![\"Sir](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Sir-Tom-Jones.jpg\")
Sir Tom Jones was booed as he addressed the controversy surrounding one of his signature songs on Wednesday night(Image: John Myers)<\/p>\nTom Jones was on stage at Cardiff Castle when he spoke out about the controversy surrounding one of his biggest hits that was banned from use in Welsh rugby matches<\/p>\n
23:51, 21 Aug 2025Updated 09:51, 22 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Sir Tom Jones was booed as he addressed the controversy surrounding one of his signature songs on Wednesday night(Image: John Myers)<\/p>\n
Sir Tom Jones was booed as he addressed the controversy surrounding one of his signature songs on Wednesday night. The singer, 85, headlined<\/a> the Cardiff Castle for two nights from 20 August, and worked his way through classics like What’s New Pussycat, I’m Growing Old and Sex Bomb for the crowd.<\/p>\n But things became heated when it came to Delilah, which was adopted as the Welsh rugby national anthem for many years until it was banned by the Welsh Rugby Union in 2023. The banning came as a result of the song’s lyrical content, which describe a man murdering the titular Delilah after he discovers she has been unfaithful.<\/p>\n One line reads: \u201cI crossed the street to her house and she opened the door; she stood there laughing, I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more”, and it was decided three years ago that the song should not be heard at major sporting events in Wales anymore as was thought to glorify violence against women.<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Sir Tom Jones’ most controversial hit explained as he’s booed on stage<\/a>READ MORE: Sir Tom Jones’ comeback show leaves audience in tears as he makes epic stage return<\/a> Speaking out about the banning, Tom told the crowds at his recent gig: \u201cWho\u2019s that man who said we shouldn\u2019t sing that song anymore? That used to make my day that on an international match.”<\/p>\n The Voice UK<\/a> judge used to look forward to hearing his track performed by thousands ahead of a big game, and insisted that none of the lyrics should be ‘taken literally’.<\/p>\n He added: “I used to wait for it and then they said we can\u2019t sing it anymore. Who is this man who said we can\u2019t sing Delilah? They said it\u2019s about a man killing his wife with a knife. Well it is, but you shouldn\u2019t take it literally.” It was then that crowd booed in support of Tom’s backing of the song, reports WalesOnline.<\/a><\/p>\n Delilah was first released in 1968 and became the sixth-best-selling single of that year after it reached number two. It went on to become one of Tom’s signature hits. It featured in the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands that starred Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder<\/a>, and the crooner performed it at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.<\/p>\n But questions about the violent nature began to rise as far back as 2014, with the song’s official removal from the Principality Stadium taking place nearly a decade later.<\/p>\n Dafydd Iwan, whose ballad ‘Yma O Hyd’ about the survival of the Welsh language and culture has become an anthem among Wales football fans, expressed in 2014 that it was “a song about murder and it does tend to trivialise the idea of murdering a woman. It’s a pity these words now have been elevated to the status of a secondary national anthem.”<\/p>\n Rhondda MP Chris Bryant also voiced his disapproval in 2016. “It is a simple fact that when there are big international rugby matches on, and sometimes football matches as well, the number of domestic violence incidents rises dramatically,” he said.<\/p>\n “I know that some people will say, ‘Oh, here we go, he’s a terrible spoilsport,’ but the truth is that that song is about the murder of a prostitute.”<\/p>\n A Principality Stadium spokesperson said: \u201cDelilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium. The WRU removed the song from its half-time entertainment and music playlist during international matches in 2015. Guest choirs have also more recently been requested not to feature the song during their pre-match performances and throughout games.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The use of the song had previously been criticised by Dafydd Iwan, whose version of Yma O Hyd has become synonymous with welsh football<\/a>, after he said it was \u201ca song about murder and it does tend to trivialise the idea of murdering a woman.” Rhondda MP Chris Bryant referenced the rise in domestic abuse during live sport as reason to stop playing it.<\/p>\n Join The Mirror\u2019s WhatsApp Community <\/a>or follow us on Google News <\/a>, Flipboard <\/a>, Apple News, TikTok <\/a>, Snapchat <\/a>, Instagram <\/a>, Twitter <\/a>, Facebook <\/a>, YouTube <\/a>and Threads <\/a>– or visit The Mirror homepage<\/p>\n![\"Sie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Sir-Tom-Jones-at-Cardiff-Castle.jpg\")
The Voice UK judge used to look forward to hearing his track performed by thousands ahead of a big game, and insisted that none of the lyrics should be ‘taken literally(Image: John Myers)<\/p>\n