A huge problem for adventurous hobbits is to escape the dangers of the Shire!
About the song
Best sung to the melody of Bruce Springsteen's "This Hard Land" (hear it below), this was a reasonably quick song to write once I decided which story to tell. That took a fair bit of time, though. I always wanted to write a heroic adventure song, about a hobbit who travels through Middle-Earth and has lots of exciting fun before returning to the Shire. As you can see below, the adventure took a slightly different turn once I started writing.
The song was first performed at Green Dragon Friday on July 15 2016.
If you'd want to see more of my song lyrics, have a look in me songbook!
Lyrics: Grand Hobbit Adventure Song
Come here hobbits Let me tell you a story from our northern lands Where a young lad woke one day Felt the need to go out of bounds "I'll go far away to see the sights "Adventure is calling me on "Dwarrows and elves, menfolk too "Waiting for me far from my Shire home"
Early one morning He set off with eager strides Whistling and humming Through the lush green countryside Finding food inside his pack Eating on his own Soon all his rations were gone, no nibbles or crumbs left He hadn't even gone from his Shire home
Up ahead a warm and cozy inn Serving food all day So the lad went in and ordered a pie "Bring more 'til I had my way" The plates kept piling up, so did mugs Drinking that ale with the earthen foam Soon he felt rather tired, he just had to snooze Safe and sound in his Shire home
After hours of sleeping He woke up looking for a morsel to eat It was time for tea and pastries Clotted cream and scones sweet "Add a dash of brandy into my cup of tea, sir "After all I still have far to roam" With a generous splash, perhaps even two or three Moods were high but his legs were done "I best sit here a while longer, gather my bearings "Have a little rest in my Shire home"
Through the evening, through next morning And through the days and weeks that lay ahead Always one more meal to conquer Always one more slice of bread He's sitting there still, getting his fill His adventure dreams have gone Instead he praises the Shire, raises his mugs up high And he says No place is as grand as my Shire home
This hard land
Springsteen has made various recordings of This Hard Land over the years. This one is my favourite.
[tvideo type="youtube" clip_id="iY78QZuqeso"] Bruce Springsteen - This Hard Land