Bilbo's song
 

you know the one, "the road goes ever on and on..."<P>Well, I was just thinking (dangerous, I know ) or wondering if Tolkien ever worte an actual melody for the song himself. I thought that the melody sounded familiar in the film - it sounds kinda like one used in the Radio 4 recording of LOTR (when Ian Hom played Frodo). So there, all I wondered was if there was already a melody for teh song (-or all of the songs in the book, not just Bilbo's?), one that was used in the film and radio broadcast. <P>Or if I'm just going nuts.

Yes, yes, and yes!!!!!!! There was music written for the song. You can find it in a book called The Road Goes Ever On. It's out of print and hard to find, but you haven't gone insane! I think it is to the tune that Bilbo and Gandalf sang it to in the movie. Peter Jackson payed so much attention to details.

I bought the book! I got at a second-hand store for 15$! Totally worth it. I recommend it to any musically-inclined people.

Ah, I want it, I must have it!

Wow, that's amazing! Aina, sister - see, I do listen sometimes!!<P>Thanks Nufaciel!

Good grief - is <A HREF="http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y01Y3706340Y7620487/qid=1019942772/sr=1-1/103-6943765-9595061" TARGET=_blank>this</A> the book you are talking of?

I also wondered the same question as you Enedhil! Now I really have to find a copy of that book! <BR> Maybe it'll come back into print because of the movies...*crosses fingers*

Yes, that link you pulled up in the song book. The melodies are by Donald Swann and the lyrics by Tolkien. Plus Tolkien does some neat pages of notes in the back of the book where he actually makes a few comments about the poems I haven't read anywhere else.<P>But you don't have to pay $150 like the copy on the link. I got a used paperback one on e-bay for $15. They come up there fairly frequently, some are more expensive and some less. But all I've seen were $40 or less.<P>sharon, the 7th age hobbit