The Ballad of Gwen Ellen Jones | A True Story from Holyhead, 1909

The Ballad of Gwen Ellen Jones – written and performed by Vanessa (The Oxeye Daisies) This song was inspired by the life of Gwen Ellen Jones, who was murdered in Holyhead on Christmas Day 1909. After coming across the work of Dr Hazel Pierce, whose research focuses on remembering Gwen as a person in her own right rather than as a footnote to her murderer’s story, I felt compelled to tell her story through song. Gwen was a daughter, a mother, and someone who showed kindness and resilience in difficult circumstances. This song aims to honour her life, and to help ensure that her name, not just the events of that night, is remembered. With thanks to Dr Hazel Pierce for her research and for bringing Gwen’s story back into focus. LYRICS: VERSE 1: The days were long on a Holyhead dead end street It was hard to pay bills and make ends meet Gwen Ellen Jones, would do anything for you Loved by all those she knew CHORUS: A girl with a heart of gold, always there with a hand to hold A dear and precious soul, Gwen Ellen Jones He was trouble in a fine disguise; there was a darkness in his eyes Laid claim to her with every bruise and fight VERSE 2: He stood before her; she never had a thing that felt so good A wild rush came running through her blood His tender hand, turned to a cold hard fist of steel And his slow talking lies kept the danger concealed. CHORUS: A girl with a heart of gold, always there with a hand to hold A dear and precious soul, Gwen Ellen Jones He was trouble in a fine disguise; there was a darkness in his eyes Laid claim to her with every bruise and fight BRIDGE: Not all is calm, not all is bright, no peace on earth that Christmas night, His sweet, sweet smile lured her away The last thing she saw was the blade And just before he took her life away He said “I do the best I can, but I’m a jealous man And if I can’t have you …. no one can” OUTRO: A girl with a heart of gold, a life cut short in the cold, Nothing can bring her home, Gwen Ellen Jones They hanged him for his crime, and as the years go drifting by We’ll remember her name Gwen Ellen Jones Gwen Ellen Jones Remember her name, Gwen Ellen Jones #GwenEllenJones #Holyhead #welshhistory #welshmusic #truestory #historicalstorytelling