I think this song is telling the tragic life of Maeglin.
'I'm trapped in darkness
Still I reach out for the stars
I'm moving in silence
I leave it all far behind '
Aredhel gave her son a Quenyan name in secret, so I imagine she would have shared with him stories of the Noldor, and what was beyond his father's dark home. Obviously Maeglin could not express this to Eol, since he was Telerin, but it's a good bet he still would have longed for something other than the darkness he was born into.
'...Will I betray myself
To rise?'
Maeglin betrayed the location of Gondolin to the Morgoth, thus causing the city's downfall. Morgoth had his ways with telling lies to get what he wanted, and promised Maeglin Gondolin and Idril.
'I'm lost in the depth of his eyes
I can't flee
Inner pain caused insanity
It's deep within
The fear and the hunger
Enslaved and denied
By my love and my enemies
I'm the illgotten son'
Perhaps about making his decision to betray Gondolin. He thinks that by revealing its location, he can escape the pain and madness. Nonetheless, he also fears what would happen if he denied Morgoth's demands. Yet in the end, with the promise of someone who would never love him in return, and being able to get revenge on his enemies, he tells Morgoth. Really all he wants is to be loved; he was, after all, the illgotten son.
Whoa. I'm too analytical. Sorry if that made no sense.
It seems to me most of the song describes Maeglin's captivity in Angband and Morgoth trying to convert Maeglin to his side through threats and lies.
It seems to me most of the song describes Maeglin's captivity in Angband and Morgoth trying to convert Maeglin to his side through threats and lies.
"Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns"
"Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns"
Gondolin's outer gate was hidden by thorn bushes.
Morgoth's forces will attack the city the next day and Maeglin has decided to join them, facing the thorn bushes (and the gates beyond).
He may prays at the thorn bushes because he fully...
Gondolin's outer gate was hidden by thorn bushes.
Morgoth's forces will attack the city the next day and Maeglin has decided to join them, facing the thorn bushes (and the gates beyond).
He may prays at the thorn bushes because he fully realises the evil deeds he will commit.
Alternatively, it could be Maeglin deciding to leave the city (which is against the king's direct orders and leads to Maeglin's capture by Orcs).
"Let us march on
To the fields of sacrifice"
This is Morgoth trying to get Maeglin to join his forces.
"In the silence
It's time to explain
(And)
Search for truth in lies
Useful lies
Needless love's damned"
Morgoth's lies are starting to have an effect on Maeglin and in his misery he wants some of them to be true (looking for truths).
"Come follow me
And you will see
How it will be
When all the pain is gone away"
More of Morgoth's lies and empty promises.
"Let us march on
Though there's no hope at our side
Let us be brave
Though by glory we are denied
But
Don't you think
It's time for us
To bring to an end
Come play the song of death
The wisdom in us both
Will make it
Special guaranteed
Play the song of death"
Morgoth flatters Maeglin, claiming he is wise and brave and should fight at his side.
"I'm lost in the depths of his eyes
I can't flee
Inner pain caused insanity
It's deep within..."
I think this song is telling the tragic life of Maeglin.
'I'm trapped in darkness Still I reach out for the stars I'm moving in silence I leave it all far behind '
Aredhel gave her son a Quenyan name in secret, so I imagine she would have shared with him stories of the Noldor, and what was beyond his father's dark home. Obviously Maeglin could not express this to Eol, since he was Telerin, but it's a good bet he still would have longed for something other than the darkness he was born into.
'...Will I betray myself To rise?'
Maeglin betrayed the location of Gondolin to the Morgoth, thus causing the city's downfall. Morgoth had his ways with telling lies to get what he wanted, and promised Maeglin Gondolin and Idril.
'I'm lost in the depth of his eyes I can't flee Inner pain caused insanity It's deep within The fear and the hunger Enslaved and denied By my love and my enemies I'm the illgotten son'
Perhaps about making his decision to betray Gondolin. He thinks that by revealing its location, he can escape the pain and madness. Nonetheless, he also fears what would happen if he denied Morgoth's demands. Yet in the end, with the promise of someone who would never love him in return, and being able to get revenge on his enemies, he tells Morgoth. Really all he wants is to be loved; he was, after all, the illgotten son.
Whoa. I'm too analytical. Sorry if that made no sense.
Very good analysis Telperion :)
Very good analysis Telperion :)
It seems to me most of the song describes Maeglin's captivity in Angband and Morgoth trying to convert Maeglin to his side through threats and lies.
It seems to me most of the song describes Maeglin's captivity in Angband and Morgoth trying to convert Maeglin to his side through threats and lies.
"Oh at dawn I'll face the edge of thorns Oh at dawn I'll pray at the edge of thorns Oh at dawn I'll face the edge of thorns"
"Oh at dawn I'll face the edge of thorns Oh at dawn I'll pray at the edge of thorns Oh at dawn I'll face the edge of thorns"
Gondolin's outer gate was hidden by thorn bushes. Morgoth's forces will attack the city the next day and Maeglin has decided to join them, facing the thorn bushes (and the gates beyond). He may prays at the thorn bushes because he fully...
Gondolin's outer gate was hidden by thorn bushes. Morgoth's forces will attack the city the next day and Maeglin has decided to join them, facing the thorn bushes (and the gates beyond). He may prays at the thorn bushes because he fully realises the evil deeds he will commit.
Alternatively, it could be Maeglin deciding to leave the city (which is against the king's direct orders and leads to Maeglin's capture by Orcs).
"Let us march on To the fields of sacrifice"
This is Morgoth trying to get Maeglin to join his forces.
"In the silence It's time to explain (And) Search for truth in lies Useful lies Needless love's damned"
Morgoth's lies are starting to have an effect on Maeglin and in his misery he wants some of them to be true (looking for truths).
"Come follow me And you will see How it will be When all the pain is gone away"
More of Morgoth's lies and empty promises.
"Let us march on Though there's no hope at our side Let us be brave Though by glory we are denied But Don't you think It's time for us To bring to an end Come play the song of death The wisdom in us both Will make it Special guaranteed Play the song of death"
Morgoth flatters Maeglin, claiming he is wise and brave and should fight at his side.
"I'm lost in the depths of his eyes I can't flee Inner pain caused insanity It's deep within..."
Maeglin finally cracks and joins Morgoth.