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Every adventurer starts somewhere. For some, it is a quiet home they long to protect. For others, it is a wild, untamed heart that knows no home at all. Our new song is a tribute to the second kind of hero: the wanderer who, by answering the call to protect others, finds the one thing they never knew they were searching for, a place to belong.

This is the story of John Bear, a Beorning from the Vales of Anduin, and his journey from the lonely mountains to the heart of a hobbit community.

A Wanderer from the North

The song opens in the wild, rugged lands of the north. John Bear is a son of the mountains, a creature of freedom, wind, and river roar. He is a solitary figure, seeking his fate alone in the vast wilderness.

From the Vales of Anduin.., north and free, Came John Bear wandering wild as can be. Son of Grimbeorn, of mountain kin, He roamed where the rivers and eagles begin.

This is not a hero looking for a quest; it is a wild spirit simply being. But as is so often the case in Middle earth, the quiet paths are never safe for long.

The Call to Community

His solitary journey is interrupted by a cry for help. A hobbit, cornered by goblins, faces a grim fate until a roar breaks the company of evil. It is in this simple act of protection that John Bear’s fate begins to turn. He is invited to the hobbit village of Lyndelby, not as a warrior, but as a friend.

Initially, he is hesitant. His wild heart is not made for the comforts of a hobbit hole. He plans to leave, trusting the great eagles to watch over his new friends. But the world has other plans.

A Hero’s Heart

When the drums of war roll through the hills, John Bear’s true nature is revealed. He cannot stand by while the home that welcomed him is threatened. He charges into battle, a “storm of might,” and drives the darkness away.

It is in this moment he becomes more than a wanderer. He becomes a guardian.

Oh John Bear of Lyndelby, Guardian strong and wild yet free, By Glenmouth Path where waters fall, He guards the folk, and the hearts of all.

The hobbits, in their gratitude and love, build him a home of his own. The wanderer, who sought his fate in the lonely mountains, finds it instead among the songs and laughter of the smallest of folk.

This song is for all the reluctant heroes, for those who find their purpose not in seeking power, but in protecting the powerless. It is a tribute to the idea that sometimes, the wildest hearts find their truest home in the quietest of places.

Have you ever found a home where you least expected it? We would love to hear your story in the comments.

Lyrics:

From the Vales of Anduin.., north and free,
Came John Bear wandering wild as can be.
Son of Grimbeorn, of mountain kin,
He roamed where the rivers and eagles begin.
Through Langflood’s roar and pinewood air,
He sought his fate, a Beorrning’s dare.

Down from the cliffs where the cold winds blow,
He heard a cry in the vale below.
A hobbit cornered by goblins three,
He roared and broke their company!
The hobbit bowed, with thankful cheer,
Said, “Come to Lyndelby, kind Bear…, stay here!”

Oh John Bear of Lyndelby,
Guardian strong and wild yet free,
By Glenmouth Path where waters fall,
He guards the folk, and the hearts of all.

He met Fynn, and Elyse, and Franco too,
Banko and Sil, a merry crew.
They shared their ale and tales of dread,
Of Sundergrot orcs and goblins red.
“Stay, brave Beorning!” the elders pled,
But he smiled and said, “The eagles guard your stead.”

Yet war drums rolled through hills that day,
And John Bear’s heart could not stay away.
He charged once more in a storm of might,
And drove the darkness from their sight.
The hobbits sang beneath moonlight,
And built his home by the falls so bright.

Oh John Bear of Lyndelby,
Guardian strong and wild yet free,
By Glenmouth Path where waters fall,
He guards the folk, and the hearts of all.

Now beasts and hobbits share their song,
The Beorning’s heart where they belong.

Oh John Bear of Lyndelby,
Guardian strong and wild yet free,
By Glenmouth Path where waters fall,
He guards the folk, and the hearts of all.