Watch: Sir Tom Jones belts out Delilah after taking aim at the WRU
When Sir Tom Jones played the first of three homecoming shows at Cardiff Castle last night, he took a moment to speak to fans about the controversy surrounding one of his most famous songs – Delilah.
Back in February the Welsh Rugby Union announced it had banned ‘Delilah’ ahead of the Six Nations match against Ireland. The crowd favourite was removed from the stadium choir’s play list by the WRU and would no longer be performed at the stadium.
Addressing the issue with the thousands who had come to see him perform, the Welsh icon told the crowd: “Can you imagine… Who was the man who didn’t want us to sing Delilah? You can’t stop us singing Delilah. He stopped the choir from singing but he didn’t stop the crowd from singing it. And we will keep singing it too!”
This was met with huge cheers from the audience as Tom accompanied by the crowd launched into a full throated rendition of the classic song.
Awesome Sir Tom Jones this evening 🎶🏴@RealSirTomJones #Delilah pic.twitter.com/kddhp8QWBr
— Kimberley Hortop 🏴🇺🇦 (@HortopHortop) July 21, 2023
(Yes, we know the video is the wrong way around, but you get the general idea!)
This is not the first time the controversial 1968 hit had been removed from the stadium due to its murderous themes.
In 2015 it was banned from the half time entertainment music playlist during international matches despite being widely known as one of the most popular songs to sing at a rugby match.
Guest choirs have since been requested to not feature it during pre-match performances or during games.
A Principality Stadium spokesperson said at the time of their announcement: “Delilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium.
“The WRU condemns domestic violence of any kind. We have previously sought advice from subject matter experts on the issue of censoring the song and we are respectfully aware that it is problematic and upsetting to some supporters because of its subject matter.”
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The WRU condemns domestic violence but it doesn’t mind a bit of institutional misogyny.
‘Delilah’ does not have ‘murderous themes’. Man knows he’s done wrong and that they are going to break down the door and get him. He’s toast. It is a warning against violence. Its also a terrific sing. Melodrama, a lot like ‘Tosca, a top-ten opera. Same theme, but woman instead of man. He done her wrong, she kills him but has to die. All fantastic music. What does the WRU know?
Delilah’s a good song but the action of a man killing a woman is what the lyrical plot is built around so it’s difficult to agree with you that the song does not have ‘murderous themes’! (or one to be precise). Different people read different things into lyrics. I don’t think the murderer is ‘warning against violence’. The final line repeated – “Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore” Sounds to me like the whining of an inadequate man failing to accept responsibility for murdering an unarmed woman and blaming her for his actions into the bargain. Still a… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more CapM
There are women who have killed abusive partners who were controlling and coercive – men too – would you ban songs about that? ‘Delilah’ does not glorify domestic abuse in any way, quite the reverse – just as ‘Hey Joe’ didn’t. Would you ban that as well? I think Tom Jones understands the way he was using these lyrics and if it was a song about a woman who had murdered her partner because of emotional turmoil and abuse in a relationship I suspect it would be applauded for discussing a taboo subject that affects so many.
First of all ‘Delilah’ hasn’t been banned. It’s off the playlist for choirs invited by the WRU to sing at internationals. There’s no ban (as if that were possible)on the crowd singing it. However claiming it is banned seems to be a way the self appointed guardians against the cancelling of of culture can get their knickers in a twist and give themselves wedgies. Resulting in them spluttering with righteous indignation and turning puce if the GBNews clips on Youtube are anything to go by. Maybe the author Margaret Atwood was inspired by Barry Mason’s Delilah lyrics ‘She stood there… Read more »
If Delilah doesn’t feature at rugby internationals the repertoire of a significant proportion of Wales supporters will just comprise of the first verse and chorus of Bread of Heaven and the chorus of Hymns and Arias.
“Praise the Lord! We are a musical people.”
I blame Max Boyce, penning that monotonous dirge was the worst thing he ever did.
Rugby fans sung before Tom Jones or max Boyce. Time they picked new tunes.
Perhaps poor Tom doesn’t understand the lyrics.
I’d hate to think he’s too dumb to adapt to change.
Actually murder in relationships is complex and coercive and controlling behaviour in relationships has been a taboo for too long and it works both ways – if it was a song about a woman who had murdered her partner because she just couldn’t take any more would that be OK? It’s a shame that so many jump to the conclusion that it was about some machismo culture because it clearly is not – would you ban ‘Hey Joe” as well?
Of all the hills to die on….
Condemns domestic violence except in the case your official partners Guinness and Heineken as they pay lots of money.
Twm ti’n esgus o Gymro…
“Homecoming” , says enough for me.
Bread of Heaven; when I was a very young boy I assumed we had two national anthems because I would hear this so rousingly sung at Wales Five Nations matches on Grandstand (showing my age here). I’m not keen on Delilah because it’s been adopted by fans of Stoke City (a club I can’t be doing with) rather than anything else. Apart from that I’m indifferent to it, it wouldn’t be my choice at a Wales game but there you go. It’s got no significance to Wales, it’s just a song sung by a man from Wales. It’s not worth… Read more »
Unfortunately, if this logic is pursued, then any drama, film, song etc, involving violence, domestic or otherwise, should be banned. The song is not triumphalistic, or vindictive, but is full of regret and dramatic pathos. As so is Shakespeare
If you want to sing Delilah at rugby internationals there’s nothing stopping you. You haven’t been banned from singing it.
What’s happened is that you will no longer have a band accompanying you, a choir leading you or the lyrics appearing on the large screens.
That’s hardly eroding any right or freedom you consider you have or censoring art as renditions of Delilah are always available on multiple media and internet platforms. Not long ago I picked up 45rpm single of Tom Jones singing Delilah. So far I haven’t been banned from playing it.
Its a misogynistic song. It is about as acceptable as watching repeats of the Black and White Minstrels. Thing of how survivors of domestic violence when they hear people singing and glorifying this so called anthem. Tom Jones is tone deaf to the issues surrounding it and should stop singing it.
It strikes me that these days even the Welsh National Opera would have trouble putting on ‘The Threepenny Opera’, in which Mack the Knife, the main character, sings: Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them pearly white Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight When the shark bites with his teeth, dear Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves, though, wears Macheath, dear So there’s not a trace of red On the sidewalk Sunday morning Lies a body oozing life Someone’s sneaking ’round the corner Is the… Read more »
I really don’t believe Welsh rugby fans sing this because they think it is OK to kill a woman out of jealousy. Obviously, the song is belted out because the tune is felt to be suitably rousing, in a general way. Ordinary folks don’t overthink their behaviour, and the lyrics are regarded simply as the excuse for a stirring burst of massed choral singing at the game. This song would be a totally irrational choice for a rugby anthem if that was not the case. But if we want to analyse the words, what we have here is sheer old-fashioned… Read more »
‘Men of Harlech’ is not sung at rugby internationals even in English never mind Welsh- ‘Annibyniaeth sydd yn galw. Am ei dewraf ddyn’.
The crowd also seem to be pretty averse to sing ‘Yma o Hyd’ as well.
Maybe those who aren’t puny moralists could channel their wild and vigorous selves and do something about that.
Or are they going to stir their blood in a safe way and sing a song about a ‘domestic’ that ended badly.
The simple issue remains, Was there any justification for this snooty campaign against popular taste? But you prefer murky evasion to robust engagement.
Another two things to mull over. If I were involved with promoting British nationalism in the press or media I’d stoke up this story and big up the defiant ‘Taffy’ response to those who would erode ‘Taffy’ culture (I’m not implying it’s your motive). Because better that the ‘Taffies’ sing Delilah when they get together than something like ‘Yma o Hyd’. I find it ironic that the ‘taking a stand’ approach many make with this issue, which has a suggestion of being courageous, is directed at a song where the central character is a coward. How do we know he’s… Read more »