Songs of our times that remind you of LOTR...

[Holbytlass]

Dave Mathew's Band-Tripping Billies

eat, drink and be merry
for tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies

because of *Wilwarin's old signature "eat drink and be Merry....or Pippin".


*I think it was Wilwarin's

[shieldmaiden4xsword]

For some reason the song "Let us Love and sing and wonder".

1. Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God

2. Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God

3. Let us sing through fierce temptation
Threaten hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God

4. Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God

5. Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God.

i LOVE this song, for some reason it makes me think of LOTR. ok, ok, OK!!! i'm really weird.

[Volo]

Such Russian bands as Aria and Kipelov (not many of you have heard of them as they are Russian) remind me of Middle-earth in many songs, but they do remind me of many different fantasy books... Especially Robin Hobb and Maria Semjonova.

[Thinlómien]

Dido's My Lover's Gone is an Amarië & Finrod Felagund song for me...

My lover's gone,
his boots no longer by my door,
he left at dawn,
and as I slept I felt him go
Returns no more,
I will not watch the ocean,
my lover's gone,
no earthly ships will ever
Bring him home again,
bring him home again
My lover's gone,
I know that kiss will be my last,
no more his song,
the tune upon his lips has passed
I sing alone,
while I watch the ocean,
my lover's gone,
no earthly ships will ever Bring him home again,
bring him home again
bring him home again
my lover's gone
his boots no longer by my door
he left at dawn
and as I slept I felt him go
returns no more
I will not watch the ocean
my lovers gone
no earthly ships will ever
bring him home again
bring him home again

It just fits so beautifully for the story, every single word (almost ) ....

[Thinlómien]

I was listening to Blackmore's Night's Windmills today and I was freaked out by how much it reminds me of Túrin and Nienor.

Here's the song on YouTube and here are the lyrics:

Far from the worn path of reason
Further away from the sane
He battles his shadows and demons
Fighting to light the way

And the dust and the dirt cloud his vision
Onward he rides unafraid
He fights the good fight for good reason
A star that refuses to fade

Still he braves his path…
Windmills only laugh

She was wounded and wild when he found her
He saw her through child’s eyes
She fell for the spell he was under
Each day a brand new surprise

And she watches with strange curiosity
She wants so much to believe
Hoping to break the chains of reality
Dying to set herself free

Though he may appear tattered and broken
His clothes are shabby and bare
Still he glows like the flame of a candle
With passion of one who still cares

There was always a rhyme to the reason
Peering out from tired eyes
The truth finally came in treason
So wrong, but so justified…
So wrong but so justified…
Windmills close their eyes…

Some lines are just... just so fitting it scares me. Some are less fitting and of course the windmills have nothing to do with Narn-i-Hín-Húrin, they're Don Quijote stuff.

Anyway, I like this thread a lot, so people please, post stuff here! And especially if you can post a link so that we can hear the songs...

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I was listening to Blackmore's Night's Windmills today and I was freaked out by how much it reminds me of Túrin and Nienor.

I don't know why I am amazed that you listen to Blackmore's Night, but I am nonetheless, and pleased! Not to date myself, but I saw Ritchie Blackmore with Deep Purple in 1973 (I am sure I was only an infant!). A great guitarist who has evolved away from rock to embrace more traditional roots.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I listened to the song "A Land Without Tall Mountains" by the folk singer Michael Falch and realised that it reminded me of "The Shire"

It is obviously written about Denmark, but I think it fits the shire as well.

"In a land without tall mountains
Where it both rains and snows
I shall live my days
And die when my time comes

In a spot on the world map
That nobody pays any heed
And which can easily disappear
When there is peace no more
My flag has neither stars,
Nor hammer and sickle
It fell down from the sky,
Probably by a mistake

In a land without tall mountains
I will build, I will believe
In a land without tall mountains
I will build, I will live.

And if you come as a foreign
Forget all about old hate
We will start no wars –
And no world peace

For my people posses
Hearts of gold
It is found in flasks
And in the dark mold

This land my grandfather has ploughed in his face sweat
And my mother took my father and got me – out of love.


Obviously the part about the flag is hard to apply to Tolkiens world, but I think that is the only part that does not fit completely. . . Obviously it is not translated directly all of the time.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Anyway, I like this thread a lot, so people please, post stuff here! And especially if you can post a link so that we can hear the songs...

Very well, I shall.

This song has for a long time reminded me of Beren and Luthien. The name is Making Memories Of Us by Keith Urban.


Making Memories Of Us lyrics

I'm gonna be here for you baby
I'll be a man of my word
Speak the language in a voice that you have never heard
I wanna sleep with you forever
And I wanna die in your arms
In a cabin by a meadow where the wild bees swarm

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

I wanna honor your mother
I wanna learn from your pa
I wanna steal your attention like a bad outlaw
I wanna stand out in a crowd for you
A man among men
I wanna make your world better than it's ever been

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

We'll follow the rainbow
Wherever the four winds blow
And there'll be a new day
Comin' your way

I'm gonna be here for you from now on
This you know somehow
You've been stretched to the limits but it's alright now
And I'm gonna make you this promise
If there's life after this
I'm gonna be there to meet you with a warm, wet kiss

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us
I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll win your trust making memories of us

The romantic optimism of the song is probably what reminds of Beren and Luthien. Though, some of the lines of the song remind me of Turin, especially when mentions him "stealing your attention like a bad outlaw."

[Morthoron]

The song 'Afterglow' by Genesis (from the excellent album 'Wind and Wuthering' prior to the band becoming crassly commercial) has a very reverent, Middle-earthlike feel, and could be applied to Beren's search for Luthien, or even Frodo's final departure:

Like the dust that settles all around me
I must find a new home
The ways and holes that used to give me shelter
Are all as one to me now

But I, I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before
I miss you more

Than the sun reflecting off my pillow
Bringing the warmth of new life
And the sounds that echoed all around me
I caught a glimpse of in the night
But now, now I've lost everything
I give to you my soul
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none, no thing, no one

And I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
I a world I used to know before
For now I've lost everything
I give to you my soul
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none
I miss you more

[Snowdog]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Dido's My Lover's Gone is an Amarië & Finrod Felagund song for me...

My lover's gone,
his boots no longer by my door,
he left at dawn,
and as I slept I felt him go
Returns no more,
I will not watch the ocean,
my lover's gone,
no earthly ships will ever
Bring him home again,
bring him home again
My lover's gone,
I know that kiss will be my last,
no more his song,
the tune upon his lips has passed
I sing alone,
while I watch the ocean,
my lover's gone,
no earthly ships will ever Bring him home again,
bring him home again
bring him home again
my lover's gone
his boots no longer by my door
he left at dawn
and as I slept I felt him go
returns no more
I will not watch the ocean
my lovers gone
no earthly ships will ever
bring him home again
bring him home again

It just fits so beautifully for the story, every single word (almost ) ....

I considered Dido's My Lover's Gone a very Middle Earthy song in a sad Numenorean sort of way.

Originally Posted by Lachwen

Well, let's see...how 'bout Led Zepplin's Stairway to Heaven? That's the most gorram Elvish song I've ever heard. I mean, consider these lines: There's a feeling I get when I look to the West / And my spirit is crying for leaving...

Continuing with this Led Zepplin line of thought, how many of you have ever really listened to The Battle of Evermore? If that song isn't about the Battle of the Pelennor, then I'm Mother Theresa. Consider the lyrics:

The Queen of Light took her bow (Queen of Light? Gee, who could that be...)
And then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom
And walked the night alone (That sounds like a reference to Frodo if there ever was one)

Oh, dance in the dark of night
Sing to the morning light
The dark Lord rides in force tonight (Dark Lord? Sounds like Sauron to me)
And time will tell us all

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe
Rest not to lock your homes
Side by side we wait the night
Of the darkest of them all (This sounds like the Dawnless Day to me)

I hear the horses' thunder
Down in the valley below (Reference to the Rohirrim?)
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon
Waiting for the eastern glow

The apples of the valley hold
The seas of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care
Repay, do not forget, no, no

Oh, dance in the dark of night
sing to the morning light
The apples turn to brown and black
The tyrant's face is red

Oh, war is the common cry
Pick up you swords and fly
The sky is filled with good and bad
That mortals never know

Oh, well, the night is long
The beads of time pass slow
Tired eyes on the sunrise
Waiting for the eastern glow

The pain of war cannot exceed
The woe of aftermath
The drums will shake the castle wall
The Ringwraiths ride in black, ride on (This one should be obvious!)

Sing as you raise your bow
Shoot straighter than before
No comfort has the fire at night
That lights the face so cold

Oh, dance in the dark of night
Sing to the mornin' light

The magic runes are writ in gold
To bring the balance back (Magic runes...like on Merry's sword?)
Bring it back

At last the sun is shining
The clouds of blue roll by
With flames from the dragon of darkness
The sunlight blinds his eyes...

When I heard Heart do Battle of Evermore live, I was transported to the fields of Pelennor. Of course, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss do it quite well too.

[Snowdog]

... and for something a bit different...
Faun - Rosmarin has a Middle Earthy feel to it.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Even though it is not current music, right now I am getting LotR associations when I read or hear the work of Jeppe Aakjær (1866-1930). Especially the poems/songs “Ole sad på en knold og sang” and “Havren”. I normally prefer his work that comments on social issues, such as rural poverty, but obviously there is not any Tolkien-feel to poems such as “Jens Roadman”


What I find Tolkienesque about "Ole..." is (besides all the tralalalaley) the sense of longing dwelling in the heart of man, the desire to cross the sea and so on... My guess is that this song is inspired by the many Danes migrating to the US and Australia in the late 19th century.

Anyways here is my feeble translation of “Ole sad på en knold og sang” (also the youtube video I have linked to, is to a slightly odd a cappella version of the song)

Ole sat on a knoll singing
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Sheep and wethers (goat) around him jumped.
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

The heather rustled, and the cloud drifted
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Outlonging in the heart burned.
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

The heath restricted, and memory wandered
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Yet mother’s eyes had the strongest ties
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Soon a thing became apparent
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Memories won’t make the matter clear
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

One day Ole went trotting forth
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Stood at once by the great sea
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

The eye shone, the tear ran
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Nothing more in this world tied
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Across the sea the shepherd fared
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
The sheeps are still standing staring
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Nor wether or sheep can understand
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Longing’s voyage over the wave blue
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Luckily there is a professional translation of “Havren”:

Originally Posted by Jeppe Akjær, The Oats

Here I stand with tinkling bells galore,
Twenty on each straw, I think, or more.
But the farmer, bless his honest soul,
Calls me oats and speaks of twenty fold.



I was sown while happy birds in spring
Made with joyful song the welkin ring.
Bumble bees in wild and tumbling race,
In the mellow sunshine droned the bass.

Growing up in sunny morning dew
That sweet Symphony within me grew.
He who listens humbly while I ring,
Hears the echo of the songs of spring.

Cold, unfeeling hearts can never see
Anything but cattle-feed in me.
I am more than food for hungry jaws,
I am song of birds on golden straws.

I am friends with everything that grows,
Friends with every gentle wind that blows,
Friends with waving trees and summer skies,
Friends with daisies and with butterflies.

When the sun goes down, its parting smile
Lingers on my golden head a while,
And when evening bells ring out,
I too Tinkle, standing tip-toe in the dew.

I am ringing children to their beds,
Ringing up the mist that slowly spreads,
Ringing peace, as busy day departs,
Into humble homes and pious hearts.

Things are more than the sum of their components... That is definitely something I take from both this poem and the works of Tolkien. At least it would weird to suggest that either Aakjær or Tolkien were hardcore materialists. To some extend they might even be inspired by the same branch of romanticism. . .