As Swing Low rang around the Principality Stadium, a lone Welsh voice tried desperately to be heard over the top of the suffocating drone that is English rugby's soundtrack.
"Let's f*****g bring it," it called out amid the din as Wales worked themselves up for an early scrum. That wretched song died down a little.
And then, like clockwork, it started up again as Wales conceded a free-kick on their own feed. That, in essence, was how the day unfolded in Cardiff.
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This solid but unspectacular England side would give Warren Gatland's side an in, but the opportunity wouldn't be taken. Rinse and repeat until it was a third defeat from three for Wales in this year's Six Nations.
After a fortnight that saw the threat of strike action amid a contract dispute between players and Welsh rugby bosses, the determination was never going to be lacking by those in red.
It was at scrum-time where Wales' determination - and ultimately frustrations - were clearest. Each time the two sides packed down, there was usually some sort of spirited utterance from both sides of the feed.
"Let's f**k 'em," called an English voice on point, with another adding: "Let's go Gengey boy."
"F*****g hell, come on" bemoaned a Welsh player as England took too long to set up on another feed.
However, it was Tomas Francis who had the most to say to referee Mathieu Raynal and his team of officials, in what quickly became a running battle.
After England's opening score, the Welsh tight-head was having words with one of the assistant referees under the posts, making the universal sign for hinging with his arms.
Shortly after that, England earned a penalty against the head, leaving Francis flabbergasted. "They're hinging," he protested. "They're absolutely hinging." In response, all he was told was that his back was not straight.
"An easy decision for me," added the French official. Still Francis proclaimed his innocence, though.
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After Owen Farrell, on a rare off day from the tee, missed his penalty, Francis took the break in play to enquire once more about what had gone wrong at the last scrum. "I told you already," was the reply he got.
The next time the two sides packed down, Francis was quick to speak up again. "So what's the message this time?"
Raynal outlined what he wanted, but Francis' persistence paid off, with Ellis Genge pinged for hinging. Vindication then, as the Welsh players mobbed Francis.
That was a rare victory on a day when it was tough to get anything out of either official or opponent. A cry of "thank you" after a Welsh player won a breakdown penalty carried more than a hint of sarcasm in the voice.
Later on in the match, Nick Tompkins was deemed to have been held up as part of a maul, when it appeared obvious to the centre that he had in fact been tackled.
"My knees were on the floor," he insisted incredulously. "My knees were on the floor!" His team-mate Louis Rees-Zammit also took exception to the decision, earning a warning from the official.
Getting anything from England was similarly frustrating for Wales. One attempt to spread the ball wide from a free-kick resulted in Rees-Zammit being left isolated and turned over.
On the near touchline, Alun Wyn Jones just stood virtually motionless, other than a slow shake of his head.
All day long, England won the gainline with ease on both sides of the ball. Eventually, that got too much for the Welsh defence.
"Bloody hell," one shouted out in breathless exasperation after another dominant England carry.
One thing never lacking was the spirit. After the past two weeks, Wales gave it their all once again.
After one carry into the 22, Rees-Zammit came out of a tackle worse for wear. However, as Wales recycled, there was still space on his wing with the try-line in sight.
The winger wasn't afraid of screaming for the ball, all the while limping to try and get in place. Those efforts ultimately fell short.
As the curtain fell, Dan Biggar stood alone on the pitch, hands on his hips and looking to the sky - complete with the soundtrack of one last rendition of Swing Low. After the last week or so, he and countless others were spent.
Read more:
Warren Gatland Q&A: We are getting better but we just hurt ourselves
Wales v England player ratings as half-backs struggle and Gatland favourite under pressure
The reasons Wales lost to England amid kicking mess and lack of power
England star taken aback by poor Cardiff atmosphere as incredulous Jiffy loses it
Grinning Wayne Pivac digs back at Warren Gatland in live Wales v England appearance
