Ballad of Bombadil

Long ago when the world was young
There lived a gleeful fellow.
He had a boisterous noisy lung
And nonsense he would bellow:

“Hey merry dol de derry dol
De-da de-do de-dillo,
Old Tom he is a merry soul,
That old Bombadillo.”

He would run swiftly through the trees
Unhindered and quite free,
Swimming through the leafy seas
He’d help all that he’d see.

One day a darkness fell upon
His humble forest low.
The sun did not break the dawn.
Thus came Old Man Willow.

He would extend his leafy bough
And raise his knobbly root
For running free he’d not allow
He’d catch Tom by the boot

But Tom was quick with foot and song
He nimbly danced on through.
Then he bellowed out loud and long
With power strong and true.

“Stay back Old Man Willow tree
Do not come so near.
For I must run fast and free
As the panting deer.”

The rooted-fear at his voice then shrunk
And ambled here and there.
But still he’d slowly bait his trunk
For he greatly loved to scare.

And now that Tom has made it known,
He’s lord of the forest there.
No willowman or evil grown
Can harm a single hair.