Frodo’s Lament For Gandalf
Frodo’s Lament For Gandalf Lyrics
his footsteps on the Hill were heard;
before the dawn he went away
on journey long without a word.
From Wilderland to Western shore,
from northern waste to southern hill
through dragon-lair and hidden door
and darkling woods he walked at will.
With Dwarves and Hobbits, Elves and Men,
with mortal and immortal folk,
with bird on bough and beast in den,
in their own secret tongues he spoke.
A deadly sword, a healing hand,
a back that bent beneath its load;
a trumpet-voice, a burning brand,
a weary pilgrim on the road.
A lord of wisdom throned he sat,
swift in anger, quick to laugh;
an old man in a battered hat
who leaned upon a thorny staff.
He stood upon the bridge alone
and Fire and Shadow both defied;
his staff was broken on the stone,
in Khazad-dûm his wisdom died.
About
As Frodo sat beside the fountain of Lorien, following the fellowship’s climactic escape from Moria, he performed for Sam a tribute to Gandalf, who he believed was killed in his battle with the Balrog “Durin’s Bane.” Frodo mentions to Sam that he forgot the majority of the song, with “only snatches remained, faded as a handful of withered leaves.” Sam himself contributed the final verse, recalling Gandalf’s delightful skill with fireworks.
It was Frodo who first put something of his sorrow into halting words. He was seldom moved to make song or rhyme; even in Rivendell he had listened and had not sung himself, though his memory was stored with many things that others had made before him. But now as he sat beside the fountain in Lorien and heard about him the voices of the Elves, his thought took shape in a song that seemed fair to him; yet when he tried to repeat it to Sam only snatches remained, faded as a handful of withered leaves
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Ring Poem
- 16.Song of Eärendil
- 17.Boromir’s Riddle
- 23.Frodo’s Lament For Gandalf
- 31.Bregalad’s Song
- 37.Gandalf’s Riddle
- 39.Gollum’s Song
- 40.Oliphaunt
- 45.Éomer’s Song
- 47.Athelas
- 48.Song of Lebennin
- 52.The Eagle’s Song