Roads Go Ever On - Clamavi De Profundis

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As requested by our patrons, here is our version of J.R.R. Tolkien's poem, "Roads Go Ever On!" We worked hard to interpret this in the spirit of Tolkien's work and hope you enjoy it:)

A note on our interpretation:
This is a compilation of poems that J.R.R. Tolkein wrote throughout his books: the first stanza coming from The Fellowship of the Ring, the middle two stanzas from The Hobbit, and the last from the Return of the King. We took a creative approach to this, sort of weaving in the tale of Bilbo, since it is he around whom most of this text is centered.

The first stanza is a solo, meant to paint the eager, young Bilbo.

The middle two stanzas take on a different melody and they are meant to depict Bilbo’s journeys…involving the various concepts mentioned. We thought a choral affect with a Dwarven slant would be fitting for this since it was with the Dwarves that Bilbo had most of his adventures. Also, we wanted to depict the concept that Bilbo’s poems were timeless, and not just limited to himself, for they seem to embody the adventures of all of Tolkien’s beloved characters.

Finally, the last stanza, like the first is a solo meant to depict the accomplished, aged Bilbo. We indeed purposefully included various melodies heard throughout the beloved films, for it seemed only right that since this poem was featured in the Fellowship of the Ring, our original work should flow from the musical genius that shaped so very much the idea of the Road that goes ever on.


We hope you enjoy this as much as we do! Thanks very much for listening and for your support!

We are unable to get permission to sell this song so we are posting it here free for your enjoyment. If you want a copy of the mp3, we are offering it to those who support us on Patreon!

My brother composed and arranged the piece. My family sang it.

Please no bad language in the comments. We want this to be family friendly:)

Lyrics:

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.

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.

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.