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"'''The Road Goes Ever On'''" is a walking song by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], fictionally written by [[Bilbo Baggins]]; verses of it are sung at various places in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
{{disambig-more|The Road Goes Ever On|[[The Road Goes Ever On (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Matěj Čadil - The Road Goes Ever On.jpg|thumb|right|"The Road Goes Ever On" by [[:Category:Images by Matěj Čadil|Matěj Čadil]]]]
'''The Road Goes Ever On''', also known as '''A Walking Song''', is a walking song by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], fictionally written by [[Bilbo Baggins]]; verses of it are sung at various places in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. This poem was set to music by [[Donald Swann]];<ref>{{RGEO|1}}</ref> the sheet music and an audio recording are part of the song-cycle aptly named ''[[The Road Goes Ever On (book)|The Road Goes Ever On, A Song Cycle]]''.  


Sections of the poem are sung in the 1977 [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit|animated movie version]] of ''The Hobbit''.
== ''The Hobbit'' ==
The original version of the song is recited by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] in the last chapter of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', at the end of his journey back to [[the Shire]]. Coming to the top of a rise he sees his home in the distance, and stops and says the following:
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.


The song can be heard in the [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|1981 BBC radio version]], sung by Bilbo ([[John Le Mesurier]]) to a tune by [[Stephen Oliver]].
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.<ref>{{H|Stage}}</ref>
</poem>


Parts of it are also sung in [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]] by [[Gandalf]] in the opening scene, and also by Bilbo as he leaves [[Bag End]].
== ''The Lord of the Rings'' ==
There are three versions of this walking song in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.


This poem was set to music by [[Donald Swann]]. The sheet music and an audio recording are part of the song-cycle aptly named [[The Road Goes Ever On (book)|The Road Goes Ever On]].  
The first is sung by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] when he leaves [[the Shire]] and is setting off to visit [[Rivendell]]:
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.<ref>{{FR|I1}}</ref>
</poem>
The second version is identical except for changing the word "eager" to "weary" in the fifth line. It is spoken aloud, slowly, by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], as he and his companions pause on their way to [[Crickhollow]], looking beyond to lands that some of them have never seen before.<ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>


[[category:Songs]]
The third version is spoken by Bilbo in Rivendell after the hobbits have returned from their journey. Bilbo is now an old, sleepy hobbit, who murmurs the verse and then falls asleep.
 
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.<ref>{{RK|VI6}}</ref>
</poem>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1977: [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]:'''
:Sections of the poem are sung during the trip through [[Mirkwood]]. It appears on the soundtrack titled "Roads".
 
'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:A song inspired by the poem is sung at the end of the film called "[[Roads Go Ever, Ever On]]".
 
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Bilbo sings the song as he leaves [[Bag End]]. It is sung by [[John Le Mesurier]] to a tune by [[Stephen Oliver]].
 
'''1997: [[An Evening in Rivendell]]:'''
:The Tolkien Ensemble adapted an original melody to the song, composed by Caspar Reiff.
 
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Parts of the [[Bag End (soundtrack)|song]] are sung by [[Gandalf]] in his first appearance, and also by Bilbo as he leaves [[Bag End]].
 
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Musical]]'':'''
:The poem is the basis of the song "The Road Goes On" sung by Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin in the first act.
 
'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Lines of the poem partially make up the lyrics of [[The Last Goodbye]], performed by [[Billy Boyd]] for the credits of the film.
 
==See also==
*[[Poems in The Hobbit|Poems in ''The Hobbit'']]
* [[Poems in The Lord of the Rings|Poems in ''The Lord of the Rings'']]
{{references}}
{{title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Road Goes Ever On}}
[[Category:Poems in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Poems in The Fellowship of the Ring]]
[[Category:Poems in The Return of the King]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[de:Altes Wanderlied]]
[[fi:Tie vain jatkuu jatkumistaan]]

Revision as of 15:47, 20 April 2021

The name The Road Goes Ever On refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Road Goes Ever On (disambiguation).
"The Road Goes Ever On" by Matěj Čadil

The Road Goes Ever On, also known as A Walking Song, is a walking song by J.R.R. Tolkien, fictionally written by Bilbo Baggins; verses of it are sung at various places in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This poem was set to music by Donald Swann;[1] the sheet music and an audio recording are part of the song-cycle aptly named The Road Goes Ever On, A Song Cycle.

The Hobbit

The original version of the song is recited by Bilbo in the last chapter of The Hobbit, at the end of his journey back to the Shire. Coming to the top of a rise he sees his home in the distance, and stops and says the following:

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.[2]

The Lord of the Rings

There are three versions of this walking song in The Lord of the Rings.

The first is sung by Bilbo when he leaves the Shire and is setting off to visit Rivendell:

The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.[3]

The second version is identical except for changing the word "eager" to "weary" in the fifth line. It is spoken aloud, slowly, by Frodo, as he and his companions pause on their way to Crickhollow, looking beyond to lands that some of them have never seen before.[4]

The third version is spoken by Bilbo in Rivendell after the hobbits have returned from their journey. Bilbo is now an old, sleepy hobbit, who murmurs the verse and then falls asleep.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

Sections of the poem are sung during the trip through Mirkwood. It appears on the soundtrack titled "Roads".

1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

A song inspired by the poem is sung at the end of the film called "Roads Go Ever, Ever On".

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Bilbo sings the song as he leaves Bag End. It is sung by John Le Mesurier to a tune by Stephen Oliver.

1997: An Evening in Rivendell:

The Tolkien Ensemble adapted an original melody to the song, composed by Caspar Reiff.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Parts of the song are sung by Gandalf in his first appearance, and also by Bilbo as he leaves Bag End.

2006: The Lord of the Rings Musical:

The poem is the basis of the song "The Road Goes On" sung by Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin in the first act.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Lines of the poem partially make up the lyrics of The Last Goodbye, performed by Billy Boyd for the credits of the film.

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Donald Swann, The Road Goes Ever On, "The Road Goes Ever On"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Last Stage"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Three is Company"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
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