 | |
| Into The West | |
|---|---|
| performed by Annie Lennox | |
| Album | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| Credits | |
| Composed by | Howard Shore |
| Performed by | London Philharmonic Orchestra, Annie Lennox |
| Track Info | |
| Duration | 5:47 |
| Track No. | 19 |
| Previous | The Grey Havens |
| Media | |
Into the West is a song written by Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox, and performed by Lennox for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
It was the nineteenth and final track of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and formed part of Days of the Ring, track seven of disc four of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings.
The song was conceived as a bittersweet Elven lament for those who have sailed across the Sundering Seas.
In the commentaries and documentaries accompanying the extended DVD edition of the movie, director Peter Jackson explained that the song was partially inspired by the premature death from cancer of 17-year-old New Zealand filmmaker Cameron Duncan whose work had impressed Jackson and his team. The first public performance of the song was at Duncan's funeral.
The song won the Academy Award for Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song) at the 76th Academy Awards, one of the movie's eleven Oscars.
Lyrics
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now
Dream — of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come
To carry you home
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come
To carry you home
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West