A Walking Song

Pippin (Billy Boyd) singing a portion of the song in the third film

A Walking Song was the name given to the song that Frodo Baggins, Peregrin Took, and Sam Gamgee sang just before they saw the Black Rider a second time while walking to Crickhollow. Bilbo Baggins wrote the lyrics to an old tune.^[1]

Lyrics

Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
The world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!

Nearly three years later, Frodo sings a different version of the song's second verse as he departs from the Shire with Sam, on the way to the Grey Havens:^[2]

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate;
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

Portrayal in adaptations

Peter Jackson's films

While "A Walking Song" is not sung in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, most of its last verse is sung in The Return of the King, by Pippin to Denethor while Faramir is attempting to retake Osgiliath. In the soundtrack of the film, this track is named "Edge of Night".

Home is behind
The world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow
To the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight

Mist and shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall
Fade

References

↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Chapter III: "Three is Company"
↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter IX: "The Grey Havens"

[1] The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Chapter III: "Three is Company"

[2] The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter IX: "The Grey Havens"

[1]

[2]

v • d • e The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Complete Recordings
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
	Prologue: One Ring To Rule Them All • The Shire • Bag End • Very Old Friends • Flaming Red Hair • Farewell Dear Bilbo • Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe • A Conspiracy Unmasked • Three is Company • The Passing of the Elves • Saruman the White • A Shortcut to Mushrooms • Strider • The Nazgûl • Weathertop • The Caverns of Isengard • Give Up the Halfling • Orthanc • Rivendell • The Sword That Was Broken • The Council of Elrond Assembles • The Great Eye • Gilraen's Memorial • The Pass of Caradhras • The Doors of Durin • Moria • Gollum • Balin’s Tomb • Khazad-dûm • Caras Galadhon • The Mirror of Galadriel • The Fighting Uruk-hai • Parth Galen • The Departure of Boromir • The Road Goes Ever On... • May It Be (End Credits Song)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
	Glamdring • Elven Rope • Lost in Emyn Muil • My Precious • Uglúk's Warriors • The Three Hunters • The Banishment of Éomer • Night Camp • The Plains of Rohan • Fangorn • The Dead Marshes • Wraiths on Wings • Gandalf the White • The Dreams of Trees • The Heir of Númenor • Ent-draught • Edoras • The Court of Meduseld • Théoden King • The King's Decision • Exodus from Edoras • The Forests of Ithilien • One of the Dúnedain • The Wolves of Isengard • Refuge at Helm's Deep • The Voice of Saruman • Arwen's Fate • The Story Foretold • Sons of the Steward • Rock and Pool • Faramir's Good Council • Aragorn's Return • War Is Upon Us • Where Is the Horse and the Rider? • The Host of the Eldar • The Battle of the Hornburg • The Breach of the Deeping Wall • The Entmoot Decides • Retreat • Master Peregrin's Plan • The Last March of the Ents • The Nazgûl Attack • Théoden Rides Forth • The Tales That Really Matter • Long Ways to Go Yet (End Credits Song)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
	Roots and Beginnings • Journey to the Cross-roads • The Road to Isengard • The Foot of Orthanc • Return to Edoras • The Chalice Passed • The Green Dragon • Gollum's Villainy • Éowyn's Dream • The Palantír • Flight from Edoras • The Grace of Undómiel • The Eyes of the White Tower • A Coronal of Silver and Gold • The Lighting of the Beacons • Osgiliath Invaded • The Stair of Cirith Ungol • Allegiance to Denethor • The Sacrifice of Faramir • The Parting of Frodo and Sam • Marshalling at Dunharrow • Andúril - Flame of the West • The Passing of the Grey Company • Dwimorberg - The Haunted Mountain • Master Meriadoc, Swordthain • The Paths of the Dead • The Siege of Gondor • Shelob's Lair • Merry's Simple Courage • Grond - The Hammer of the Underworld • Shelob the Great • The Tomb of the Stewards • The Battle of the Pelennor Fields • The Pyre of Denethor • The Mûmakil • Dernhelm in Battle • A Far Green Country • Shieldmaiden of Rohan • The Passing of Théoden • The Houses of Healing • The Tower of Cirith Ungol • The Last Debate • The Land of Shadow • The Mouth of Sauron • For Frodo • Mount Doom • The Crack of Doom • The Eagles • The Fellowship Reunited • The Journey to the Grey Havens • Elanor • Days of the Ring (End Credits Song) • Bilbo's Song

A Walking Song

Contents

Lyrics

Portrayal in adaptations

Peter Jackson's films

References

Fan Feed