Oes Gafr Eto? ...Or how to build your own goats

For the last few years we've had little LEGO goats in our models. These goats have proved surprisingly popular, so popular that we've decided provide you with the instructions of how to make them. But we can't do this without first introducing you to a bit of goat based culture.

It's a cliche to say that Wales is a land of song and an exaggeration to claim that there's a male voice choir in every town... although there might be, it's difficult to tell, we've not been to them all. But it's no exaggeration to claim that Wales has some good songs, especially folk ones. One such song is a song about goats called Cyfri'r Geifr, which means 'Counting the Goats', or Oes Gafr Eto?, which means 'Is There Another Goat?'. Both the tune and the words are traditional and have evolved over the centuries.

The song begins slowly, but the speed increases in each new verse and the first four lines are repeated before each new goat is counted. Further choruses can be added by choosing new colours for the goat.  The song is a bit of a tongue-twister and a popular test-piece in choral competitions but is best sung as part of a drinking game - whoever messes up, drinks! Simple but effective.

Watch this video to hear it sung.

Original Welsh

Oes gafr eto?
Oes heb ei godro?
Ar y creigiau geirwon
Mae’r hen afr yn crwydro.

Gafr wen, wen, wen.
Ie finwen, finwen, finwen.
Foel gynffonwen, foel gynffonwen,
Ystlys wen a chynffon wen, wen, wen.

Gafr ddu, ddu, ddu.
Ie finddu, finddu, finddu.
Foel gynffonddu, foel gynffonddu,
Ystlys ddu a chynffon ddu, ddu, ddu.

Gafr goch, goch, goch.
Ie fingoch, fingoch, fingoch.
Foel gynffongoch, foel gynffongoch,
Ystlys goch a chynffon goch, goch, goch.

Gafr las, las, las.
Ie finlas, finlas, fin las.
Foel gynffonlas, foel gynffonlas,
Ystlys las a chynffon las, las, las.

And, traditionally, in the last verse
the goat is always pink...
​
Gafr binc, binc, binc.
Ie fin binc, fin binc, fin binc.
Foel gynffonbinc, foel gynffonbinc,
Ystlys binc a chynffon binc, binc, binc.

​English translation

Is there another goat?
That's not been milked?
On the craggy rocks
The old goat is wandering.

A white, white, white goat,
Yes white lipped, white lipped, white lipped,
A bald white tail, a bald white tail
A white flank and tail, white, white, white.

A black, black, black goat,
Yes black lipped, black lipped, black lipped,
A bald black tail, a bald black tail.
A black flank and tail, black, black, black.

A red, red, red goat,
Yes red lipped, red lipped, red lipped,
A bald red tail, a bald red tail.
A red flank and tail, red, red, red.

A blue, blue, blue goat,
Yes blue lipped, blue lipped, blue lipped,
A bald blue tail, a bald blue tail.
A blue flank and tail, blue, blue, blue.




​A pink, pink, pink goat,
Yes pink lipped, pink lipped, pink lipped,
A bald pink tail, a bald pink tail.
A pink flank and tail, pink, pink, pink.

Anyway, here are the instructions:

Now build yourself a herd and mix up the colours!

And don't forger to make your gafr binc!

Want to see more? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.