J.R.R. Tolkien discussion

Bilbo's Last Song

I've read this poem numberless times and have now decided to memorise it - it's short enough that my poor brain should be able to cope (eventually).

I love this poem: it's a song of yearning for both the future and the past. Pauline Baynes's illustrations beautifully complement the verse and are worth the price of the book by themselves.

It really is a beautiful poem. I actually read it for the first time during my teen years-- that dark trap lying between the joyfulness of childhood and the freedom of adulthood-- and I really identified with it. I've loved it ever since.

So beautiful, poignant and distinctive i fell in love with this instantly.

I memorised it as I challenged myself to do in my first post, but the words have since followed Bilbo into the West :-(

I think it will probably come back fairly easily when I re-read it :-)

This looks really good, I'll have to get it off amazon.

Wow, I never actually read this! I'm going to have to check it out as well, thanks for the details.

Out of curiosity, there's a song at the end of the complete recordings for the ROTK movie called "Bilbo's Song"...is this the poem they based the lyrics from, you think? =)

Beautiful song. I have to listen to it soon.

Lianne wrote: "Wow, I never actually read this! I'm going to have to check it out as well, thanks for the details.

Out of curiosity, there's a song at the end of the complete recordings for the ROTK movie called..."

I listened to "Bilbo's Song" on Spotify and have to say that I couldn't make out what the singers were saying, therefore no idea as to whether it's "Bilbo's Last Song" set to music. There were, however, a couple of versions of BLS set to music that are definitely the poem. Whether they are any good is a matter of taste, but they weren't to mine.

Interesting to know Michael! I found the lyrics to ROTK's "Bilbo's Song" online; apparently it was sung in Sindarin (very cool, I love all of the elvish songs from the movies) but yeah, I have no idea if it was from "Bilbo's Last Song." I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the song sometime in the coming weeks...

I also have read this poem, and it quickly became one of my favourites. Due to the short stanzas, it is quite easy to memorise and I have it down well now. How lovely to learn other people enjoyed it enough to memorise it too.

I had no idea there was a 'Bilbo's Song' at the end of ROTK, I must try and find it to listen to. The only version I've hear is the one at the end of the 80's BBC Radio dramatisation.

I recently went on a Tolkien Books splurge (OK, it's still ongoing...)and 'Bilbo's Last Song' was one of those titles.

I hadn't read it before, and though simple and short I found it very touching, you really do get a feel of Bilbo's 'hobbit heart' looking back on his life, the lyrics and rhythm of the poem were also pretty easy to follow for Tolkien, and certainly felt believable. Based purely on this volume I can see why Pauline Baynes is held in high regard, her illustrations suited the poem perfectly (Though I did chuckle a little at Cirdan's rather longer than imagined beard-it just looked a little odd).

I'm in two minds whether It would have worked in The Lord of The Rings or not, although it would have been nice to get some closure for Bilbo right at the end of the story, it his own style, I don't think it would have worked with the emotional ending of The Grey Havens or the more 'High Style' format of the books other poems.