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AndHeHandedHimTheTobaccoJar
Bree
Jan 27 2015, 9:13pm
Post #1 of 19
(1608 views)
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I Sit Beside the Fire and Think
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But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.
For me, this was always a bit of a sad bit whenever I read the LOTR books and Bilbo sang this verse in Rivendell. I had of course already read the Hobbit many times, and this line made me a bit sad for Bilbo, sitting by the fire, and remembering his friends. As far as we know only Balin came back to visit, and that was only once. It made me sort of sad, thinking of an old hobbit thinking of his past adventures, and probably just wishing that his old friends would come visit him one last time. Maybe even wishing he could see Thorin and Fíli and Kíli one last time... Did anyone else ever think this? Maybe with the movies out now, more people who have read LOTR will know what I mean.
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JamesPaganini
Rivendell
Jan 27 2015, 9:20pm
Post #2 of 19
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Love this poem in the book. What makes me love it more is that the poem is translated and sung in Elvish at the end credits of the extended edition of Return of the King. It's the most beautiful piece of music done by Howard Shore, in my opinion. It's called "Bilbo's song"
Not all those who wander are Lost
Darkness must pass. A new day will come and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.
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AndHeHandedHimTheTobaccoJar
Bree
Jan 27 2015, 9:25pm
Post #3 of 19
(1137 views)
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It's probably my favorite poem in LOTR, and I was thrilled when it was at the end of the extended edition, in Sindarin no less!
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balbo biggins
Rohan
Jan 27 2015, 9:25pm
Post #4 of 19
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this will happen to all of us oneday.
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Kim
Valinor
Jan 27 2015, 10:08pm
Post #5 of 19
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I think the Hobbit movies have really added to the meaning of these lines, and yes, they do feel sad now that we can really visualize who Bilbo is thinking of.
#OneLastTime
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Glorfindela
Valinor
Jan 27 2015, 11:38pm
Post #6 of 19
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You've made me come over all emotional, as I think (also) of the 'my fallen brothers' in 'The Last Goodbye' song, visualising Thorin and Fili in particular. 
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dormouse
Half-elven
Jan 27 2015, 11:40pm
Post #7 of 19
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Strangely enough this was going through my head just this evening....
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... to the tune Donald Swann wrote for it.
It is sad, though not so much that verse, I think. The earlier verses, thinking about the past and the future, 'when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.' But I always thought that the last verse was a bit like hope returning, because in Rivendell he wasn't alone. There would be so many elves around him who would have been there for his first visit too. But in the other sense, of thinking about people you won't see again, that's an inevitable part of growing older.
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leonmuse
Rivendell
Jan 28 2015, 12:32am
Post #8 of 19
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Poor Bilbo. His fate was a bit tragical.
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While Book-Gandalf is also a flawed character in that he made many a mistake and ruined some people's lives (Thorin's, Bilbo's and Frodo's), Movie-Gandalf, and I'm going to be controversial here, is a jerk.
He incites Thorin to go on this Quest, he sends poor Hobbits to do dirty jobs and he just watches them fall or be ruined.
I want someone here to explain to me how Gandalf did not go to the aid of Thorin in the Movie if he was capable of taking on Azog, had a horse and knew that Thorin and Bilbo could be killed by this enourmous Orc. He just watched. The book at least didn't describe much about Gandalf at this moment, so it can be forgiven.
But this isn't a complaint about PJ, it's just about Movie-Gandalf being looking like a jerk more than he was supposed to be.
 
__________________________________________________________
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
But, sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell."
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Mooseboy018
Grey Havens
Jan 28 2015, 1:42am
Post #9 of 19
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Even after recovering from the dragon sickness, I don't think Thorin would have let Gandalf intervene even if he wanted to. This was Thorin's fight, and Gandalf knew that. And he knew Bilbo had his magic ring.
(This post was edited by Mooseboy018 on Jan 28 2015, 1:43am)
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glor
Rohan
Jan 28 2015, 1:43am
Post #10 of 19
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Gandalf understands the power of free will, he is a wise opportunist and can, when needed persuade others to take certain actions.
Wisdom isn't just knowing what to do it is also knowing, when not to do it and let others decide their own fate.
No mascara can survive BOTFA
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Mooseboy018
Grey Havens
Jan 28 2015, 1:51am
Post #11 of 19
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I'd forgotten those were the lyrics of Bilbo's Song. I agree that it's definitely some of Howard Shore's best work, and it's a shame that not many people even know it exists. I made a little video tribute (LINK) for the song using clips from the first AUJ trailers back in 2012. Unfortunately I cut some chunks out of the song because I was so limited by the only Hobbit clips I had at the time. I might go back and revisit my idea once the extended cut of BotFA is out.
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Arannir
Valinor
Jan 28 2015, 9:51am
Post #12 of 19
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Beautiful song and video.
It captures the feeling I had hoped BotFA would kindle within me.
"I am afraid it is only too likely to be true what you say about the critics and the public. I am dreading the publication for it will be impossible not to mind what is said. I have exposed my heart to be shot at." J.R.R. Tolkien
We all have our hearts and minds one way or another invested in these books and movies. So we all mind and should show the necessary respect.
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mae govannen
Tol Eressea
Jan 28 2015, 1:12pm
Post #13 of 19
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Same with me, can you believe it?!...
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But I know only the poem, not the version put to music that you are referring to.
But that sad part of growing old, although inevitable, is in my eyes one of those 'sadnesses' inherent to Life as it is now, that Tolkien has been able to express and give voice to with such exquisite melancholy and acute poignancy that I love him for that....among many other things I love him for!... 
'Is everything sad going to come untrue?'
(Sam, 'The Field of Cormallen', in 'The Return of the King'.)
(This post was edited by mae govannen on Jan 28 2015, 1:14pm)
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mae govannen
Tol Eressea
Jan 28 2015, 1:18pm
Post #14 of 19
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Ditto, ditto, ditto... I love Bilbo, and that Song!!!
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Thank you for mentioning all this here...
'Is everything sad going to come untrue?'
(Sam, 'The Field of Cormallen', in 'The Return of the King'.)
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mae govannen
Tol Eressea
Jan 28 2015, 1:47pm
Post #15 of 19
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But do you think any of them regrets
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the challenges they have had to go through to play in the Great Story the part they were MEANT to play in it? Through those unexpected Quests each of them grew immeasurably wiser than if they had kept to an ordinary life only. They outgrow what they were at first, and that permanent inner growth nothing will be able totke away from them.
As for Gandalf, he took upon himself all the dangers and sufferings that didn't HAVE to be borne by someone else. Remember the pained look on his face and the distressed sigh he lets out when finally Frodo volunteers to be the Ring-bearer... How much Gandalf would have liked that the young Hobbit be spared such a terrible task and burden... But only him, the insignificant Hobbit, could possibly do it at all...
To each one their own impossible inner and outer victory to win...
'Is everything sad going to come untrue?'
(Sam, 'The Field of Cormallen', in 'The Return of the King'.)
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dormouse
Half-elven
Jan 28 2015, 1:49pm
Post #16 of 19
(890 views)
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.. this is the only version I can find online and he has slowed it down very much (and muffs a few of the words) I prefer the original, which is lighter and quicker. Still, this is the tune (the man sings 'Namarie' first and 'I sit beside the fire' follows. Donald Swann and Tolkien knew one another and Tolkien approved the tunes Swann wrote (the whole collection is called 'The road goes ever on'.)
I suspect that 'I sit beside the fire' was really Tolkien voicing his own feelings. There is so much of the sadness of time passing in his work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz6xJ5hv67Q
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mae govannen
Tol Eressea
Jan 28 2015, 1:53pm
Post #17 of 19
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I like what you have done, thank you... Very nice! //
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'Is everything sad going to come untrue?'
(Sam, 'The Field of Cormallen', in 'The Return of the King'.)
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Bladerunner
Gondor
Jan 29 2015, 1:18am
Post #18 of 19
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I've always had the impression that several of the dwarves, and/or their close kin, had also visited Bilbo on occasion...
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...based on the following passage from A Long-Expected Party.
'Ah, but he has likely enough been adding to what he brought at first,' argued the miller, voicing common opinion. 'He's often away from home. And look at the outlandish folk that visit him: dwarves coming at night, and that old wandering conjurer, Gandalf, and all..."
So although Balin is the only one listed by name, I'd like to think other dwarves visited him on occasion through the years.
As far as we know only Balin came back to visit, and that was only once.
(This post was edited by Bladerunner on Jan 29 2015, 1:21am)
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Bladerunner
Gondor
Jan 29 2015, 1:45am
Post #19 of 19
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" ...An odd-looking wagon laden with odd-looking packages rolled into Hobbiton one evening and toiled up the Hill to Bag End. The startled hobbits peered out of lamplit doors to gape at it. It was driven by outlandish folk, singing strange songs: dwarves with long beards and deep hoods. A few of them remained at Bag End..."
So Bilbo maintained quite a few dwarvish friendships in addition to Balin's...
(This post was edited by Bladerunner on Jan 29 2015, 1:52am)
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