Upon the Hearth the Fire is Red

Upon the Hearth the Fire is Red is a poem found within the Three is Company chapter in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Context

The hobbits are walking through the Southfarthing of the Shire to Buckland when they begin to hum a walking song. The lyrics are by Bilbo Baggins which he made to a tune that was "as old as the hills". He then taught the song to Frodo during their walks in the lanes of the Water-valley.

After the hobbits finish singing the song, they hear hoofsteps.

Text

Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still around the corner we may meet
A sudden 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 around 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.
Then 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 to bed! And then to bed!

Analysis

Coming soon

Adaptations

• The Tolkien Ensemble sang this song and titled it The Walking Song (I), it is sung by Peter Hall.
• In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pippin (Billy Boyd) sings a song inspired by this poem, the lyrics are as follows:

Home is behind. The world ahead.
And there are many paths to tread.
Thru shadow to the edge of night.
Until the stars are all alight.
Mist and shadows, cloud and shade.
All shall fade. All shall fade.

See also

• Poems in The Lord of the Rings