Summary
Ian McKellen’s Gandalf can be heard singing a song as he rides into the Shire inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and this tune is far from random. The scene in which the old wizard arrives in Hobbit country is among the most lighthearted and peaceful of the series, and this has made it all the more memorable. Gandalf’s joyful ride perfectly sets the tone of the Shire while establishing a contrast with the doom and gloom to come. His song assisted in this as well, but there was more to it than just this.
J.R.R. Tolkien was known for his poems and songs, and theLord of the Ringsbooks, includingThe Hobbit, were full of them. Peter Jackson’s movies couldn’t have included everything, so it’s understandable that the majority were cut. TheHobbitmovie included Thorin’s “Misty Mountain” song, whileThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingcontained a version of Tolkien’s “A Walking Song,” sung by Pippin while Denethor feasted. However, there wasanother of Tolkien’s own songs, perhaps the most important, snuck intoFellowship of the Ring.
All 10 Elf Types In The Lord Of The Rings Explained
Though all Elves share an origin in The Lord of the Rings, the migration to Valinor led them to be divided into various groups and subgroups.
The First Few Lines Of The Song Can Be Heard
The song McKellen’s Gandalf sings inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringis “The Road Goes Ever On,“written in-world by Bilbo Baggins during theevents ofThe Hobbit. Of course, Tolkien gets real-world credit for the lyrics, and the version heard in Jackson’sFellowship of the Ringwas arranged byLord of the Ringscomposer Howard Shore for the film. Unfortunately, McKellen’s singing trails off as his cart continues down the road, but the first couple of lines can be heard. Find the full lyrics for “The Road Goes Ever On” below:
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.
“The Road Goes Ever On” is sometimes called “The Old Walking Song,” and there are several variations of the lyrics throughout Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsbooks.
Why Gandalf’s Song In The Fellowship Of The Rings Movie Is So Important To Lord Of The Rings Canon
It Carried A Lot Of Weight
Gandalf’s song in theLord of the Ringsmovies is a delightful Easter egg since “The Road Goes Ever On” is a frequent and meaningful feature of Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsbooks. The first time it is seen on the page is at the end ofThe HobbitwhenBilbo comes up with the lyrics as he travels back to the Shire. This is reflected in the song’s lyrics, as Bilbo describes the things he has seen on his long journey and the sight of his familiar home after so long. While Gandalf is never noted to sing the song in Tolkien’sLord of the Rings, it makes sense that his character would think of it while traveling to Bilbo’s home all those years later.
While Gandalf is never noted to sing the song in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, it makes sense that his character would think of it while traveling to Bilbo’s home all those years later.
This isn’t the end of the song’s significance, however. In theFellowship of the Ringbook, Bilbo sings another version of his Old Walking Song when he leaves the Shire for Rivendell, this time with lyrics that reflect his eagerness to have another adventure. “The Road Goes Ever On” is repeated two more times after this inThe Lord of the Rings, both with new lyrics that reflect the adventure’s changing dynamics and the adventurer’s mood. In this way, it’s precisely as the song title suggests—the road goes on and on in an ever-unexpected journey.
Bilbo’s Song Is Seen Three Time In The Lord Of The Rings Books
It’s interesting to look at the changed lyrics of “The Road Goes Ever On” each time it is repeated inThe Lord of the Ringsbooks. The general idea of a never-ending journey remains the same, but there are subtle adjustments that reflect the character singing it.When Bilbo leaves the Shire for Rivendell inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, he sings of a road he must get on since it will lead him to the next part of his story. He then ends the verse questioning what will come next for him when he reaches his destination:
The Road goes ever on and on
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Later, when Frodo leaves the Shire for his own adventure inFellowship of the Ring, he repeats the same changed verse, thoughrather than saying “eager feet” in the fifth line, he says “weary feet.“This foreshadows the difference between his adventure and Bilbo’s. It will be a longer, more harrowing journey that will take everything from Frodo.
This song perfectly captures the bittersweet ending of The Lord of the Rings, and its importance to the beginning, middle, and end of the Hobbits' story makes Gandalf singing it in the movie all the more heartwarming.
The last time “The Road Goes Ever On” is heard in theLord of the Ringsbooks is inReturn of the Kingwhen Frodo returns to Rivendell following the destruction of the One Ring. This time, it is again Bilbo who sings it, andthe lyrics now reflect his weariness and willingness to leave the worldto those who are ready to have their own adventures:
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
In a sense, this version of the song is dedicated to both Bilbo and Frodo. The two Hobbits had completed their respective adventures and were, therefore, weary and ready to “turn toward the lighted inn” for a long rest inthe Undying Lands. Of course, the road still goes on and on ahead of them, but it’s now for others to travel and explore. This song perfectly captures the bittersweet ending ofThe Lord of the Rings, and its importance to the beginning, middle, and end of the Hobbits' story makes Gandalf singing it in the movie all the more heartwarming.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
