The Lay of Eärendel lyrics

Lo! the flame of fire and fierce hatred

engulfed Gondolin and its glory fell,

its tapering towers and its tall rooftops

were laid all low, and its leaping fountains

made no music more on the mount of Gwareth,

and its whitehewn walls were whispering ash.

But Wade of the Helsings wearyhearted

Tûr the earthborn was tried in battle

from the wrack and ruin a remnant led

women and children and wailing maidens

and wounded men of the withered folk

down the path unproven that pierced the hillside,

neath Tumladin he led them to the leaguer of hills

that rose up rugged as ranged pinnacles

to the north of the vale. There the narrow way

of Cristhorn was cloven, the Cleft of Eagles,

through the midmost mountains. And more is told

in lays and in legend and lore of others

of that weary way of the wandering folk;

how the waifs of Gondolin outwitted Melko,

vanished o'er the vale and vanquished the hills,

how Glorfindel the golden in the gap of the Eagles

battled with the Balrog and both were slain:

one like flash of fire from fanged rock,

one like bolted thunder black was smitten

to the dreadful deep digged by Thornsir.

Of the thirst and hunger of the thirty moons

when they sought for Sirion and were sore bestead

by plague and peril; of the Pools of Twilight

and Land of Willows; when their lamentation

was heard in the halls where the high Gods sate

veiled in Valinor in the Vanished Isles;

all this have others in ancient stories

and songs unfolded, but say I further

how their lot was lightened, how they laid them down

in long grasses of the Land of Willows.

There sun was softer, then the sweet breezes

and whispering winds, there wells of slumber

and the dew enchantedwhere stony-voiced

that stream of Eaglesruns o'er the rocky [...]

• Artist:J. R. R. Tolkien
• Album:The Lays of Beleriand