O! Where Are You Going?

O! What are you doing,

And where are you going?

Your ponies need shoeing!

The River is flowing!

O! Tra-la-la-lally

Here down in the valley!

O! What are you seeking,

And where are you making?

The faggots are reeking!

The bannocks are baking!

O! Tril-lil-lil-lolly

The valley is jolly

Ha ha!

O! Where are you going,

With beards all a-wagging?

No knowing, no knowing

What brings Mister Baggins,

And Balin and Dwalin

Down into the valley

In June

Ha ha!

O! Will you be staying,

Or will you be flying?

Your ponies are straying!

The daylight is dying!

To fly would be folly,

To stay would be jolly!

And listen and hark

Till the end of the dark

To our tune.

Ha ha!

The dragon is withered,

His bones are now crumbled!

His armor is shivered,

His splendour is humbled!

Though sword shall be rusted

And throne and crown perish,

With strength that men trusted

And wealth that they cherish,

Here grass is still growing,

And leaves are yet swinging!

The white water is flowing,

And elves are yet singing!

Come! Tra-la-la-lally!

Come back to the valley!

The stars are far brighter

Than gems without measure,

The moon is far whiter

Than silver in treasure:

The fire is more shining

On hearth in the gloaming

Than gold won by mining,

So why so a-roaming?

O! Tra-la-la-lally!

Come back to the Valley!

O! Where are you going?

So late in returning?

The water is flowing!

The stars are all burning!

O! Whither so laden,

So sad and so dreary?

Here elf and elf-maiden

Now welcome the weary!

With tra-la-la-lally

Come back to the Valley,

Tra-la-la-lally

Fa-la-la-lally

Ha ha!

The line "The faggots are reeking!" is most definitely not a homophobic reference as some readers might believe.In this case faggots are bundles of sticks used as kindling and reeking is the Scot's word for smoking as in the phrase "Lang may your lum reek" which is an old Scots blessing "Long may your chimney smoke" ie long may you prosper. JS