[b]Sam’s Journey[/b]

Just a gardener am I
Take no notice of humble me
Not when I listen under the window
Not when I keep Frodo company
Just a gardener am I
Charged with the care of my friend
“Don’t you leave him,” Gandalf said
And I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

I was with him when the Riders came
And when Strider joined our company
And when he was stabbed at Weathertop
He left me for a time when Glorfindel rode up
To bear him to safety in the valley of Elves
But when he woke I was there again
I left him when I had to, but not by choice
Because I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

I left his side when he went to council
But hidden in the bushes I kept him safe
I joined him again when he took on the quest
He won’t get away from what Gandalf said
Because I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

I was with him at the holly hill
When the [i]crebain[/i] came to spy
I stayed close as I could on Caradhras
I stuck by in the dark of Moria
And when we lost Gandalf I stayed by his side
In the Golden Wood I helped him along
As the Ring grew heavier and harder to bear
When we left in the boats I was with him still
I never strayed far from his side
And I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to

I let him go off alone on the Western shore
Where the Argonath stood ever watching
But that soon proved a most horrid mistake
And I’ll never let him wander far again
So I followed him out although I can’t swim
For I’d rather die than let him go
Don’t you leave him, Samwise Gamgee,
And I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

The others were left so far behind
And we had no defenders to secure us
But I was given a charge that I’ll keep
If it takes my life I’ll stay faithful
The creature Gollum, filthy soul
I gave no part of my trust
But for some reason Frodo cared for him
And because of that I’d tolerate
But if he took a breath with the wrong inclination
I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

I was with Frodo at the Black Gates
And I spoke up to him about Gollum
And how very unsafe he was
But Frodo wouldn’t listen so I had to obey
But I kept an eye on that slinking wretch
And his nasty, stinking habits
That made me and Frodo both sick
Through Faramir’s camp I was with my dear friend
I wouldn’t let him be hurt again
I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to

When Gollum’s treachery at last was revealed
I defended Mr. Frodo against the dreadful thing
Into Mordor itself, past Shelob and Orcs
I stayed by his side as well as I could
When he was captured and taken to the tower
I trailed him ’till I broke him free
And when we were brought as slaves
Into ranks of foul Orcs
I stayed by his side when he hardly could stand
And I wouldn’t let them take him from me
Because I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

Up the side of the Mountain of Fire we went
And still I stayed by his side
With concern not for fame but his life, not my own
I urged him along his path
I would have taken his burden and passed it to me
If I possessed such great power and strength
But though I don’t think my heart has great courage
My arms had grown tough from pulling many weeds
I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!
So with him on my back I fought my way forward
Through stumbles and fire and Gollum again
But into the doors of doom he went
And I followed, I will never desert him
I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

When the fire spat and the air brimmed with heat
I kept watch over him as best as I could
But what was I to do against such power of evil?
Please, Mr. Gandalf, don’t blame me, I failed
That Gollum came and bashed me with a rock
For a time I knew nothing but dark
But when I woke the damage had already been done
Mr. Frodo’d been hurt and the Ring was gone
If ever there was a time I felt weak
It was holding his hand on the edge of that cliff
With fire below and despair in his eyes
Don’t you let go!
Because I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

I held him on his feet as we raced against time
To get away from rivers of melted rock
And I cradled my friend as we awaited the end
There on that rock with danger around
And I left him again when the Eagles came
But not by my choice, for I was too weak to stand
Back to Rivendell, where the whole thing began
To a scene that seemed strangely familiar
But for the fact that he woke without pain
And without the weight of all evil ’round his neck
And he laughed for the first time that I can remember
Since the day we set out from our home far away
I told him over and over I wouldn’t leave him
And I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.

Now at the shores that the Elves depart from
I stand with tears flowing unchecked from my eyes
His book in my hands and his sad eyes still on me
How can this happen after so long?
I swore that I’d always be near to watch him
But I can’t follow now where he’s going
Gandalf’s eyes tell me my oath is fulfilled
But why then cannot my heart tell me the same?
He’s walking away, how can he do this to me?
I swore not to leave him, now he’s leaving me
But I’ll never leave his memory to fade
“Don’t you leave him, Samwise Gamgee,”
I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to.