Even though it is not current music, right now I am getting LotR associations when I read or hear the work of Jeppe Aakjær (1866-1930). Especially the poems/songs “Ole sad på en knold og sang” and “Havren”. I normally prefer his work that comments on social issues, such as rural poverty, but obviously there is not any Tolkien-feel to poems such as “Jens Roadman”
What I find Tolkienesque about "Ole..." is (besides all the tralalalaley) the sense of longing dwelling in the heart of man, the desire to cross the sea and so on... My guess is that this song is inspired by the many Danes migrating to the US and Australia in the late 19th century.
Anyways here is my feeble translation of “
Ole sad på en knold og sang” (also the youtube video I have linked to, is to a slightly odd a cappella version of the song)
Quote:
Ole sat on a knoll singing
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Sheep and wethers (goat) around him jumped.
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
The heather rustled, and the cloud drifted
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Outlonging in the heart burned.
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
The heath restricted, and memory wandered
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Yet mother’s eyes had the strongest ties
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Soon a thing became apparent
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Memories won’t make the matter clear
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
One day Ole went trotting forth
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Stood at once by the great sea
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
The eye shone, the tear ran
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Nothing more in this world tied
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Across the sea the shepherd fared
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
The sheeps are still standing staring
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Nor wether or sheep can understand
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Longing’s voyage over the wave blue
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
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Luckily there is a professional translation of “Havren”:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jeppe Akjær, The Oats
Here I stand with tinkling bells galore,
Twenty on each straw, I think, or more.
But the farmer, bless his honest soul,
Calls me oats and speaks of twenty fold.
I was sown while happy birds in spring
Made with joyful song the welkin ring.
Bumble bees in wild and tumbling race,
In the mellow sunshine droned the bass.
Growing up in sunny morning dew
That sweet Symphony within me grew.
He who listens humbly while I ring,
Hears the echo of the songs of spring.
Cold, unfeeling hearts can never see
Anything but cattle-feed in me.
I am more than food for hungry jaws,
I am song of birds on golden straws.
I am friends with everything that grows,
Friends with every gentle wind that blows,
Friends with waving trees and summer skies,
Friends with daisies and with butterflies.
When the sun goes down, its parting smile
Lingers on my golden head a while,
And when evening bells ring out,
I too Tinkle, standing tip-toe in the dew.
I am ringing children to their beds,
Ringing up the mist that slowly spreads,
Ringing peace, as busy day departs,
Into humble homes and pious hearts.
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Things are more than the sum of their components... That is definitely something I take from both this poem and the works of Tolkien. At least it would weird to suggest that either Aakjær or Tolkien were hardcore materialists. To some extend they might even be inspired by the same branch of romanticism. . .