The Dance: In the Shire
This dance was a simple dance. Simple fit the Hobbit’s approach to life. But simple also meant that children and older folk could dance along with those Hobbits in the exuberant tweens. It also meant a Hobbit that had imbibed a little too much ale could still join in. The figures were often modified to suit the individual or the couple. With a child, an adult might offer a hand rather than an elbow for Verse 3. Hobbits in love might kiss on the lips rather than the more polite air-cheek kiss. Fancy stepping might impress a young maid. Some wore bells on their shoes or around their ankles so that their steps made tinkling noises. Many maids tied ribbons around their wrists, as well.

The basic figures—dancing round in a circle, dancing shoulder to shoulder, hooking elbows and dancing round your partner, and dancing into the center and back—have survived today in both English Country Dance and Morris Dancing. Morris dancing also retains the bells and ribbons, although modern teams attach the ribbons to their legs or arms.

The tune for this dance has also survived time and was collected under the name “The Triumph” by Cecil Sharp for his book, The Compleat Dancing Master. Like many dance tunes, there were lyrics sung either during dancing or alone during parties.

Notes:

Song Lyrics
Underlines mark the syllable that falls on the ‘down’ beat - like any good folk song, scanning can be tricky.
Dashes indicate a run of quick syllables

Dance Notes for each line in fancy brackets { }
Formation: Everyone finds a partner then all hold hands in a big circle. After dancing one verse with this partner, each person moves on to find a new partner to dance the next verse with.
Step: step-hop-step-hop – one step-hop notated as SH

VERSE 1 {everyone in a big circle holding hands}
Morning breakfast then e lev-en-ses
And at lunch we eat some more
With our tea we’d like some crump-ets-please
Filling up corners - not a chore
{for VERSE1: large circle moves clockwise - dancers using 16 SHs}

CHORUS 1 {partners facing each other – some looking clockwise, some looking counterclockwise}
In the Shire {Clap own hands together twice on the down beat}
In the Shire {Shake right hands with your partner twice}
In the Shire we all love to eat {giving a handshake hold with right hands, partners dance past each other and on to the next person using 4 SHs}
Every party {Clap own hands together twice on the down beat}
That we go to {Shake left hands with this new person twice}
Always makes a Hob-bit-feel-replete {giving a handshake hold with left hands, dance past this person on to the next, your new partner, using 4 SHs}

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VERSE 2 {new partners (now called ‘partners’) facing each other – some looking clockwise, some looking counterclockwise}
Southern Star or p’rhaps Long bot-tom-Leaf {using 4SHs partners dance toward each other so that right shoulders come near each other}
Pipeweed tamped down in the bowl {using 4SHs each person dances backwards to place}
From a pipe that’s clamped be tween-my-teeth {using 4SHs, partners dance toward each other so that left shoulders come near each other}
Aromatic smoke rings roll {using 4SHs each person dances backwards to place}

CHORUS 2
In the Shire {Clap own hands together twice}
In the Shire {Clap your right hand with partner’s right hand twice}
In the Shire we all love to smoke {giving a handshake hold with right hands, partners dance past each other and on to the next person using 4 SHs}
Nothing gives us {Clap own hands together twice}
Greater pleasure {Clap your left hand with this person’s left hand twice}
Than to set and puff-amongst-the folk {giving a handshake hold with left hands, dance past this person on to the next, your new partner, using 4 Shs}

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VERSE 3 {new partners (now called ‘partners’) facing each other – some looking clockwise, some looking counterclockwise}
Violets, Pansies, Roses, Mar-i-golds
Good tilled earth and planted seed. {using 8 SHs, partners hook right elbows and dance around each other}
The finest mushrooms ‘round, or so-we’re-told
Share a basket without greed {using 8 SHs, partners hook left elbows and dance around each other}

CHORUS 3
In the Shire {Clap own hands together twice}
In the Shire {Partners kiss right cheek twice}
In the Shire we garden with delight {giving a handshake hold with right hands, partners dance past each other and on to the next person using 4 SHs}
Every Hobbit {Clap own hands together twice}
Loves to hear that {kiss left cheek with this person twice}
Someone thinks his Garden’s looking bright {giving a handshake hold with left hands, dance past this person on to the next, your new partner. End with all in a big circle as in the beginning -- 4 SHs}

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VERSE 4 {everyone in a big circle, holding hands}
Laughing, singing, dancing, hap-py-times. {Using 4SHs, everyone dances into the center of the circle}
In peace and quiet, our hearts lie. {Using 4SHs, everyone dances back from the center into the larger circle}
We might tell tales or make some merr-y-rhymes.
But from adventure we will shy. {Using 8 SHs, everyone dances into the center and back}

FINALE CHORUS {Everyone swing their new partners*}
Elves and Dragons they’re for big-ger-folk
Cabb-a-ges-and taters suit-a-Hob-bit well
No need fixin’ a thing that is-n’t-broke
In the Shire, for ev-er-we-will dwell

{swing means to take hold of your partner and twirl around in whatever manner pleases you until you are delightfully dizzy.}