The Fall of Gil-galad Lyrics
Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
About
Genius Annotation
“This sad song, sung by Sam, recounts the death of Gil-galad, the last of the High-elven kings of Beleriand. Bilbo taught Sam the song. The song is incomplete because Sam decided not to learn the part about Mordor, which frightened him. Gil-galad and Elendil fell at the end of the Second Age, fighting Sauron on the slopes of Mount Doom. After his death, Cirdan the Shipwright ran the Grey Havens in Lindon, which was no longer a kingdom but rather a departure point for Elves sailing to the Blessed Lands of the west.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Ring Poem
- 13.The Fall of Gil-galad
- 16.Song of Eärendil
- 17.Boromir’s Riddle
- 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
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