Clap! Snap! the black crack! is the song sung by the goblins as they descend into Goblin-town after capturing Thorin, the dwarves, and Bilbo Baggins (but not Gandalf). The goblins kept time by the flap of their flat feet upon the stone floor of the passage. As they sang they brought out whips to force the dwarves and the hobbit to run as fast as they could.[1]
The first stanza refers to the capture of Thorin's company in their "Front Porch", the seemingly small cave the company had taken shelter in while traversing the mountains. The second and third stanzas indicate that the captives will be turned into hard-working slaves of the goblins far within the mountains.
Poem excerpt
Clap! Snap! the black crack!
Grip, grab! Pinch, nab!
And down down to Goblin-town
You go, my lad!
Portrayal in adaptations
1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):
- When the Goblins ambush Thorin and Company in the cave, they sing a version of the song. It is titled on the soundtrack "Down, Down, To Goblin Town".
Crush, smack! Whip crack!
Smash, grab! Pinch, nab!
You go, my lad!
Ho, ho! my lad!
The black crack! the black crack!
The black crack! the black crack!
Down down to Goblin-town
Down down to Goblin-town
Down down to Goblin-town
You go, my lad!
Ho, ho! my lad!
Goblins quaff, and Goblins beat
Goblins laugh, and Goblins bleat
Batter, jabber, whip and hammer hoooooo!
You go, my lad!
Ho, ho! my lad!
Below, my lad!
Ho, ho! my lad!
The black crack! the black crack!
The black crack! the black crack!
Down, down to Goblin-town
Down, down to Goblin-town
Down, down to Goblin-town
You go, my lad!
Ho, ho! my lad!
1985: The Hobbit (1985 television film)
- The song is sang by the goblins as they capture the company. It has minor differences from the version written in the book translation that the film is based upon,
2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
- In the Extended Edition, the Great Goblin is introduced singing the song with the rest of his subjects as the Dwarves arrive, just before he interrogates them. Once he finishes, he asks the Dwarves what they think of his composition. Balin retorts that it isn't a song, but an "abomination".
Clap! Snap! The black crack!
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab!
Batter and beat! Make ‘em stammer and squeak!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
(Down, down, down in Goblin Town)
With a swish and smack
And a whip and a crack
Everybody talks when they’re on my rack
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
(Down, down, down in Goblin Town)
Hammer and tongs, get out your knockers and gongs
You won't last long on the end of my prongs
Clash, crash, crush and smash!
Bang, break, shiver and shake!
You can yammer and yelp, but there ain't no help!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
- The Great Goblin later sings a brief variation of the song while his guards search through the Dwarves' inventory, ending just as they discover Orcrist in Thorin's possession.
Bones will be shattered, necks will be wrung!
You'll be beaten and battered, from racks you'll be hung!
You will die down here and never be found!
Down in the deep of Goblin-town!
See also
References