Moderator’s Note: I like words and am interested in their origin and use.. Otherwise, I probably would not be a writer. So, when I came across a discussion of whether or not the term “to Welsh,” — meaning not paying a bet or debt, is derogatory toward Welsh people, I was intrigued and did some research. (It is sometimes spelled “welch,” like the jelly.)
The discussion in the Yakima (Washington) Herald was ignited when a reader took exception to the use of that phrase as an “ethnic slur.” Without arguing whether “Welsh” is truly an ethnicity, I checked it out.
I found that, while the origin of the phrase is unclear, it is believed that bookmakers in the UK, to escape paying off winning bets, would often flee across the border to Wales. Hence, “to Welsh” describes the act of escaping to Wales, not a Welsh person who refuses to pay a debt that is owed. Others say it is is derogatory because it comes from a nursery rhyme that begins, “Taffy was a Welshman. Taffy was a thief.” Again, since the origin of the phrase is unclear even to such as the OED, so all this is conjecture and, as always, we can find insults wherever we wish to. But, to be safe, you might want to avoid the phrase.
The writer of the article concludes, “I’m guessing the term is not widely discredited as a repugnant slander because Welsh people are a pretty low-key sort, having never been subjected to the kind of genocidal violence that has been visited on Jews. Or maybe they take pride in the notoriety. In any case, “to welsh” is one of several little ethnic or nationalist jabs that remain largely unchallenged in our lexicon (like “French kissing,” which is close to a serious insult in France.)
“On a lighter note, did you know that at one time in the early 19th century, nearly 14 percent of Welsh people were surnamed Jones? And that famous Welsh-Americans include such Revolution-era luminaries as Daniel Boone, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis? Kind of makes sense, now, all that Founding-Father-Liberty-Or-Death stuff.
“More recently famous Welshmen include actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, who single-handedly ruined the names Hannibal, Lector and Clarice, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones and singer Tom Jones, who really is a Welshman but not really a Jones.
“Apparently he didn’t want to be unusual.”
Anyway, here’s that song that so many fans haven’t heard because it’s only the European CD release ((outside of the UK, they told me). It’s called Just Like a Woman What do you think?
OK! To end all the debate, below is a shot right off my iTunes where, I am assuming, I correctly listed all the tracks recorded for every version of 24 Hours and their origin. At the time, this is what I was told and a little bit of research shows me it’s still true. And, please note, this issue was discussed at length when the CD was released in November 2008. You can use this site’s search function or, simply, go back by clicking the arrow at the bottom of every page and every post is available.
Tom is back in Las Vegas and he is back looking and sounding — I believe — better than he has in a while. Now! That is not to say he didn’t look and sound great in all of 2009 but he was something special last night.
