Addenda to Roverandom (1998)

By J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited by Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond

     p. 80, ll. 5–6: We don’t want to lose you, but we think you ought to go. These words are from the second verse of ‘Your King and Country Want You’ by Paul Rubens (‘Oh, we don’t want to lose you but we think you ought to go. / For your King and your country both need you so.’). One of the most popular songs in Britain at the start of the World War in 1914, ‘Your King and Country Want You’ was used to persuade young men to enlist for military service. Links to recordings of the song may be found at http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/yourkingandcountrywantyou.htm.

xxxWe are grateful to Paul S. Person for pointing this out.

[Go to home page]

Copyright ©-2008 by Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull
This page was last updated on 20 February 2008