But Frodo and Sam are not yet gone. With th… Read Full Bio ↴Featuring Renée Fleming.
But Frodo and Sam are not yet gone. With their last ounce of strength, the two run from the Cracks of Doom, only to find themselves trapped on the steep outer wall of Mount Doom. Rivers of lava pour down the sides, plumes of ash and rock fuming from its vent. But even here, at the end of all things, Frodo is beholden to fate. “It’s gone. It’s done,” he tells Sam. “I can see the Shire.”
Gandalf’s Farewells continues, now peacefully set for soprano voices. The two hobbits, the saviors of Middle-earth, prepare to accept death. Frodo hugs Sam. Wordlessly the voices sing of the Fellowship. All fades to black.
…But all does not end. Renée Fleming joins the score again to sing the Sindarin text, “The Eagles” over delicate strings and chorus. Three great birds appear, Gandalf at their lead. They grasp Frodo and Sam in their talons and carry them away from the death and destruction that pits Mordor.
TEXTS
THE EAGLES
Text by J. R. R. Tolkien and Philippa Boyens
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
FIRST HEARD: DISC THREE | TRACK SIXTEEN
Orthannen im vi ôl | In a dream I was lifted up.
Coll e dû | Borne from the darkness
Or hiriath naur | Above rivers of fire.
Na rovail mae sui ‘waew | On wings soft as the wind.
Man prestant i ardhon? | What’s happened to the world?
Cerithar aen illaid dim úthenin? | Is everything sad going to come untrue?
(c) The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)
The Eagles
Howard Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
text by J.R.R. TOLKIEN and PHILIPPA BOYENS, translation by DAVID SALO
( SINDARIN )
Orthannen im vi ôl
Coll d dû
Or hiriath naur
Na rovail mae sui'waew
Cerithar aen illaid dim úthenin?
(( In a dream I was lifted up.
Borne from the darkness
Above rivers of fire
On wings soft as the wind.
What's happened to the world?
Is everything sad going to come untrue? ))
The lyrics to The Eagles by Howard Shore are a unique blend of two different languages, Sindarin and English. The song is based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, the mastermind behind The Lord of the Rings series, and Philippa Boyens, one of the screenplay writers for the movies. The opening lines, "Orthannen im vi ôl, coll d dû" roughly translate to "In a dream I was lifted up, borne from the darkness" in English. The imagery conveyed in these two lines is powerful, almost mystical. It gives the listener the impression that they are being taken on a journey into the unknown, a dream world that is unfamiliar to them.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more clear, and the listener can begin to understand the meaning behind them. The next few lines, "Above rivers of fire, on wings soft as the wind", paint a picture of flight and danger. The listener feels as though they are soaring above this dangerous world, carried by a powerful force that is both comforting and intimidating. The final two lines, "What's happened to the world? Is everything sad going to come untrue?" bring the listener back down to reality. The world is a dangerous and scary place, but there is always hope for change and redemption. The lyrics convey a sense of hope amidst the darkness and uncertainty that life can sometimes bring.
Line by Line Meaning
In a dream I was lifted up.
I had a dream where I was elevated from my worries.
Borne from the darkness
I was carried away from the darkness into a bright space.
Above rivers of fire
I was above rivers of fire moving into another world.
On wings soft as the wind.
I was gliding smoothly and gently with wings that felt like the wind.
What's happened to the world?
What has gone wrong with the world and changed it from what it was before?
Is everything sad going to come untrue?
Would the mournful existences that have already occurred in the past be reversed, and things become all better again?
Contributed by Jayden A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Dave_thenerd
Japanese Translation (Just for Fun!):
夢では、上がられた。
Yume de ha, agarareta.
In a dream, [I] was raised up.
闇から生まれた。
Yami kara umareta.
Born from darkness.
火の川の上。
Hi no kawa no ue.
Above the river of fire.
柔らかい風みたいな羽にいる。
Yawarakai kaze mitai na hane ni iru.
[I'm] on a wing like a soft wind.
世界はどうなったの？
Sekai ha dou natta no?
What has happened to the world?
すべての悲哀、消えるの？
Subete no hiai, kieru no?
Will all sorrow, disappear?
I tried my best to keep each lyric relatively similar in length to the original and kind of rhyme, but somethings had to be tweaked for the sake of accuracy. Hope you all like it.
Made some small changes to make it flow more naturally.
2019-10-20 Slight correction to English Translation.
@giobolzoni5495
this is like a drug to my ears, i wish there was at least 3 minutes of her singing this....maybe an full album, i would be the happiest person
@jannickpedersen546
i heard the extended before i heard this xD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdN-eYTdU6Y&t=9s
@daanboera.k.amoobear
it is drugs to my ears and soul also so good to see someone else feeling the same way!
@Rustin_Peace19
Ya God damn right!
@ladybooksmith3347
She does sing a bit more / about 3 minutes. Video is called Twilight and shadow - Renee Fleming.
@IntuitiveSpirituality
3min that's an insult - this should be 24 hours long of just singing
@gareth0412
I was 15 when i watched this in the cinema. Massive LOTR fan and i even learned a little elvish since it was the craze at the time. Although i knew frodo did not die on the side of mount doom, most of the people in the room didn't. The atmosphere was unlike anything i've felt since and im 35, It was like a dream, the soft weeping all around me and then the gasp as the eagles descend into the fire to rescue these 2 brave men, their Courage and will unmatched in all of literature.
Seeing this scene surpassed my imagination when i read the books. That voice felt like an elf was singing frodos ballad to the Valar in valinor(Where frodo gandalf and bilbo sale to at the end) Telling their angels of the extraordinary feat these most humble of creatures achieved. What a special thing Peter Jackson did. I cant wait until my boys are old enough to watch this masterpiece with me.
@thesouthernvikingr5919
No kidding mate, I'd have cried in those cinemas too.
@patrickkihn
Yes! It’s exactly like that: a song sung to the Valar in Valinor.
@leloupdessteppes3228
This music makes me believe in God.