feanope:

Seriously, I’ll never get over the fact just HOW close Blind Guardian’s lyrics (from the Night-fall in Middle-Earth album) are to the source material. NEVER. 

And because I see constant love for BG on my dash (which is very important to me), I thought let me just compare the lyrics with the source material and bring some more appreciation to Blind Guardian ❤

It’s especially prominent in “Nightfall”, the reason why I picked that one. It’s about Fëanor, obviously and it is mostly Fëanor speaking but there are so many additional layers/narratives (e.g. Yavanna and/or  crying about the loss of the two trees) to it and it’s my all time favorite from the album. 

(Bold are the lyrics, italics the direct quotes from Tolkien’s work, mostly HoME)

ENJOY 🙂

No sign of life did flicker in floods of tears she cried “All hope’s lost it can’t be undone. They’re wasted and gone”

Mound, and it was bare now and black; and she gazed upon the Trees and they were both dead and dark. Then many voices were lifted in lamentation; [..]For Yavanna spoke before the Valar, saying: ‘The Light of the Trees hath gone hence, and liveth now only in the jewels of Fëanor. Foresighted was he. Lo! for those even who are mightiest there is some deed that they may accomplish once, and once only. The Light of the Trees I brought into being, and can do so never again within Ea.

And

then all sat in silence, while Nienna wept upon Korlaire and mourned for the
bitterness of the world.

“Save me your speeches I know (They blinded us all) What you want You will take it away from me Take it and I know for sure The light she once brought in Is gone forevermore”

And Manwë spoke, and said, Hearest thou, Fëanor, the words of Yavanna? Wilt thou grant what she would ask?’ And there was a long silence, but Fëanor answered no word. Then Tulkas cried: Speak, O Noldo, yea or nay! But who shall deny Yavanna? And did not the light of the Silmarils come from her work in the beginning?’

But Fëanor spoke then, and cried bitterly: ‘Verily for the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only. And in that deed his heart shall rest. Mayhap I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if they be broken, then broken will be my heart, and I shall die: first of all the Children of Eru.’

 

Like sorrowful seaguls they sang “(We’re) lost in the deep shades The misty cloud brought (A wailing when beauty was gone Come take a look at the sky) Monstrous it covered the shore Fearful into the unknown”

But now night only as it may be in some land of the world, when the stars peer fitfully through the wrack of great clouds, and cold fogs drift in from a sullen shore of the sea. Then Yavanna stood upon the Green Mound, and it was bare now and black; and she gazed upon the Trees and they were both dead and dark. Then many voices were lifted in lamentation;

Quietly it crept in new horror Insanity reigned and spilled the first blood when the old king was slain

and I shall die: first of all the Children of Eru.’ [said Fëanor] ‘Not the first,’ quoth Mandos, but they understood not his word; But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë, king of the Noldor, before the doors, and spilled the first blood of the Children of Iluvatar.

 

“How long shall we mourn in the dark the bliss and the beauty will not return. Say farewell to sadness and grief though long and hard the road may be”

I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like. [..] Fair shall the end be,’ he cried, ‘though long and hard shall be the road! Say farewell to bondage! But say farewell also to ease! Say farewell to the weak!

 

But even in silence I heard the words “An oath we shall swear by the name of the one until the world’s end it can’t be broken”

Then Fëanor swore a terrible oath. Straightway his seven sons leaped to his side and each took the selfsame oath; and red as blood shone their drawn swords in the glare of the torches.  

“Be he foe or friend, be he foul or clean, brood of Morgoth or bright Vala, Elda or Maia or Aftercomer, [..] ere Day’s ending, woe unto world’s end! Our word hear thou, Eru Allfather!

The words of a banished king

Then suddenly Fëanor appeared in the city and called on all to come to the high Court of the King upon the summit of Tuna. The doom of banishment that had been laid upon him was not yet lifted, and he rebelled against the Valar.

“I swear revenge” Filled with anger aflamed our hearts Full of hate full of pride we screamed for revenge

Fëanor was a master of words, and his tongue had great power over hearts when he would use it. Now he was on fire, and that night he made a speech before the Noldor which they have ever remembered. [..] from the very lies of Morgoth himself. O my people,’ he cried, ‘why should we longer serve these jealous gods, who cannot keep us, nor their own realm even, secure from their Enemy? And though he be now their foe, are not they and he of one kin? Vengeance calls me hence, but even were it otherwise, I would not dwell longer in the same land with the kin of my father’s slayer and the thief of my treasure.

“Vala he is that’s what you said then your oath’s been sworn in vain

‘And is he not Vala as are they,’ said his thought, ‘and understandeth their hearts? Yea, a thief shall reveal thieves.’ Then he cried aloud: ‘Nay, this thing I will not do of free will. But if the Valar will constrain me, then verily shall I know that Melkor is of their kindred.

And

’But even as the trumpet sang and Fëanor issued from the gates of Tirion a messenger came at last from Manwë, saying: [..]  Vala he is, thou saist. Then thou hast sworn in vain.

(But) freely you came and You freely shall depart

(from the monologue of Manwë’s messenger: [..] for this ye shall know: as ye came hither freely, freely shall ye depart.

The enemy of mine Isn’t he of your kind

.And though he be now their foe, are not they and he of one kin?

Finally you may follow me. Farewell He said.

(Fëanor speaking to Manwë’s messenger): And Eru, mayhap, has set in me a fire greater than thou knowest. Such hurt, at the least, will I do the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall wonder to hear it. Yea, in the end they shall follow me. Farewell! ’

Yes, I am done now – thanks for reading.

This is also a sort of .. late entry for @feanorianweek because I started it for the week but then didn’t come around to finish it.