“Thorin's Eulogy” lyrics and music by Marc Gunn
Performed by Brobdingnagian Bards
From CD: I Will Not Sing Along
Ah what a grand adventure
With dwarves, a dragon and gold
I tell the children and they giggle
at the splendor of memories I told
But Thorin was the enigma
A story I couldn’t unveil
He’s one that I’ll always remember
When at last I end my tale
* I don’t know that I ever knew him
But I saw passion in his eyes
He inspired me, set a fire under me
At least he tried.
He told me how I moved him
To a merrier world, he sighed
Where food and cheer elude him
Then he died.
I can’t believe he died
How far we came together
Over Hills, thru woods, ‘cross streams
He made the world more beautiful
A far safer place to be
Now Im still wrapped up in my blanket
Hoping he’ll rap on my door
To Invite me on another adventure
Because this is what friends are for.
Chords: Key Am
[Am]Ah what a grand [Em]adventure
With [Am]dwarves, a dragon and [G]gold
I [F]tell the children and they [C]giggle
at the [G]splendor of memories told
But [Am]Thorin was the [Em]enigma
A [Am]story I couldn’t un-[G]veil
He’s [F]one I’ll always [C]remember
When at [G]last I end my tale
I don’t [F]know that I ever [Em]knew him
But I [Dm]saw passion in his [G]eyes
He [Am]inspired me, set a fire under me
At least he [C]tried.
He [F]told me how I [Em]moved him
To a [Dm]merrier world, he [G]sighed
Where [F]food and cheer eluded [C]him
Then he [G]died. I can’t believe he [Am]died
Background
The death of Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien had a profound impact on me as a kid. Thorin's quote “If more people valued home, above gold, this world would be a merrier place…”, was my favorite in the book. His death in the The Hobbit trilogy was probably more powerful. Because the actor powerfully captured the look of death.
In 2008, I was hired by Swan Songs. This non-profit originating from my hometown of Austin, Texas hire musicians to play music for people on their death watch, the last 72 hours of life.
I was hired to sing a song for a woman of Irish heritage. I thought it was just a gig. It was a solemn occasion. Her family were gathered in the room. She was lying peacefully, breathing slowly. They gave me freedom to choose what song to play. I chose “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”.
I stood near the foot of her bed. I began playing. The lyrics flowed easily. Shortly after the chorus, I saw the woman lying there expel her last breath of air. I finished the song. I felt shell shocked as I said farewell from the woman's family and my Swan Song contact. I went to my car and fell to pieces in tears.
I wrote about it afterward. But I'll be honest. I largely blocked out the memory… until The Hobbit movies.
It was the look on Thorin's face as Bilbo held him, hoping he wasn't going to die. Then that last expulsion of breath. It was the exact feeling I experienced. I started bawling. And of course, I'm in tears as I write.
I think Happy Songs of Death was a way for me to heal a little bit. Obviously, it still moves me to this day. But writing “Thorin's Eulogy” helped me to go a little further and share my experience with you.
Thorin's Eulogy Videos
from I Will Not Sing Along CD
Thorin's death scene from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Credits
- Marc Gunn: autoharp, vocals
- Andrew McKee: mandolin
