Billy Boyd's Song

[FoolOfATook13]

I was listening to the Return of the King soundtrack, and came across the song that Billy Boyd (Pippin) sings as Faramir rides back to Osgiliath to meet the orcs. As moving as it is, do you think that Tolkien would have liked the song there, or Peter Jackson took too much artistic license?

"Home is behind
The world ahead
There are many paths to tread
Trough shadow to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall fade"

[mithrand1r]

Originally Posted by FoolOfATook13

I was listening to the Return of the King soundtrack, and came across the song that Billy Boyd (Pippin) sings as Faramir rides back to Osgiliath to meet the orcs. As moving as it is, do you think that Tolkien would have liked the song there, or Peter Jackson took too much artistic license?

"Home is behind
The world ahead
There are many paths to tread
Trough shadow to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall fade"

I think the song is fine. I am not sure what JRRT would think about the song.

Denethor continued to look/act like a mad man though. (In the movie)

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by mithrand1r

I think the song is fine. I am not sure what JRRT would think about the song.

He wrote the words himself - only in a different part of the book.

Twilight was about them as they crept back to the lane. The West wind was sighing in the branches. Leaves were whispering. Soon the road began to fall gently but steadily into the dusk. A star came out above the trees in the darkening East before them. They went abreast and in step, to keep up their spirits. After a time, as the stars grew thicker and brighter, the feeling of disquiet left them, and they no longer listened for the sound of hoofs. They began to hum softly, as hobbits have a way of doing as they walk along, especially when they are drawing near to home at night. With most hobbits it is a supper-song or a bed-song; but these hobbits hummed a walking-song (though not, of course, without any mention of supper and bed). Bilbo Baggins had made the words, to a tune that was as old as the hills, and taught it to Frodo as they walked in the lanes of the Water-valley and talked about Adventure.

Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
 Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
 Let them pass! Let them pass!
 Hill and water under sky,
 Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
 Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
 Let them go! Let them go!
 Sand and stone and pool and dell,
 Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We’ll wander back to home and bed.
 Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
 Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
 Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
 And then to bed! And then to bed!

The song ended. ‘And now to bed! And now to bed!’ sang Pippin in a high voice.
‘Hush!’ said Frodo. ‘I think I hear hoofs again.’
They slopped suddenly and stood as silent as tree-shadows, listening. There was a sound of hoofs in the lane, some way behind, but coming slow and clear down the wind. Quickly and quietly they slipped off the path, and ran into the deeper shade under the oak-trees.

From Three is Company, FotR

[shesabrandybuck]

I think the song is fine. I believe billy used it as part of his audition, correct me if i'm wrong. I think tolkien wouldn't have had a problem with it since its practically his, then again i've never had the liberty of meeting the man.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

I don't think he'd have liked it being put in the completely different situation from a different book. He'd have been fine with the lyrics, though.

[Tessar]

Believe it or not, I heard a girl sing that for her voice audition at my university the other day when I was helping out with auditions. I have no idea if she got in or not, but I thought it was both a little bizarre (probably NOT the wisest choice for an audition song, to be honest... at least not for an operatic program [we prefer our composers to be at least a hundred years dead ]) but also kind of cool.

[barrelrider110]

Great post Varafindë. I thought those lyrics sounded familiar. Interesting. I read much whining and angst in Entmoot about what Jackson abridged or added. Not many give him credit for how much of Tolkien he actually included in the movies. This one flew completely under my radar. I never would have thought the song was authored by Bilbo. Thanks.

[brownjenkins]

I think that Tolkien would have appreciated it. He was a lot more open to interpretation than his son and "estate" are. The hobbits were basically the center of the films, which was the most important theme in his books.

[Gordis]

I doubt Tolkien would have appreciated turning Bilbo's cheerful walking song into Billy Boyd's mournful dirge. It sounded utterly un-hobbity.

[brownjenkins]

Hobbits have feelings too!

I can’t say I have, who is the author and what is the book about?