Lord of the Rings: Interpretive Notes for Gandalf's Song
Ian McKellen's Gandalf can be seen singing a happy song as he rides into the Shire in Peter Jackson's cinematic rendition of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Connecting to the themes of the book, this apparently straightforward scene has more meaning and relevance that highlights Tolkien's skillful narrative.
"The Road Goes Ever On": A Song from Classic Tolkien
Gandalf hums his song "The Road Goes Ever On." Originally written by Tolkien for the book The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins composed this song during his travels. Howard Shore, the composer of the movie, organized the rendition heard there.
The first two lines are audible even though the whole song is not sung in the movie as Gandalf keeps on his trip:
Roads never stop; they go always.
Over under tree and over rock...
Often referred to as "The Old Walking Song," the song reflects the path of the characters and varies across Tolkien's writings. "The Road Goes Ever On" has as its whole lyrics as follows:
Roads extend endlessly.
Over under tree and over rock,
By caverns where never sun has radiated,
by means of channels devoid of sea;
Over winter sown snow by year.
And through the joyful June blossoms,
Over gravel and over stone,
And among mountains on the moon.
Roads run endlessly on.
Benevolent under cloud and under star,
Still, feet that stray have gone
Turn at last for home far-off.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen have seen
And horror in the stone hallways.
Finally glance at meadows of green.
And long they have known trees and hills.
The Song of Gandalf's Significance
For readers of Tolkien's works, Gandalf's singing of "The Road Goes Ever On" is a subdued but potent Easter egg. The value of the song to the narrative is several. First heard in The Hobbit as Bilbo muses over his trip and yearning for home following his adventure. Although Gandalf never sings the song in the books, it is quite appropriate that he would consider it as he travels to Bilbo's house.
The value of the song goes beyond The Hobbit. The Lord Of The Rings features "The Road Goes Ever On" several times, developing with every repeat. The songs shift to capture the changing dynamics of the trip and the characters' growing emotions. When Bilbo leaves the Shire for Rivendell in The Fellowship Of The Ring, for example, he sings of the road guiding him to the next phase of his life. He finishes unsure about what lies ahead.
Later, when Frodo leaves the Shire to start his own journey, he sings the same version but with a variation: "weary feet" instead of "eager feet," so hinting the difficulty and challenges he will face.
The Meaning of The Song Within The Lord of the Rings
The way "The Road Goes Ever On" develops offers a potent metaphor for the always shifting character of life and adventure. The songs capture the emotional trips of the characters as the narrative moves forward and the erratic turns of fate. It reminds us that even after apparently closing one chapter, a fresh road is always ahead.
Bilbo performs the song once more in the last book, The Return of the King, this time conveying his tiredness and readiness to set aside time for fresh experiences. The songs capture a sense of completion and the hand-off of the torch to a next generation.
Particularly moving last lines in "The Road Goes Ever On" are
Will head toward the illuminated inn,
My sleep to meet tonight-rest.
These songs capture the mixed ending of the narrative and the understanding that even great adventures have to stop finally. For those who follow, they represent a calm change to a new chapter where rest and peace await even as the road keeps on.
In conclusion
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring's "The Road Goes Ever On" sung by Gandalf is evidence of Tolkien's deft narrative ability. The song reminds me strongly of the ideas of adventure, change, and the conflicting character of life. It's a subdued nod to the continuity of the narrative and evidence of the value of a decent song in a work of art.
