He is not a hobbit, neither a man, but what is he? Is he a dwarf? A wizard? A god? Something else entirely?
As far as I know Tom is left as an enigmatic character and never explained. Just a strange encounter to make the world seem larger and more mysterious.
He’s Q but it’s TLOTR
He’s a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is and his boots are yellow.
@TomBombadil@hexbear.net , A statement please.
Hey Derry doll I’m just a merry fellow! In nature I dwell with the trees and green things. With my Goldberry I wonder the old wood and tend to the Withywindle! Come now little folk sing my songs! Derry werry old Tom is singgginggg now. Down the river and over the hill he wonders! Herry ho merry fellow!
My blue jacket was woven from lost sheep’s wool. Fatty Lumpkin ohh he told the sheep I’d treat them well and I’m exhange I got this coat! My yellow boots I crafted to always remind me off my beautiful Goldberry! Oh hey hoo my Goldberry with hair of Gold she the river womans daughter now my wife!
He is a character who is not connected to the main conflict in the story in any way, and is meant to show that the world of middle earth is much larger and more mysterious than what the hobbits/men/elves/orcs are fighting over. His back story was left as a mystery on purpose. The simplest explanation to accept is that you’re just not supposed to know.
There is a whole lot of fan theory and actual letters from Tolkien himself explaining (or rather not explaining) the character.
