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A Journey in the Dark
Howard Shore Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Durin ku bin-amrad
Durin ku bin-amrad
Ugmal sullu addad
Ku ba...
Abad ku ganaga
Tur ganad Abanul
Durin
Ku bin-amrad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Howard Shore's song "A Journey in the Dark" are actually in Khuzdul, the fictional language of the dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe. The lyrics can be interpreted as a hymn or chant praising the long and storied history of the dwarves. The repeated phrase "Durin ku bin-amrad" can be translated to mean "I am the ancestor of Durin," referencing the first dwarf to be created by the god of Middle-earth's creation, Ilúvatar. The subsequent lines continue the chant of praise for the vast number of dwarves that have come after Durin, their bravery, and their many achievements.


The overall tone of the song is solemn and reverent but is also filled with a sense of determined purpose. It is fitting, as the song is played during a critical point in the Lord of the Rings story when the Fellowship of the Ring is journeying through the treacherous Mines of Moria, an ancient dwarven city that is now overrun with orcs and other dark creatures. The lyrics and music convey a sense of both the dwarves' glory in their past and their determination to reclaim their lost homeland.


Line by Line Meaning

Durin ku bin-amrad
The dwarves are in despair


Durin ku bin-amrad
The dwarves are in despair


Ugmal sullu addad
The darkness is growing stronger


Ku ba...
Weary and tired


Abad ku ganaga
Long is the way ahead


Tur ganad Abanul
The road leads to deep places


Durin
A name repeated as a plea for help or guidance


Ku bin-amrad
Despair and fear set in the hearts of the dwarves




Contributed by Xavier E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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