WRU poor deciscion to ban our choirs singing delilah #Delilah #sirtomjones #welshrugbyunion #cymru #cymruambyth ♬ original sound - The BIG Guy Marc LE

The original song made the headlines earlier this month after being ditched due to its portrayal of domestic violence - even though it’s been a staple at Welsh rugby matches since the 1970’s.

Singer Marc went viral after changing the lyrics from the dark tale of a jealous and possessive husband - to highlighting the outrage of Wales fans with new song lines such as, “The fans are tamping, raging, fuming”.

In the video shared on TikTok and Facebook captioned “F the WRU Delilah Remake”, Marc sings the opening verse as:

I saw the news that the WRU banned Delilah
The choirs been hit and the song’s been slapped with a ban
The fans are tamping, raging, fuming
And it was sung by 8000 in all three tiers of the stands.

Fans took to the comment section to praise Marc’s inventive song writing with one saying: “I’m English, but this song is Welsh and should always be sung by the Welsh no matter what.”

Another TikTok user commented on Marc’s powerful singing voice saying: “If that’s your voice buddy, you’re amazing, Sir Tom and all us Welsh are proud of you”.

The banning of the song came after allegations of misogyny and "toxic culture" at the WRU were made in a BBC documentary.

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10 comments

R Brickman

So the next time there's a high-profile case of a man stabbing his girlfriend to death in a fit of jealous rage, we'll presumably get thousands of Welsh rugby fans queueing up to say 'He didn't mean it!' or 'It was all her fault'?

Reply
Jonathan Edwards

Have you actually read the lyrics? He knows he's done wrong and he's for the drop. He doesn't say what you say he said. Also, why is this song so popular. Its a wonderful sing, and its one thing Wales does well. And it has this OTT mixture of melodrama, flamenco, Southern Gothic, and raw emotion. Reminds me of "Tosca" one of the most popular operas ever written. Which is about a woman who stabs the police chief after he done her wrong. "Tosca" is famously that "shabby little shocker" and also so much more. Its not OK for a woman to stab a man. But I am not such a foolish prude as to want to ban genuine melodramatic art. I suggest this response by all Welsh voices to the follies of the WRU for all the damage they have done. Health warning - this is banter! Can you handle it? Why, why Nigel Walker? Why, why Nigel Walker? And before They come to break down the door Forgive me, dear Nigel, we just cannot take any more!

Reply
Llyn

The guy is having a go at the WRU and telling them where to go while at the same time wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "WRU"! Forget the lyrics Delilah is a truly awful dirge. If this is the best song they have at the rugby no wonder so many stay at the bar and get blind drunk. Thank the Lord they don't sing it at the football.

Reply
Riki

The same football fans who also call themselves “Welsh” - Foreigners on their own island. They are Brythonic (British) Cymros.

Reply
The BIG Guy

It’s really no different to people having a rant about Facebook on Facebook or a Manchester United fan wearing the club shirt while protesting glaziers out I am wearing the shirt as a statement “hey I’m wearing this and it’s all about you sort it out” and if you don’t feel the buzz of Delilah are you truly Welsh?

Reply
Llyn

Not sure if you're joking and the context but "if you don’t feel the buzz of Delilah are you truly Welsh?" - really?

Reply

In reply to Llyn

Marc Edwards

It’s a song, songs tell stories, songs have lyrics, songs unite, songs depict various topics as do tv shows and films, are you suggesting that anything relating to sex, language, violence & murder be deleted, if so then Spotify and Netflix are gonna be pretty damn boring and I’d love to see evidence of your dissatisfaction of Delilah before all this started or are you just on the bandwagon now?

Reply

In reply to Marc Edwards

Llyn

Nevermind the lyrics. I think the song is an awful dirge. Is that a thought crime?

Reply

In reply to Llyn

Marc Edwards

And that’s your opinion, I’m assuming that as the song is an awful dirge that you are a musician with a constructive critique behind the opinion maybe?? so just so we are clear the opinion is greatly more for than against the song in wales and the rest of the uk I’d say aswell,

Reply

In reply to Marc Edwards

Llyn

Couldn't care less what the opinion of this song is in the UK and not being a musician does not disqualify me from having an opinion. Strange that someone who I expect sees the WRU taking this song of their playlist as a free speech issue, seems to have such an extreme reaction to those who merely express an opinion on the merits of the song.

Reply

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Replying to R Brickman Cancel

So the next time there's a high-profile case of a man stabbing his girlfriend to death in a fit of jealous rage, we'll presumably get thousands of Welsh rugby fans queueing up to say 'He didn't mean it!' or 'It was all her fault'?

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