Aragorn informs Théoden that the Uruk-hai army will be upon them before nig… Read Full Bio ↴Aragorn informs Théoden that the Uruk-hai army will be upon them before nightfall. The King puts on a strong face, praising the impregnable defenses of Helm’s Deep, but Aragorn and Gimli follow him, insisting that he should consider this matter more seriously. Over a slow-building bolero-like rhythm in low strings, Shore proceeds with a staid examination of the second half of the Fellowship theme. Inserted into this somber mélange are three trumpet calls. The first and third present the same rising perfect fourth interval that has tied Aragorn to his reluctance since Bree. The second call presents a rising minor third, the first two pitches of the Rohan Fanfare. Musically, the Rohirrim’s predicament is portrayed as the Fellowship’s responsibility.

The Ents, too, realize that Sauron is a force to be reckoned with. The impassive Ent theme returns, infused, this time, with a dramatic choral line (see Entmoot text). An Entmoot has been called. The Shepherds of the Trees may be slow to move, but they have at least now decided to consider the situation. With a great swell of Shore’s orchestral forest, a grove of Ents converges

IN THE MAKING:
Due to some trimming in the first minute of this composition, the first of the three trumpet calls does not appear in the film.

TEXTS
ENTMOOT
Text by Philippa Boyens
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
First Heard: Disc Three | Track Two
Naur vi eryn, lanc i dalaf | The woods are burning, the ground lies bare
Mathach vi geven? | Do you feel it in the earth?
Nostach vi wilith? | Can you smell it in the air?
Mâb le i nagor, | The war is upon you,
Bâd gurth vi ngalad firiel. | Death moves in the fading light.
Dorthach vi mar han? | Are you part of this world?
Dagrathach go hain? | Will you join their fight?

(c) The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)

War Is Upon Us
Howard Shore Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ENTMOOT
text by PHILIPPA BOYENS, translation by DAVID SALO
( SINDARIN )

Naur vi eryn, lanc i dalaf
Mathach vi geven?
Nostach vi wilith?

(( The woods are burning, the ground lies bare.
Do you feel it in the earth?
Can you smell it in the air? ))

Mâb le i nagor
Bâd gurth vi ngalad firiel.
Dorthach vi mar han?
Dagrathach go hain?

(( The war is upon you,
Death moves in the fading light.

Are you part of this world?
Will you join their fight? ))

Overall Meaning

The lyrics for Howard Shore's song 'War Is Upon Us' serve as a warning of the impending war that is about to take place. The lyrics are thought-provoking, and they focus on nature being disrupted by the war. The opening lyrics "The woods are burning, the ground lies bare. Do you feel it in the earth? Can you smell it in the air?" are referring to the disturbance caused by war, which creates an atmosphere of destruction and terror. The following lyrics "The war is upon you, Death moves in the fading light. Are you part of this world? Will you join their fight?" urge the listener to take a pause and evaluate the situation. The lyrics ask questions that force the listener to think about their role in the war and whether they will participate.

The lyrics suggest that the war is already happening, and it is up to the listener to decide whether they will participate or not. The lyrics are powerful and call out the listener to take responsibility, stand up for themselves and try to make a difference. The song's lyrics are impactful as they draw attention to the fact that wars don't only affect soldiers but also the land, and the impact is felt for years to come.

Line by Line Meaning

The woods are burning, the ground lies bare.
The forest is set ablaze, and the earth is stripped of the living.

Do you feel it in the earth?
Do you sense the tension in the ground?

Can you smell it in the air?
Can you detect the scent of war in the atmosphere?

The war is upon you,
Conflict has finally reached your doorstep,

Death moves in the fading light.
As daylight wanes, death comes closer.

Are you part of this world?
Are you a member of this society?

Will you join their fight?
Will you align with their cause and raise arms?

Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS