Tolkien's songs

[watervole]

When Tolkien wrote the songs in the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, it seems highly likely that he had particular tunes in mind.

eg. If we look at

The Road Goes Ever On

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

-- J R R Tolkien

What possible tunes might he have had in mind? (I'm ignoring Donald Swann's work as that was original tunes, and they weren't always as 'folky' as what I think Tolkien might have originally had in mind)

The song above works quite well to the tune of Lilibulero.

What suggestions do people have for other songs in the Tolkien canon?

Comments

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

The problem I find is that I know the BBC radio versions too well to think of other tunes. And some of the Swann ones.

Yes, I am sad enough to sing 'Gil-galad was an elven king' in the shower. :)

[nwhyte]

The songs are mostly in a very strict fout-foot verse pattern, which fits many folk song tunes - try Greensleeves, for example, or even (at a longer stretch) Danny Boy!

When my brother and I were kids we had a particular tune that we sang The Road Goes Ever On to; but I don't know now if we just made it up or got irt from somewhere. It wasn't anything like Lillibulero!

[del-c.livejournal.com]

fits many folk song tunes - try Greensleeves, for example

Which, thanks to the BBC, tells us it fits What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor, too!

[watervole.livejournal.com]

everthing fits to Greensleeves. Hence the ancient curse:

"Disturb not the filker in his lair, for you are tasty and your name will scan to the tune of Greensleeves."

[del-c.livejournal.com]

I think what nhw is pointing out is that it's the other way round: it's Greensleeves that scans to everything (FSVO "everything")

[watervole.livejournal.com]

You've got to stretch a word on most lines by an extra two syllables to make 'Danny Boy' fit the words. Probably overdoing it a little.

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

Over the hills and far away works quite well, and also has the same idea of travel at its root.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

It does fit quite nicely, though for me, the song always has military connotations.

I'm planning a session at Redemption on Songs associated with 'Sharpe' and the Napoleonic War. Interested in helping out?

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! Just let me know which ones you're planning to use and I'll learn any of them I don't know.

Although they're strictly too late for the SCA (the cut-off is 1600) they're beginning to appear at bardic circles because people now recognise them and at least know the choruses.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

'Errantry' fits Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Modern Major General' rather well.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Oh, Lord, it does too!