Hobbits of the Shire by Marta Layton Last Edited: 09 September 2004

This song is based on a tune many of my classmates from Wales (when I was studying abroad in northern England) were often humming, which I think was originally a Welsh mining song, but I've since found out is also the tune of a folk song, "Prince of Darkness" (about mining and not at all Satanic, regardless of the title). It is based on the incidents in "Three is Company.

Frodo:
I was born away down in the Eastfarthing,
Grew up in over-crowded Brandy Hall;
Then Bilbo took me away,
Said we'd share our birthday Whenever it came round every fall.

But then Bilbo longed for just one more adventure,
Left me all he had including this One Ring,
And so I have to leave the Shire To save my neighbors from the Fire And destroy this evil, curséd thing.

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin:
Oh, we are hobbits of the Shire, we know our fathers:
Brandybuck, Took, Bag End-Baggins and a Gamgee.
They will tell us who we are,
And carry us far Down roads that go ever on and on.

Sam:
Oh, when Gandalf found me lurking in the grden,
He threatened to turn me into a toad;
But I'd jump down dragon's throat,
Or even brave a boat,
So instead he bound me to my master's road.

When the elves questioned why I would leave my safe hole,
Why I'd follow my master to that oft-feared land,
And they asked for motives pure,
I told them, "Aye, sure;
I'm just doing what my fate demands."

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin:
Oh, we are hobbits of the Shire, we know our fathers:
Brandybuck, Took, Bag End-Baggins and a Gamgee.
They will tell us who we are,
And carry us far Down roads that go ever on and on.

Pippin:
Here I am walking across the farthings,
To a fate that I know all too well,
As those Black Riders draw near,
We flee the road in fear And press on to far-off Rivendell.

Poor Frodo doesn't know I know what he knows,
That Sam, Merry, and I have spied on him for years,
So when he tries to say good-bye,
He'll find us by his side Pressing into that wood all hobbits fear.

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin:
Oh, we are hobbits of the Shire, we know our fathers:
Brandybuck, Took, Bag End-Baggins and a Gamgee.
They will tell us who we are,
And carry us far Down roads that go ever on and on.