The Fall of Gil-galad was a lay that told of the loss of Ereinion Gil-galad, the last Great Elf-king of Middle-earth, in the Siege of Barad-dûr at the end of the War of the Last Alliance.
Poem excerpt
Gil-galad was an elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing;
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
History
According to Aragorn, it was originally written in an ancient tongue. It seems to be a long poem, telling the story of the War of the Last Alliance, at least to the point where Gil-galad aided in the overthrow of Sauron, and was himself slain.
Bilbo Baggins later translated it into the Common Tongue, and taught it to Samwise Gamgee in his youth, who mistakenly thought that Bilbo was the composer.
Sam narrated the three introductory stanzas while approaching Weathertop, but he did not recall the following verses, which were "all about Mordor". Aragorn and Frodo knew more of the text.[1]
Portrayal in adaptations
1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):
- Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.
External links
- Fall of Gil-Galad sung by Anois