The Last King (by Wink and Elvisa)
While teaching Elvink and Wisa their letters Elvisa and I stumbled upon an old parchment.
We were studying in the Mathom House in Michel Delving and Wisa spied this scrap poking out of a crack in the wall.
For homework, we had the kids scribe the entire thing anew.
Something should be said here about how Hobbits have a habit of turning words. Baranduin into Brandywine... etc.
Well, here it seems as if they have turned King Arvedui's name to sound like "Ar-vey-doo-eye"
(forbearance is begged of Don McLean)
A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How the Dunedain would make me smile.
I dreamt at night of Elenna
The mountain of Meneltarma
And stories of the Star-Wards on their isle
But tales of war they made me shiver
With every letter I'd deliver
Bad news in the Shire
The Northland all afire.
I do remember that I weeped
When I heard about the broken Keep
Our hopes for peace were set aside
The day the Last King died
So farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
Can you learn to sing a song?
And do you yearn for the lords long gone?
If your gaffer tells you to?
And do you believe in men of yore?
And do you listen to tales of lore?
Do you think those old tales can be true?
Well, I know that you've got Tookish kin
Cause I saw you take one on the chin
You stood up in his face
And you put him in his place
I was a lonely tweenage prancin' Took
With my nose always stuck in a book
But I was there the day the whole world shook
The day the last King died
I started singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
Now for ten years we've looked for the host
We sent to war in far Fornost
But none have come back don't you see
Where the grass runs red where it was green
Brave young archers lie in death unclean
With their limbs torn they were lost in misery
Oh, and while the King was fleeing west
Gondor's fleet delayed in test
The Angmar host was swelled
He fled to Forochel
And when Cirdan sent a ship up north
The Snow-men warned againt this course
He gave Barahir's ring with remorse
The day the last King died
We were singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
Shiver quiver in the winter weather
The ship was crushed like a fragile feather
Pinched in ice and sinking fast
Men were hanging onto the mast
The ship was hit with a wintry blast
The King stood and went down with it at last
Now one palantir was stored in the hold
The other placed with the ancient gold
They both went down at noon
Now they share their watery doom
One hied from down in Amon Sul
From Annuminas came the other jewel
Now he will use neither tool
Yes now, the King has died
We started singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
Oh, and then with them all in one place
The host of Gondor pressed the pace
They pushed them all up north again
So on came Eanur, and he came on quick
The Witch-king tried just one last trick
But evil, that is Sauron's only friend
But as they watched he escaped the cage
Their hands were clenched on blades in rage
A ring-wraith forged in hell
The Witch-king weaved his spell
And as Mordor's dread filled them with fright
They cowered in the growing night
And saw the Witch-king laughing in delight
The day the last King died
We were singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
I met a lass from Delving mews
And I asked her for some farthing news,
But she just frowned and turned away.
I went to the Bird and Baby Inn
Where cheer and joy had always been
But the barman: he said "please, just go away"
Now in the fields: no children sang,
The crops were dead, no cowbells rang.
And not a word was spoken;
Their hearts were all but broken
And now we miss the Dunedain host
The elves have gone off to the coast
The kingdom withers like a ghost
And now the King has died
And they were singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
on this day the last King died"
They were singin'
Farewell Good King Arvedui
Drove my wagon to the Dragon
But the ale taps were dry
The Shire folk watched as the smoke drifted by
Singin' "on this day the last King died
