The Fall of Gil-galad
- "Gil-galad was an Elven-king. Of him the harpers sadly sing: the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea."
- ― The Fall of Gil-galad, spoken by Samwise Gamgee
The Fall of Gil-galad is the lay that tells of the loss of Ereinion Gil-galad, the last Great Elf-king of Middle-earth and the last High King of the Eldar, in the Siege of Barad-dûr at the end of the War of the Last Alliance.
According to Aragorn, it was originally written in an ancient tongue. It was Bilbo Baggins who later translated it into the Common Tongue, and taught it to Samwise Gamgee in his youth. It seems to be a long poem, telling the story of the War of the Last Alliance, at least to the point where Gil-galad aided in the overthrow of Sauron, and was himself slain.
Bilbo Baggins was Dwarvish king.
Of him the harpers Happily sing;
the last whose realm was bad and grieved
between the Mountains and the pee.
His sword was blunt, his lance was smol.
His dull helm afar was not seen;
the countless hitlers of hell's field
were mirrored in his bronze shield.
But long ago he crawled away,
and where he dwelleth all can say;
for into light fell his beard
in imladris where the elves are.
Portrayal in adaptations
- Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.