The Battle of Evermore

fiver is correct, galadriel is the queen of light, this is obvious, you dont even have to read the book, watch the first movie, Frodo offers her the ring, she declines, and leaves, the prince of peace refference is more complicated. Now reelplastictrees is not completely wrong, the song is about celtic mythology as well, read up on the band members, because if Lord of the Rings, and the occult, were there two favorite things, celtic mythology was the third, and it can also be argued that lord of the rings is based on celtic mythology, with a little WW2 spliced in, anyway, back to battle of evermore, The prince of peace is reavealed at the end of the third book as FRODO, read about the battle for the shire and you will understand, but more obviously he faces night alone when he sets off without the company to finish his task, of course directly after galadriel turns down his request for her to take the ring. Frodo as the prince of peace, parallels the legends of king arthur, the great king, this is further addressed in LOTR, because Frodo goes off to the grey havens, the home of the immortals, who will help out the troubled human race in times of need, just as the gandalf did, this happens in a way much like Arthur is taken to avalon, the legend of arthur states that he is the once and future king, and will come back in mens time of need. Of couse, avalon is addressed in this song, though I have not completey broken down its usage. Anyway, to put things simply, THIS IS BASED ON LORD OF THE RINGS, LORD OF THE RINGS IS BASED ON CELTIC MYTHOLOGY AND WORLD WAR 2, SO THIS SONG WILL HAVE REFERENCES TO CELTIC MYTHOLOGY, FRODO IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE, HE IS REVEALED AS A SYMBOL OF KIKG ARTHUR WHEN HE GOES OFF TO THE GREY HAVENS, AND TINKIWINKI THE BIG PURPLE TELLETUBBIE IS GAY

Well, aside from its obvious reference to LotR, the Ringwraiths, I think it's about the battle at Minas Tirith, and the events surrounding it, if not in exact chronological order. After having listened to the song many times while I was reading through the series, I noticed things in the song that seem like direct (or at least indirect) references to the text when I actually reached that section of the book (book five, the first half of Return of the King). I can see why some would say it was Helm's Deep, but the Ringwraiths weren't in that battle.

The Queen of Light and the Prince of Peace are metaphors, both have left; the darkness encroaches the sky, and battle looms in the dark of the night Gandalf says will not have dawn until victory is had.

The city of Minas Tirith prepares for the fight, sending those not fighting off as refugees and receiving assisting fighters.

The surrounding farms must be abandoned, for only the strong city walls stand a chance of survival.

Friendly armies gather to defend Minas Tirith, the last major stronghold against Sauron's power, from the forces of darkness.

The horses' thunder could refer to all the horses of the arriving Riders of Rohan (whose specialty is horses) to assist, and could also refer to Shadowfax's strength and power.

The waiting for dawn is something that had to be done, since as Gandalf told Pippin, the dawn would not come until the darkness of Sauron was repelled.

The fields and orchards of Pelennor were carefully tended, as Gandalf noted in the text. He told the guards escorting him to put down their farming tools (throw down your plow and hoe) and prepare to fight for the city.

The repayment mentioned in the song could refer to the debt owed Aragorn by the dead, who broke their oath to fight the forces of Sauron, then recruited to fight again by Aragorn to repay their debt.

The orchards and fields were ruined by the forces of Sauron in the battle, in which his power keeps the sky dark until his defeat. His servants, the Winged Nazgul, rule the skies.

The beads of time passed slowly as those remaining in the city waited for the long night to end and the battle to be over.

The rest, I'm not sure about, but it could be something along the lines of the Ring being destroyed and Sauron being defeated. I'm sure the fire in the cracks of doom held no comfort (or it could be the watch fires in the night, but that was before the battle happened), and balance was restored with Sauron's defeat. Oh, and the ringwraiths did ride in, which they didn't in the battle of Helm's Deep.

Actually toolucky, I believe there would be more influence from Norse mythology than Celtic, at least in LOTR. Tolkien was very heavily influenced by both cultures, but Norse took more prevalance than Celtic. If I remeber correctly, the elvish language was based on a mixture of Finnish and other languages. But back to the song, It doens't neccessarily have to be exclusively about the lord of the rings, it could just be any battle between good and evil. The vocals are extremely good, but I can't figure out who the other voice is (is it plant or jones?). By the end of the song, I just get this tingly feeling for listening to such a great song.

I think that Plant was replicating the same technique that Tolkien does. Tolkien's story is based on languages. He draws concepts, characters and names from Norse and Celtic myths. There is a reason the Dwarves names all sound the same. Led Zeppelin's song does the same thing. It pulls from several mythologies to discuss the ultimate battle of good and evil. Plant obviously considers Tolkien's story on par with other mythologies that explain good and evil.

I read the lord of the rings and I think this song or part of it is about Helms Deep.

"Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, Rest not to lock your homes.

Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all.

I hear the horses' thunder down in the valley blow, I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow."

I think this is refering to when the people of rohan left there homes to seek refuge in Helms Deep. Then they waited side by side on the wall for the orcs from Isengard to come. The angels of Avalon is the army that showed up with gandalf to fight of the orcs. They were waiting for the eastern glow because at sunrise of that day was when Gandalf would return.

"The tyrant's face is red." This refers to sauron being pissed because they lost the battle.

This song has quite a few more Tolkien referances then I have seen mentioned. Starting from the begining.

"Queen of Light took her bow, And then she turned to go" "The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom, And walked the night alone. "

Could mean a variety of things. 1)Glaradriel and Frodo, which a very good explaination was given above. Gladdy refusing the ring and passing into the west, and Frodo being the savior or peace who embraces the worst gloom imaginable by carrying the ring and entering mordor.

2) Queen of Light could be Arwen and The Prince of Peace is Aragorn. Aragorn embraces the the gloom and walks the paths of the dead, which is one of the key points in the book and the turning point in the battle on plennor fields.

3) Queen of light is Eowyn, this is my personal theory. As shown below, I believe most of this song is in the time frame of the Battle on Plennor Fields, Eowyn takes her bow from aragorn and then turns back to Edoras, then Aragorn goes to embrace the gloom. The only real problem with that theory is, "why is Eowyn the Queen of Light". All I have to say is, you kill the witch king, and you earn that title.

"Oh, dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light. " "The dark Lord rides in force tonight, And time will tell us all. " "Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, Rest not to lock your homes. "

The people of Gondor know well and good that the greatest army of Mordor in 2 thousand years is approaching to end all thier lives, little hope remains. Dont lock your doors, its useless, the army of mordor is coming. Day is now night as Sauron pollutes the sky and shrouds the sun and the hope of man. They sing for morning.

"Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all. "

They stand on the castles walls in dread, waiting for the final battle, the last stand. They stand with friends from afar who come cause they know that if Gondor Falls on this night, all hope ends for everyone.

"I hear the horses' thunder down in the valley blow, I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow. "

The men hear the coming of Theoden and the Army of Rohan. Finally coming to the aid of Gondor. Hope at last has come. They await for the "eastern glow" which is the sunrise. In Tolkiens writings the sunrise is such a key element. Fingolfin rides out of the ragged ice unlooked for and drives his host to the gates of Agnband on the first sunrise of middleearth. In numerous songs it is sang about, and Helms deep the sunrise was "ever the hope of man". That is a key element in this song, the men are so sure they will lose, with the wraiths circling above, oh how they wish for the sunlight. The "angels of avalon" part I imagine has a special meaning for plant. I like to think that they are the saviors, or a new hope in battle, which Rohan was for a short time.

"The apples of the valley hold, The seeds of happiness, "

Oh nature is so nice, the trees and plants of the valley. They hold happiness for men, that is all they want to keep.

"The ground is rich from tender care, Repay, do not forget, no, no. " "Dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light."

The men of gondor tended to the land. They created thier own paradise. FIGHT FOR IT, repay those who would wish domination and the end to nature and green grass. Dont forget what your fighting for, NO NO NO.

"DANCE" Dance is Fight! Fight to the darkest of nights, with no hope in sight. Sing, HOPE for the morning light, for victory, for one last chance to feel the sun against your skin.

"The apples turn to brown and black, The tyrant's face is red. "

They are ruining the land. They will destory all Gondor has made. Sauron is angry and wants to end it now and here. He is coming for the men of gondor.

(Tyrants face is red could be the sideplot with Denethor, or could mean Saurons shame when his army loses, or his witch-king dies. Its hard to say which because if this is to be sequantial with the battle, the witchking dying wouldnt work "perfectly", but who ever said it would)

"Oh the war is common cry, Pick up you swords and fly. " "The sky is filled with good and bad that mortals never know. "

War must be, fight with your swords and bows, everyone, even the children (as shown in book). Thier is much to this battle that the average folk doesnt know about, but they fight for thier country.

"Oh, well, the night is long the beads of time pass slow, " "Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow. "

Again, the sunrise. The battles lasts oh so long, will daylight ever come (remember no daylight for days at this point). All they see is death and destruction, the night gets blackers as time passes on, its so slow. They are waiting the sunrise, no rest to those defending thier homes against a enemy who would devour all.

"The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath, " "The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on. "

Even after the war is over, you still have the count the dead, you still have your scars, your country is all on fire, everything you works for is gone. What is worse then having the fight a war? Fighting one, then winning to find everything you fought for in ruin.

The enemy beats thier drums, the devils of the enemy are at hand. No "chance" that ringwraiths are mentioned in the same POWERFUL line as "The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath".

Ride on though, continue to fight! Ride on.

"Sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before. " "No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold"

Give yourself hope, sing as you fight better then you ever have. Keep fighting, though thier is no comfort when you are watching the fires of your country.

Watching your home burn, pick yourself up, fight harder then before. (Brilliant, i'm sorry to say zepp haters)

Oh dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light. The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back. Bring it back.

Fight in the dark of night, fight for the sunrise.

Magic runes.... many different things this could be. Gandalf? Perhaps Merry with his anciet sword parked with runes which helped slayed the king of the wraiths.. quite possible. Frodo and the ring, always a possibility. I tend to go with Merry, cause when the witchking dies, sunlight begins to shine again, and the balance is brought back. Hopelessness, is now now so, the men of gondor have a chance. Right from the book, thier hearts are lifted when the witch-king dies.

"At last the sun is shining, The clouds of blue roll by, With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes"

Need I explain?

This song related to christ? I'm not so sure bout that, I will admit sometimes us TOlkien fans take a few leaps with zepps music, but this song just mirrors the feeling of the chapter so much. The mood, the direct word-to-word relations. Hard for me to believe this is anything BUT directly taken from Tolkien. Remember, these guys dont wanna come out with a song titled "Battle of Plennor Fields" then sing 20 lines from the book, they have to be sorta cryptic. Just like in Ramble on, when they mix a girl into the mix. Just to keep the rock N roll edge.

and aircav, tolkien would be rolling in his grave if he ever saw this you say this:

":the entire LOTR trilogy is an allegory to christianity and a christian's life, "

Its true that Tolkien used a lot of themes from mythologies that happened to form christianity later in thier civilizations. But in very few ways could it be said that the books mimic christian life. And its even a further stretch to say that Tolkien wrote them with that purpose in mind. Read any of his letters and that will become painfullly obvious.

deffinitly lord of the rings. zeppelin knew who was better at telling a story than them. not many, but tolkien was a better story teller with deeper meanings and plant knew that, so they idolized and acknowledged him in a lot of their songs, and devoted a few songs to him as well. in the beginning of the song they mention avalon, the mystic island in the tale of king arthur, not in lotr, just thought id point that out.

bite me is definetely a moron i have followed a couple of his idiotic replys.. one of his most mature replies he tells someone to have relations with a camel.. a real classy guy

If another person says the elves or frodo live at the gray havens they need to read the books again

Could there even be any doubt this song is about The Lord of the Rings?

Every single part of this song, from the Queen of Light, to the ringwraiths riding in black (ringwraiths! come on!) screams LOTR. What I think of when I hear this song is a bunch of hobbits singing one of their little songs around a fire.

The last part of the song, the "Bring it back!"'s I had more trouble with. What I'm gonna go with is that Page and Plant, with their supposedly huge interest in mysticism, felt repressed by a time when such unorthodox subjects are frowned upon instead of celebrated.