Gilraen's Song

lyrics source text

 

 

FEATURED IN

REGULAR / SPECIAL EDITION CD

COMPLETE RECORDINGS
 

Farewell to Lórien

Gilraen's Grave

(TTT SE - Track 20)

Gilraen's Memorial

Gilraen's Grave

(CR-FOTR Disc Two - Track 9)
 

One of the Dúnedain

Let her go

There is nothing for you here... only death
(movie tracks singing in)

(CR-TTT Disc Two - Track 7)

Let Her Go

(not used in movie nor heard on any TTT CD)

(TTT Fan Credits)

 

 

Text by Philippa Boyens

Music by Howard Shore

Sindarin translation by David Salo

This song is used for the Diminishment of the Elves Theme. Before the release of the CR-FOTR, I didn't have a clue about the lyrics although I swore I could hear 'Estelio' or 'Estel'. Estel means 'hope' and is the name Gilraen gave to Aragorn. The source text was finally published in FOTR Annotated Score but with no indication of which lines were used in which order. Initially, I was disappointed that the word Estel was not in there. I was so sure and there were no words in the lyrics that even looked liked Estel. Finally, in my usual manner, I identified a few words and backed up. I suddenly realized that I *was* hearing Estel. The name had been inserted at the beginning of the song.

 

Sung by Hilary Summers and The London Voices

Sindarin

Original English

  

A chéneg a ionneg

Little boy, little one

Key:

Text in blue indicates language used

Text in green indicates lyrics used

Text in brown indicates lyrics not used

Text in black indicates English translation

Danna si fuin

Night is falling.

Tolo na rengy nin

Come into my arms,

Beriathon

Let me hold you safe

A núriel annant

But still you run

Trin aduial

Through the twilight,

Ne dúath roeg dagech

Lost in your play

Ne theilien

Slaying demons in the shadows.

A chéneg A ionneg

Little boy, little one,

Pant galu pant glas

Full of grace full of joy,

A naenatha hún nín

Oh, my heart will break,

Ne chinn lín cenim:

For I see in your eyes:

Le iôn adar lín

You are your father’s son,

û iôn naneth lín

Not your mother’s child.

Some back story on Gilraen:

 

If one goes to the Appendices of the LOTR, one can find the story of Aragorn and Arwen and this is where we learn about Gilraen. Aragorn's father was killed when Aragorn was young. As the heir of Isildur he was in danger from the Enemy, so his identity was kept secret and he was called 'Estel', which means hope. He was fostered in Rivendell by Elrond, a distant relative, who became as a father to him and Gilraen returned to her people. When last they visited...

...she said to him before he went: This is our last parting, Estel, my son. I am aged by care, even as one of the lesser Men; and now it draws near I cannot face the darkness of our time that gathers upon Middle-earth. I shall leave soon.' Aragorn tried to comfort her, saying: "Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad.' But she answered only with this linnod:

Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel amin,

(I gave hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself.)
and Aragorn went away heavy of heart. Gilraen died before the next spring.

From Appendix A-Annals of the Kings and Rulers, I-The Númenorean Kings, (v)-Here Follows a part of the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen