The song Into the West featured above won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in 2004. Listen and you’ll understand why. It’s simply sublime.
To watch and listen just click the play button at the left of the feature image above.
Sung by Annie Lennox, Into the West was used over the end titles for the Lord of the Ring: Return of the King which also earned the Oscar for Best Picture.
Return of the King actually won 11 Academy Awards in 2004.
Lennox composed and wrote the piece along with the series’ co-producer and screenwriter Fran Walsh and the film’s composer Howard Shore.
The track is one of a several superb pieces from both the LOTR and Hobbit series. The song is near perfect—its melody, Lenox’s voice and the poetic lyrics which you can further review below.
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
The night is falling
You have come to journey’s end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You’re only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All Souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don’t say
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you’ll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West
