Lord of the Rings: The Musical

Blame it on the Ring of Power

The Ring begins to distort Sméagol's senses.

Sméagol:
Oh, it's way past time
When I should be home in bed,
But I'm standing here
By this moonlit stream instead.
I cannot taste their bread now,
Nor can I smell the flowers.
Oh, my reason's gone
And I blame it on
The Ring of Power.

I see spectres pass
And their eyes are luminous.
And they smirk at me
As if to say: You're one of us.
What's going on here?
They're calling me a murderer
During each passing hour.
As the night nears dawn,
Can I blame it on
The Ring of Power?

I keep remembering his eyes
Turning so dull in the sunlight,
Letting me know
That I had won our fight--
But I'm not to blame,
It's just the shameless Ring of Power.

I've got to stop this!
I've never felt so giddy;
Why did the others cower?
To the caves I wander
And blame it on the Ring of Power.

Maybe the end will come soon;
Maybe the precious will save me,
Clearing my mind,
Freeing me from this power.
But for now I'm stuck
In the sweet, seductive
Ring of Power.

Our Time

Merry and Pippin celebrate on their field of victory.

Merry:
Something is stirring, shifting ground; It's just begun.
Edges are blurring all around
And yesterday is done.

Feel the flow,
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening.
Don't you know
We're the hobbits who got them fighting,
We're the ones getting ents uniting.
Up to us, pal, to show 'em.

It's our time, breathe it in--
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn coming through.
Me and you, pal.
Me and you.
Me and you

Feel how it quivers
On the brink--

Pippin:
What?

Merry:
Everything!
Gives you the shivers,
Makes you think
There's so much more to see....

And me and you,
We've been seeing it as we've grown
To bring back stories to those at home,
Tell them things they don't know;
Up to us, pal, to show 'em!

Both:
It's our time, breathe it in--
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn, we're what's new,
Me and you, pal.
Me and you!

Pippin:
Feel the flow,
Hear what's happening: We're what's happening!
Long ago
All we had was that funny feeling
Saying someday we'll send 'em reeling;
Now it looks like we can.
Someday just began!

Both:
It's our heads on the block;
Give us room and start the clock.
Our turn coming through--
Me and you, pal,
Me and you.
Me and you.
Me and you.

Merry:
Something is stirring, shifting ground.
It's just begun....

Pippin:
Edges are blurring all around
And yesterday is done.

Both:
Feel the flow.
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening!
Don't you know
We're the hobbits who got them fighting,
We're the ones getting ents uniting.
Up to us, pal, to show 'em.

It's our time, breathe it in;
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn coming through--
Me and you, pal,
Me and you.
Me and you.

Years from now
We'll remember and we'll go back
To the Shire and hang a plaque.
This is where we began
Being what we can!

It's our heads on the block;
Give us room and start the clock.
Our dream, we're what new.
Me and you, pal,
Me and you...
Me and you...
Me and you...

Like It Was

Faced with an upcoming battle, Pippin wishes his life had never changed.

Pippin:
Gandalf,
Why can't it be like it was?
I liked it the way that it was,
Gandalf--
Everything, it was nicer then.

Life was nice.
Dogs and rivers and trees were nice,
Everything....
I don't know who I am anymore,
And I'm starting not to care.

Look at us, Gandalf,
Nothing's the way that it was.
I want it the way that it was.
Help me stop remembering then.

Do you remember?
It was good, it was really good.
Help me out, Gandalf--
Make it like it was.

Gandalf,
Nothing's the way that it was.
I want it the way that it was.
You know, things were easier then.

Trouble is, Gandalf,
That's what everyone does:
Blames the way it is
On the way it was,
On the way it never ever was.

Father

Faramir reflects on his relationship with Denethor.

Faramir:
Father,
Although I go when duty calls,
You sit and wait while darkness falls
O'er Gondor.
Father,
For even one time in my life,
I wish you'd look at me and see who I am.
Yet in my brother's eyes,
You saw your future and were filled with pride.
But now he's gone and you are left with only me.
Now Gondor goes to war
Against a foe like none we've fought before--
Yet you won't send for help,
Just blame me if we fall.
Father,
Do you not care for me at all?

No More

Éowyn would rather ride to war than take up her uncle's duties in Edoras.

Éowyn:
No more orders, please.
No more tests.
Comes the day you say, "What for?"
Please--no more.

Théoden:
We disappoint,
We leave a mess,
We die, or we don't.

Éowyn:
What?

Théoden:
We disappoint
In turn, I guess;
Give in, though, we won't.

Éowyn:
No more cages.
No requests.
No more curses you can't undo,
Cast by servants you thought you knew.
No more quests.
No more feelings;
Time to shut the door.
Just--no more.

Théoden:
Running away--let's do it.
Free from the ties that bind.
No more despair
Or duties to bear
Out there in the yonder....
Running away, go to it.
Where did you have in mind?
Have to take care--
Unless there's a "where"
You'll only be wandering blind.
Just more questions--different kind.

Where are we to go?
Where are we ever to go?

Running away, we'll do it.
Why sit around, resigned?
Once you've begun,
The farther you run,
The more you feel undefined
By what you have left undone--
And more, what you've left behind.

We disappoint,
We leave a mess,
We die or we don't.

Éowyn:
We disappoint
In turn, I guess;
Give up, though, we won't.

Both:
When will we have won?

Éowyn:
No more Sauron,
Waging war.
Can't we just pursue our lives,
See that every family thrives?
Till that happy day arrives,
How do you ignore
All the dying?
All the curses?
All the orcs, all the lies,
The false hopes, the goodbyes,
The reverses?
All the wondering what even worse
Is still in store?

All the uruks....
All the Nazgûl....

No more.

Not For the Life of Me

Not content to be left behind, Éowyn reaches a decision.

Éowyn:
I studied ways of fighting from when I was quite small;
From Éomer I learned some things, too.
This war has come to Rohan and to the Golden Hall;
This battle, I prepared for you.

I certainly am diff'rent from others back at home,
Where to the home the women are tied.
And none of them are restless--none want to roam;
But I do, and they wonder why.

They said I should stay home with the families.
They said I should sit and wait for news.
But I always have this helmet in safe keeping,
With my sword in safe keeping,
To do with as I choose.

Grab my sword, go to war.
Baby's staying home no more.
Not for the life of me.
Break the lock upon my cage;
Now's the time to turn the page.
Not for the life of me!

A life that's gotta be more for this shield maiden
Than what my uncle said.
Gotta be more for this shield maiden
Who would fight 'til she is dead.

Clap-a-your hands, just-a-because;
Don't you know that where I am ain't where I was?
Not for the life of me.
Boh-doh-dee-oh
Not for the life of
Not for the life of
Not for the life of me!

How Could This Be What They Had Planned?

As he enters Cirith Ungol, Frodo re-examines the choices that led him there.

Frodo:
I've left behind my quiet life,
Given up my home, my family.
The sight of them in memory
Can soothe me no more.
I thought that I could save the world
From the fate that they predicted;
I'd go back home
And know the things I'd done
Had meant that Good had won.
I don't understand:

How could this be what they had planned?
How can you prove your fate is false?
How do you live another's life?
How can you be somebody else?
Whom can you turn to
When you're afraid of what awaits?
What good is freedom
When you know you'll never break free of your fate?

What use have I for future fame?
Here and now, I prefer living.
The knowledge of what I can save
Consoles me no more.
What right had they to ask my help,
Knowing what this quest would cost me?
No word of praise
Can ever wash away
The sacrifice I've made.
I don't understand:

Frodo and Voices in his head:
How could this be what they had planned?
How can you leave it all behind?
How do you tune your conscience out?
How do you flee from your own mind?
Where can you run to
When it's yourself you must evade?
What good is freedom
When you know you'll never break free of your fate?

Voices in Frodo's Head: Before you waits a demon In the form of an eye. In the end you will serve him. He will take all that you are. It is to serve him that you were born. Behind you waits a demon In the form of an eye. Day and night He watches you!	Frodo: Fear of what might lie ahead Weighs me down with worry. Silence where my friends should be And no one left to say How I should go. Imaginary voices Take away my choices The power of his eye-- I just know one day it'll kill me yet!
How could this be what they had planned? How can you prove your fate is false? How do you live another's life? How can you be somebody else? Whom can you turn to When you're afraid of what awaits? What good is freedom When you know you'll never break free of your fate?	How could this be what they had planned? How can you prove your fate is false??         How can I, How can I be free?
How could this be what they had planned? How can you leave it all behind? How do you tune your conscience out? How do you flee from your own mind? Where can you run to When it's yourself you must evade? No, you can never Run from your fate!	How can I go on, Doing only what they say? Is there no way, Is there no way, No way that I can escape yet from this fate?

For Frodo

Despite being sent away, Sam decides his place is at Frodo's side.

Sam:
Here where day's dark as night
Live the creatures of nightmare,
But I'll stay
By Frodo.
All my fears come to life,
Horrors lurking in the shadows,
I see threats all around....

I'll get through, I'll get by
And whatever I must do,
I will do
For Frodo.
Though I'm likely to die
I'll help take the Ring to Mordor,
Since I love him.

I feel homesick inside.
I'd return to the Shire
But I belong
By Frodo.
And when I'm by his side
All my fears seem just illusions,
Only he remains real.

I'll be calm, I'll be brave,
And whatever I must be,
I will be
For Frodo.
Though we hide now in caves,
There will come a time when we will
Live in safety.

I'm not hard, I'm not strong;
I am fighting my nature
All for your sake, Frodo.
Home is where I belong,
But if you've faith in me, Frodo,
I'll stay by your side!

I have heart, I have drive,
And whatever I have,
I'll always give
To Frodo.
I will lay down my life--
There is nothing I won't do
If it would help you,
Frodo!

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Théoden inspires the Rohirrim to join the battle.

Théoden:
Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the orc blockade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you give all you can give
Until the Dark Lord's army yields?
Some will fall and some will live--
Will you ride forth and raise your shields?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the Pelennor Fields!

Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Don't Keep Out the Night

Believing Faramir dead, Denethor dismisses Pippin's advice and immerses himself in his grief.

Denethor:
Please don't bother me with your problems.
I won't tolerate put-me-downs.
Don't need any views or opinions--
I know my mind is sound!

Don't keep out the night,
Though rivers run red
And hobbit voices tell me
That he isn't dead.
I won't keep out the night;
I know it's insane.
All summer I've been mad with all the old pain.

Bad luck could be my middle name.
Will love be on my side?
Life seems to be a waiting game--
Now I'm getting off the ride.

Don't keep out the night.
I'm burning alive!
But morning may not come
To see if I survive.
And all through the day,
I thought of this night,
And nothing that you say
Will make wrong from right.

Please don't bother me with your problems;
I won't tolerate put-me-downs.
Don't need any views or opinions.
I know my mind is sound!

Don't keep out the night
Now life's misbehaved.
I'd be its slave forever
If he could be saved.
Pain in my heart--my sons gone away.
I know I'll never see another day.

Bad luck could be my middle name.
Will love be on my side?
Life seems to be a waiting game--
Now I'm getting off the ride!

I won't keep out the night,
Though rivers run red
And hobbit voices tell me
That he isn't dead.
I can't hold back the clock;
I'd soon come unstuck.
I'm certain fire holds the
Key to my luck.
I must burn by his side!

[We interrupt this musical for the following Public Service Announcement: Remember, kids, should you find yourself on fire the thing to do is Stop. Drop. And Roll. Running blindly off the edge of a cliff helps no one.

Now back to your regularly scheduled filk.]

Mere Women

Éowyn:
Good evening, Mr. Witch-King,
Lovely evening, my dear.
I'm not a man, my friend--
I'm Éowyn of Rohan.
So don't believe a word they say,
'Cause none of it's true.
This only goes to show
What we "mere" women can do!

And we "mere" women know,
When we "mere" women fight
We may look easy pickings
But we've got some bite.
So never kick a dog
Because it's just a pup.
We'll fight like twenty armies
And we won't give up.
So you'd better run for cover
When the pup grows up!

This Is Not Over Yet

Just when Frodo fears all is lost, Sam reveals he'd kept the Ring safely out of the hands of the orcs.

Frodo:
(spoken) Oh, my dear Sam, how did you ever manage it? You know what this means?
(sung) It means send back all your armies.
Forget your big parade.
It means the Dark Lord won't be cheering,
So despite what you've been hearing
You can lay down your spade.

It means my gard'ner can stop crying,
And Bilbo's euology can wait.
It means that Sauron can stop beaming
And the Sackvilles can stop dreaming
Of their portion of my estate.

It means, No! This isn't over!
No, my fate's not set!
No, I won't wake up tomorrow
Drowning in my sweat!
It means I've got the greatest partner
Anyone can get!
It means I'll never ever ever
Underestimate that hobbit,
'Cause this is not over yet.

Tell my uncle not to worry!
Tell the Nazgûl not to hurry!
Watch the Dark Lord's eye stop glowing
'Cause I'm going to Mount Doom to save the day!
Somehow not even Gollum's scheming
Screwed things up beyond redeeming,
And we're finally on our way!
And no, this isn't over,
Though it's far from done.
Yes, the reclamation of the world has just begun.
It means I took a vow for better:
And two is better than one!
It means the journey ahead might get shorter;
I might reach the end of my rope;
But suddenly, deep within Mordor,

Frodo: There is hope! Finally, hope! And no, this isn't over! No, we aren't through! No, there's still a million things That you and I can do! And I would never have believed it: The things I've seen with you! It means I have a friend who wouldn't Let me fall to Gollum's prank! It means the torture chamber's vacant And it's you I've got to thank! It means you shouldn't underestimate The short or low of rank! 'Cause this is not over yet!

Sam: Yes, Frodo, there's hope! No, this isn't over! We are fin'lly On our way! I will stay with you, Frodo! The things I've seen with you!         You shouldn't underestimate The short or low of rank! 'Cause this is not over yet!

Into the Fire

Aragorn provides inspiration as they head into the final battle.

Aragorn:
Frodo walks into that valley
With the Ring clutched in his hand.
He seems only a boy, but he knows
Someone must take a stand.

There will always be a valley,
Always mountains one must scale.
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail.
Into valleys, into waters,
Into Mordor, into hell!
Let us ride, let us ride home
Again with a story to tell!

Into darkness, into danger,
Into storms that rip the night!
Don't give in, don't give up,
But give thanks for the glorious fight!

You can tremble, you can fear it,
But keep your fighting spirit
Alive, boys!
Let the shiver of it sting you!
Fling into battle! Spring to
Your feet, boys!
Never hold back your step for a moment!
Never doubt that your courage will grow!
Hold your head even higher
And into the fire we go!

Are there uruks that surround us?
Are there orcs that block the way?
Knock them down, strip them back, boys,
Then forward, and into the fray!

Into terror, into valor,
Charge ahead--no, never turn!
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
So the One Ring will burn!

Someone has to face the valley!
Rush in; we have to rally
And win, boys!
When your fears are saying not to,
That's when you know you've got to
March on, boys!
Never hold back your step for a moment!
Never doubt that your courage will grow!
Hold your head even higher
And into the fire we go!

Let the lightning strike!
Let the flash of it shock you!
Choke your fears away--
Pull as tight as a wire.
Let the fever spike!
Let the force of it rock you!
We will have our day,
Riding into the fire!

Someone has to face the valley!
Rush in; we have to rally
And win, boys!
When your fears are saying not to,
That's when you know you've got to
March on, boys!
Never hold back your step for a moment!
Never doubt that your courage will grow!
Hold your head even higher
And into the fire we go!
Into fire!
Onward, ho!!!

Where I Need to Be

Though the end of his quest is in sight, Frodo despairs.

Frodo:
Who needs a dream?
Who needs ambition?
Who'd be the fool
In my position?
Once I had dreams;
Now I've obsessions,
Gaining his greed
With his possessions.

The Ring crept in
Oh, so discreetly.
Slowly at first,
Whisp'ring too sweetly.
I put it on;
He saw right to me,
Called it to him--
Its power drew me.

Now I'm where I need to be
And who I need to be
And doing what the Council said I should
And yet I feel I cannot win at all.
Running for my life and never looking back
In case there's something right behind
To strike me down while Sauron waits for me to fall.

When the crazy wheel slows down,
Where will I be? Back where I started?

Don't get me wrong;
I'm not complaining.
I had to try,
Though it's been draining.
But what's the point?
Time for conceding
I have no chance
Of e'er succeeding.

Now I'm where I need to be
And who I need to be
And doing what the Council said I should
And yet I feel I cannot win at all.
Running for my life and never looking back
In case there's something right behind
To strike me down while Sauron waits for me to fall.

When the crazy wheel slows down,
Where will I be? Back where I started?

Wanting

As he stands inside Mount Doom, Frodo's struggle echoes that of Isildur thousands of years earlier.

Frodo:
How could this feeling come again
When I was safe at last,
Calm at last,
Freed?
Then I just look down--there it is,
And the night is bright where it is.
Don't I ever learn?
No, I stand here wanting...
Wanting it.

Isildur: I must be wanting In my brain To feel this Ludicrous Maddening Need.     I see it shine.... Don't I ever learn? Oh, this stupid Mindless, dang'rous, useless.... Like a swift summer storm, let it pass. Like a hot midnight fever, let it pass! No more wanting Things that can't be good, Wanting it. End this wanting-- Tear it out of me! End this helpless, dang'rous Wanting. Don't I ever learn? No, I stand here Wanting.

Frodo: I must have demons In my head To feel this Dangerous Treacherous Need. Then it grabs my eye And it shines. All its words are lies, But it shines. Don't I ever learn? Oh, this stupid Wanting. Like a swift summer storm, let it pass. Like a hot midnight fever, let it pass! No more wanting Things that cannot be; No more wanting it. End this wanting-- Tear it out of me! End this helpless Wanting. Don't I ever learn? No, I stand here Wanting.

I Wish It So

The quest has drawn to a successful close, but Frodo finds he can no longer be satisfied with his old life.

Frodo:
There's an unrest inside me.
Oh, it's long I have had
Such an unrest inside me,
And it's getting real bad.

I'm sleeping at night,
And my heart beats so loud that I wake
All dizzy with fright,
With the dreaming and feeling this ache.
Such a longing inside me
That I think I'll go mad.

For I wish it so.
What I wish, I still don't know.
But it's bound to come
Though so long to wait.
I keep saying "tonight"
Or "today" through the endless days
And my heart clamours and prays
It will not come too late!
But when come it did,
In the fight for love or life,
I would give my life
And my love, I know.
We'd such grand aims,
With so many names
That I grew numb;
But sure, more is bound to come!
Because I wish, I wish it so.

I would give my life
And my love, I know.
We'd such grand aims,
With so many names
That I grew numb;
But sure, more is bound to come!
Because I wish, I wish it so.
It's the unrest inside me,
And I think I'll go mad.