Bilbo's Last Song
Encyclopedia
"Bilbo's Last Song" is a poem by J. R. R. Tolkien
. It was given by Tolkien as a gift to his secretary Joy Hill in 1966. After Tolkien's death in 1973 Hill showed the poem to Donald Swann
, who liked the poem so much that he set it to music and included it in the second edition of The Road Goes Ever On
in 1978. The poem was also illustrated by Pauline Baynes
, and published as a poster in 1974. In 1990 the text was finally published in book form, reillustrated by Baynes.
The poem is sung by Bilbo Baggins
at the Grey Havens, as he is about to leave Middle-earth
forever. Chronologically this places it at the very end of The Return of the King, the last book of The Lord of the Rings
, although it was written later than the books and was never included in them.
The song is included in the BBC Radio 4
adaptation of The Lord of the Rings
(1981), with music by Stephen Oliver. The first verse is chanted by John Le Mesurier
as Bilbo, the second omitted, and the third sung by a boy soprano
. (All three verses are sung on the soundtrack recording.)
There is no direct reference to the song in Peter Jackson
's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003). The film's distributor, New Line Cinema
, was not licensed to use the poem as it is a separate work from The Lord of the Rings and Christopher Tolkien
, son of the author and his literary executor
, refused to license it as he steadfastly refused to have anything to do with the movies. The movie's closing credits
are accompanied by the original song "Into the West
", sung by Annie Lennox
, meant to have similar emotional resonance. In addition, composer Howard Shore
wrote an original composition for choir and orchestra called "Bilbo's Song", which can be heard at the end of the Extended Edition DVD Fan Credits. (The song, "Bilbo's Song", heard in the movie, is an Elvish translation of the song identified in the "Lord of the Ring's" song index as "Bilbo's Song". It is, in fact, the walking song that starts "I Sit Beside the Fire and Think".)
The song, sung in 1978 by composer Donald Swann with his own piano accompaniment, was later added to a Compact Disc made available with the song cycle, "The Road Goes Ever On".
The song was also recorded by The Hobbitons (to Stephen Oliver's melody) on their recording, J.R.R. Tolkien's Songs from Middle-earth.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
. It was given by Tolkien as a gift to his secretary Joy Hill in 1966. After Tolkien's death in 1973 Hill showed the poem to Donald Swann
Donald Swann
Donald Ibrahím Swann was a British composer, musician and entertainer. He is best known to the general public for his partnership of writing and performing comic songs with Michael Flanders .-Life:...
, who liked the poem so much that he set it to music and included it in the second edition of The Road Goes Ever On
The Road Goes Ever On
The Road Goes Ever On is a song cycle that has been published as sheet music and as an audio recording. The music was written by Donald Swann, and the words are taken from poems in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, especially The Lord of the Rings.The title of this opus is taken from "The...
in 1978. The poem was also illustrated by Pauline Baynes
Pauline Baynes
Pauline Diana Baynes was an English book illustrator, whose work encompassed more than 100 books, notably those by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. She was born in Hove, Sussex....
, and published as a poster in 1974. In 1990 the text was finally published in book form, reillustrated by Baynes.
The poem is sung by Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo Baggins is the protagonist and titular character of The Hobbit and a supporting character in The Lord of the Rings, two of the most well-known of J. R. R...
at the Grey Havens, as he is about to leave Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
forever. Chronologically this places it at the very end of The Return of the King, the last book of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
, although it was written later than the books and was never included in them.
The song is included in the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
adaptation of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)
In 1981 the UK radio station BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in 26 half-hour stereo instalments...
(1981), with music by Stephen Oliver. The first verse is chanted by John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
as Bilbo, the second omitted, and the third sung by a boy soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
. (All three verses are sung on the soundtrack recording.)
There is no direct reference to the song in Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epic fantasy-drama film directed by Peter Jackson that is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
(2003). The film's distributor, New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
, was not licensed to use the poem as it is a separate work from The Lord of the Rings and Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Reuel Tolkien is the third and youngest son of the author J. R. R. Tolkien , and is best known as the editor of much of his father's posthumously published work. He drew the original maps for his father's The Lord of the Rings, which he signed C. J. R. T. The J...
, son of the author and his literary executor
Literary executor
A literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
, refused to license it as he steadfastly refused to have anything to do with the movies. The movie's closing credits
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
are accompanied by the original song "Into the West
Into the West (song)
"Into the West" is an Oscar winning song, written by Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, and Annie Lennox, and performed by Lennox. The song plays during the closing credits of the film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King...
", sung by Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, meant to have similar emotional resonance. In addition, composer Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
wrote an original composition for choir and orchestra called "Bilbo's Song", which can be heard at the end of the Extended Edition DVD Fan Credits. (The song, "Bilbo's Song", heard in the movie, is an Elvish translation of the song identified in the "Lord of the Ring's" song index as "Bilbo's Song". It is, in fact, the walking song that starts "I Sit Beside the Fire and Think".)
The song, sung in 1978 by composer Donald Swann with his own piano accompaniment, was later added to a Compact Disc made available with the song cycle, "The Road Goes Ever On".
The song was also recorded by The Hobbitons (to Stephen Oliver's melody) on their recording, J.R.R. Tolkien's Songs from Middle-earth.