Into the West

I rewatched the Lord of the Rings trilogy last night. Even before the movies ever came out, the Lord of the Rings is arguably my favorite book(s) of all time. I've read them several times, and when I was reading them the first time while in college, I was so into them, I remember waking my roomates up one night because I was yelling in my sleep "into the deep dark forest!" as I dreamed of the flight from the Shire, through Bree and into the rest of Middle Earth. I never heard the end of that one.

Hearing the last song "Into the West" from Annie Lennox as the credits play is one of the most emotionally packed moments I have experienced. I remember hearing the song the first time in the theatre and thinking "I must get this song" and I did eventually run out and buy an album by Annie Lennox, but it did not have the song I was hoping it would (Medusa). Well last night, I made sure to watch the credits and make note of the name of the song, because I was determined to find the song and then play it as I take off from the USA to head towards my new life in Europe. I won't be heading West, but the theme and mood of the song has chosen itself to be my new "theme song" as I begin my new journeys. I just returned from the music store and bought the soundtrack from the final movie "The Return of the King" and Annie's song is on it. I now can play the song in my headphones when I leave the country and ball my eyes out (trust me I'm not kidding, I pitty the poor flight attendants in first class who have to deal with a blobbering, bawling emotional basket case that day!).

Here are the lyrics for the song:

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 a 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