On "Gollum's Song"

From Robert Vladimir Odeneza:

Hi blogfellows! Sorry to have been away for quite a while, but now I’m back with another song interpretation, and this time, “Gollum’s Song” sung by Emiliana Torrini, written by Fran Walsh, and music composed by Howard Shore. You can hear this on the credits part of your “Lord of the Rings the Two Towers” DVD. Here’s a copy for you:

Where once was light
Now darkness falls
Where once was love
Love is no more
Don't say goodbye
Don't say I didn't try

These tears we cry
Are falling rain
For all the lies you told us
The hurt, the blame!
And we will weep to be so alone
We are lost
We can never go home

So in the end
I'll be what I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me

Now we say goodbye
We say you didn't try

These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame!

And you will weep
When you face the end alone
You are lost
You can never go home
You are lost
You can never go home

The song has no word too deep to comprehend. The language is even colloquial. What makes it difficult to process though is its confusing point of view or narrative; it makes use of the pronouns I (first person singular), We (first person plural) and You (second person.) Now, just whom is this persona talking to? Or, do we just have one speaker here?

Perhaps a little review of who Gollum is would help. Those of us who have (at least) watched the LOTR trilogy would know that Gollum is the meaner side of Sméagol. They live together in one body, and what’s amazing is that they talk to each other secretly as if unaware that they are just one. They normally get to do this when Sam and Frodo are asleep.

I believe that the inconsistent point of view in this poem (or song) is rightfully reflective of Gollum and Sméagol’s dual personality. It is also an expression of the misery that Sméagol has gotten himself into after possessing that “precious” ring; thus, Gollum says “Where once was light, Now darkness falls. Where once was love, Love is no more.” And Gollum seemingly blames Sméagol to be solely responsible for their wretchedness – “These tears we cry Are falling rain For all the lies you told us…”

The last part of Gollum’s song would suggest that he is already bereft of hope for Sméagol to get his old life back – “These tears you cry Have come too late…You are lost, you can never go home.”

The entire song, to me, is an expression of Gollum’s disappointment of Sméagol or (actually) of himself, but since he never wants to admit that, he used “You” instead of “I” or “We” in the lines, “The lies you told us...” and “You are lost, you can never go home” among others.

I would humbly accept any corrections or suggestions from Tolkien readers regarding this interpretation. Thank you for reading!

on moon river

moon river is a song which i consider as an excellent inter-textual poetry which meaning could not be fully grasped unless a listener has found the reason for having huckleberry mentioned in it. - robert vladimir

for those who does know this oldies song, here is a copy for you:

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

when i was a lot younger, i payed no attention to the song "moon river" and the name huckleberry contained in it. for as a young boy, i was not certain of any word i hear from the song. later though, i realized that "moon river" is a song mark twain would be delighted to hear about. its allusion to "the adventures of huckleberry finn" makes it a song of definite literary value. so allow me to quote some lines from the song as i go on with my interpretation.

truly, jim and huck (huckleberry) are "two drifters off to see the world" and as one of them is an unschooled negro and the other - a child, there is truly "such a lot of world to see" for them. and as they drifted along that Mississippi river, the speaker in this poem (or song) who i suppose is jim, realized that a body of water could be a "dream maker" and "heart breaker" at the same time. but since they are left with no other avenue of escape, the speaker chose to surrender to the current - "wherever you're going, i'm going your way." He believes that they are "after the same rainbow's end... my huckleberry friend, moon river and me." he considers both huck and the river his companion, and that they are together in this journey to freedom. however, for those who wonder why the speaker called it a moon river, it may be because jim marvels at the river's beauty only during the night when no authority can see him because he is, at that time, a wanted criminal for allegedly kidnapping huck.

this poetic song can be interpreted in a hundred more ways. that was mine. hope to read your comments.

suggestion: rita eriksen's rendition of this song is my favorite of all. you can find it on imeem.com.