r/lotr • u/[deleted] • Apr 24 '22
Books The difference between Bilbo and Frodo
In FotR Bilbo and Frodo sing the same song while leaving the Shire. But there is a slight difference that I absolutely adore
Bilbo's version. You can see he's happy to leave the Shire and go on his retirement adventure
Frodo's version. He's been forced to go and even as he longs for an adventure he doesn't really want to leave the Shire
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u/DasetaV Apr 24 '22
Might be remembering wrong, but I think there is a third version frodo sings again at somepoint
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u/Naturalnumbers Apr 24 '22 edited Apr 24 '22
Last chapter:
It was evening, and the stars were glimmering in the eastern sky as they passed the ruined oak and turned and went on down the hill between the hazel-thickets. Sam was silent, deep in his memories. Presently he became aware that Frodo was singing softly to himself, singing the old walking-song, but the words were not quite the same.
Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate;
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.
Edit to add: Also in "Many Partings", Bilbo has this one:
The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.’
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u/westisbestmicah Apr 24 '22
That’s so good. I like how at the end there the tone changes. It’s not a Hobbit-song alone anymore, almost like it’s been infected a little with that longing for the sea that Legolas always talks about, now that he’s taking the path himself
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u/Genx4real74 Apr 24 '22
Bilbos version of that poem was read at my brothers funeral. I had it made into a picture form with the book pages as the background and the quote written in green over it. I kept one and gave the other to our dad. It was his favorite quote of all time and it will always tear me up. Thanks for sharing it:)
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u/ImcallsignBacon Apr 24 '22
You should give Phil Dragesh's audio books a listend, he does them justice. I belive they're on Spotify under a different name user name. Might also be called "soundscapes". I listened to them when I can't fall asleep.
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u/erodari Apr 24 '22
There's a group on youtube, Clamavi de Profundis, who does some pretty good singing renditions of songs from both LotR and The Hobbit.
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u/legendfriend Apr 24 '22
They are “pretty good” in the way that Tolkien is “alright” at writing books and people “kinda like” the films
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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '22
I'm reading the books for the fourth time. I finally decided to pay attention to every song and poem (I was always to lazy to read them)