J. R. R. Tolkien sings Sam's Rhyme of the Troll

In 1952, when making first contact with a tape recorder, J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, he decided to record yourself reciting excerpts from his texts, a habit that the writer maintained for years.
this vídeo is the Song of the Old Troll Sam sings in books

[@claytonhusted]

The Men of the West brought me here. Thank you.

[@JReed7560]

Same. Have a good evening, wherever you are in Middle-Earth

[@benjamindetroye7339]

Same!!

[@mikejackson3564]

add another one for The Men of the West

[@loremaster234]

same!

[@b_s_productions4405]

And another one.

[@leelduttis4086]

Interesting that this differs slightly from the version used in the book.
The differences made to the book version are:
•John and Jim were changed to Tom and Tim.
•The word “carcass” was replaced with “shinbone”, and subsequently “Hurky! Murky!” ended up as “Tinbone! Thinbone!”. The final line of this verse also went from “He’s got no use for his carcass.” to “For he don’t need his shinbone.”
•The word “leg” in the 4th verse was changed to “shank”.
•Perhaps the biggest difference so far. In this video, he sings:
“It’ll be a nice change from thee nuncle.
Suncle! Druncle!
I’m tired o’ gnawing old bones and skins; thee’ll be a nice change from thee nuncle.”
But the book reads:
“I’ll try my teeth on thee now.
Hee now! See now!
I’m tired o’ gnawing old bones and skins; I’ve a mind to dine on thee now.”
•In the second to last verse, it sounds like Tolkien says “Deal it! Peel it!”, but in the book it’s written “Peel it! Heal it!” Also, the lines “Old Troll laughed when John did groan,
But his poor toes did feel it.” Were changed to “Old Troll laughed when he heard Tom groan,
And he knew his toes could feel it.”
I think that’s every difference between them; none of them are *huge* , but there is more than I thought! You can tell how much effort this man put into making sure his poetry sounded _just_ right.
Oh, and if I missed anything, let me know.

[@vindolanda6974]

I had this on a tape of Tolkien songs someone gave me as a teenager. I've now started singing it to my 2 year old.

[@deepstatethrombosis]

Very cool! I had no idea this existed, here from the men of the west

[@redblaze8700]

Thank you Yoystan ("Men of the West") for showing us this.

[@AsitorCorporation]

Interesting how this edition used the names John and Jim, as supposed to Tom and Tim as are the names in the Tolkien Treasury book "Adventures of Tom Bombadil", amongst other changes such as carcas replacing shinbone .

[@Trendle222]

omg can yall Imagine TOlkein today as a dungeon master runnin a campaign? Nerdgasm!

[@user-qv2mc3dw5o]

Ew

[@michelepelletier38]

I used to have an LP, vinyl album, ;) of Christopher Tolkien reciting the "Lay of Beren and Luthien". I wish I could find it again!

[@brandendierker5873]

Theu audiobook version by Rob Inglis is soooo good. I like it a lot better but still super neat to hear Tolkien doing it and an older [presumably] version as well

[@thathobbitlife]

The channel "Men of the West" has a link to your video here, and I'm so greatful! Thanks so much

[@Gigas0101]

Thank you Mr. Tolkien.

[@CFkatehudson]

Much like the drinking songs of my youth. Bless you all.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

It's a 'Yes' from me....

[@silassilas1578]

Sound like he's speaking old english at times

[@MyDoodad]

I just read this to my kid with a whole differrent canter. Wow

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

Real music doesn’t exi-

[@holtzappledalton2153]

This is awesome

[@SquirrelASMR]

2:29 🦴r

[@neror3x437]

Thnx Men of the west! what a marvel!

[@bobbob-yr4bh]

this is gold

[@lizh1536]

Awesome

[@jennythalia7320]

2:29 Did I hear that right?

[@jeffreymilliman2306]

Pretty sure he meant "boner", as in "stupid mistake"... which kicking a troll would be. ;-)

[@imkluu]

@Friendly Stranger it means a mistake.

[@socialaccount0000]

We have a clip of renowned author Tolkien saying boner. Amazing

[@robertdicke7249]

@@jeffreymilliman2306Doesnt matter what was meant, what is heard is "boner".

[@Perserra]

hehe .. hehe .. He said 'boner'.
I'll see myself out ... 😁

[@darrenhill7286]

interesting that it's johns uncle Jim as sang by Tolkien!

[@majkus]

It's one of the tunes for 'Old Daddy Fox' or 'Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night'. We don't hear this one from U.S. folk singers, though.

[@Atanalcar]

I came to the conclusion the tune was probably Old Daddy Fox some months ago, just from the text. I hadn't realised we had a recording of Tolkien singing it. I decided to look into it today. Not only is this confirmation, but I see you making the connection two years before I thought of it! 😄

[@Timthebaritone]

Have you managed to deduce a folk tune connection for any of the other songs in the books?

[@Bluemilk92]

:D

[@TheCommonGentry]

I'm a Women of the West ;'}

[@dirtypure2023]

*tips fedora*
Good evening, m'lady.

[@socialaccount0000]

I know Tom Bombadil was a self insert for Tolkien, but he reminds me more of Bilbo if anything. And his voice sounds similar to the actor for Bilbo in The Hobbit

[@riftvallance2087]

Always thought Beren was Tolkiens self insert. Thier names mean the same thing and his story mirrors an event in Tolkien's life.

[@redazthegreat5518]

Rift Vallance I feel like he kind of puts himself in a lot of his characters

[@riftvallance2087]

@@redazthegreat5518 True, but Beren is very specific. Right down to sharing the meaning of his name.

[@Gigas0101]

@@riftvallance2087 Beren could've been an exploration of his own life events, as how Tom Bombadil feels like his love of both the natural and the magical in Middle Earth.

[@riftvallance2087]

@@Gigas0101 Honestly I always thought of Tom as the foil to Sauron, the embodiment of freedom, kindness and selflessness. It's why the ring doesn't work on him. If Sauron is the devil then Tom is God.