1. |
Mahal
02:17
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Praise to the maker of the fathers of the clans
Creator of the first to stride and delve through the land
He granted us the very strength of his beloved stone
And gave the skill to work it as our own
Maker of the mountains and the metals deep within
Lord of all within the earth, its minerals and gems
The finest of the craftsman from whom we find our love
Of the creation of earth-born art
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2. |
Durin the Deathless
05:25
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In an age long past
They were fashioned by the hand of Aulë
Seven fathers of our people
In the womb of a great mountain
Their time was not yet come
To work the earth and walk the land
So they slept long and deep
As great stones withered down to sand
(chanting, repeated behind the clean chorus line):
Rise! First-born rise! First-born rise! First-born awake from your slumber! (x8)
(chorus lines)
First born, wake and see the splendor of the mountains
A realm for your kin to inherit
Go forth and give names to untraveled hills and valleys
Lay claim to your new domain
Live long and propagate the royal line of Durin
Let your name be ever spoken
Heed now and witness all, the coming of the Longbeards
The first-born king now ends his slumber
“There he lived so long that he was known far and wide as Durin the Deathless… his line never failed, and five times an heir was born in his House so like to his Forefather that he received the name of Durin. He was indeed held by the Dwarves to be the Deathless that returned; for they have many strange tales and beliefs concerning themselves and their fate in the world” - Appendix A, 439
There he gazed at the surface of Kheled-Zâram
And he beheld a vast reflection
A crown of seven shining stars
Moved by the sign he founded our greatest city
Around the dark and placid waters
The renowned halls of Khazad-Dum
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3. |
First Born's Caprice
00:49
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(instrumental)
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4. |
Ered Luin
06:51
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In the Years Of The Trees below Mount Dolmed awoke two fathers
Of the dwarven houses Firebeards and Broadbeams
On its eastern slopes delved halls and mansions the ancient Khazad
South Tumunzahar North Gabilgathol
Chorus:
Strong be the children of Mahal
Wrought in secret, known only to the One
Eru spared the folk of stone
Placed in slumber ‘til after the First-Born come
In the Second Age of Morgoth chained came the stout Gonnhirrim
Into Beleriand bringing skill and much trade
But in Menegroth, with Elwë slain seized the Nauglamír then
It’s return to Nogrod would come to naught
(chorus)
Back in the land Ossiriand
Ambushed by Beren at Sarn Athrad
That which they plundered Doriath
The host of Nogrod would lose all they had
Silver, gold, and copper, iron cold
Shaped by the great smiths of old
Gear of war and treasures forged from ore
Cursed with the death of a lord
Mass destruction in the War Of Wrath
Dragon host led by Ancalagon
Fury of the Valar overthrew Angband
Homes in ruin the Khazad must move on
Few remain most migrate to Eriador
Below the mighty Misty Mountain walls
War Of The Dwarves & Orcs they avenge the death of Thror
And prosper in the realm of Thorin’s halls
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5. |
Oakenshield
04:45
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Here he stands the last in line
King of dwarven kind
Bearer of the oaken shield
A trophy of the battlefield
Noble born son of Thraín
Inheritor of the mountain
Ending of the Durin kin
Rival of the dragon
On that dark day
He earned his name
Oakenshield destined to reign
A fallen branch
Would save his life
But for his fallen brothers
In pyres they burned bright
With King Nain dead on the battlefield, the kingship passed to Thorin’s father, Thrain II. But he too would suffer a dreadful fate, tormented and killed by the wicked orcs of Dol Guldur. Thus, Thorin Oakenshield, in his 95th year, became the heir of Durin, inheriting not just the crown, but his family’s vengeance upon the dragon.
Another king put to the test
Thorin in battle faced his death
the fate of so many Khazad
A victory taken with mortal cost
Our king slew Bolg, son of Azog
Alas his life too was lost
Laid in stone to rest
The Arkenstone upon his breast
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6. |
Smaug the Terrible
03:40
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From the north the Great Wyrm arose
Flying to Erebor
Malice and greed guided his way
To the realm of King Thrór
Without warning he came from the sky
A vile reptilian form
His teeth like swords, his claws like spears, his wings blowing a storm
“I kill where I wish and none dare resist
I laid low the warriors of old
Then I was but young and tender
Now I am old and strong strong strong!” - Smaug, The Hobbit, p. 207 (J.R.R. Tolkien)
With rage he rose in fire
His hateful wrath coming down upon the lake
Dragon flames burned away the waters
And the men of Esgaroth brought their bows to bear
Forged by Thrór king of the Dwarves
A great black arrow struck swift and true
Raise thy cups in toast to Bard of the Lake town
And the downfall of Smaug the Terrible
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7. |
Balin's Fated March
04:27
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Our boots tread upon earth grass and stone
As we march to our ancient carven home
We reclaimed the mountain and the Arkenstone
Now the halls of Khazad Dum will again be our own
Chorus:
We shall stride onward
With a step that never falters
For the Dwarves hold Durin’s Axe again
And we’ll hold it til the end
We have known victory and we have known loss
Now we come to the halls of our kin long passed
A city where masterful work was wrought
Where our ancestors stood strong and fought
(chorus)
“...yesterday being the tenth of November Balin, lord of Moria, fell in Dimrill Dale. He went alone to look in Mirrormere. An orc shot him from behind a stone. We slew the orc, but many more came… we rescued Balin’s body..after a sharp battle…we have barred the gates but doubt if…we can hold them long. If there is…no escape it will be a horrible fate to suffer, but I shall hold.
We cannot get out. We cannot get out.”
(Book of Mazarbul, J.R.R. Tolkien)
Like our fathers before us
Our home we will defend
Like our fathers before us
It will be our end
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8. |
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(instrumental)
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9. |
Bane's End
08:49
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Below cold stone cavern walls
In ancient ruins of dwarven halls
Still there burns an evil flame
The scorching malice of Durin’s Bane
Now the mountain pass has failed
Caradhras breathes his frozen gale
Through the pitch-dark pits of fear
Glows the staff of Mithrandir
“I chose the right way… At last we are coming to the habitable parts, and I guess that we are not far now from the eastern side. But we are high up, a good deal higher than the Dimrill gate, unless I am mistaken. From the feeling of the air we must be in a wide hall. I will now risk a little real light.” - Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring p.307 (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Mighty pillars hewn of stone
Black and polished like glass for an age plundered by foes
In the great realm of the Dwarrowdelf
The foundation of their wealth, Moria silver. No dwarven Tale shall tell
Of the delving deep with greed
Unleashing that which now this company must flee
Chamber of Mazarbul revealed to be Balin’s tomb
Only chance of freedom to make for the bridge of Khazad-Dum
“Do as I say! Swords are no more use here! …I have done all that I could. I have met my match and have nearly been destroyed. But don’t stand there, go on! You have to do without light for a while. I am rather shaken, go on!” - p.317-318
“Over the bridge! …Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!” p.321
Stone planks fall and flames they part
The coming of the Balrog
Blazing blade, a fiery mane and whip of
Many thongs!
“You cannot pass!” p.322
“Fly you fools!” p.322
“Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned. Then we plunged into the deep water, and all was dark… We fought far under the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched at me, and ever I hewed him, till at last he fled into dark tunnels… Th
us he brought me back at last to the secret ways of Khazad-Dûm... Ever up now we went, until we came to the endless stair…
From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak it climbed… There upon Celebdil was a lonely window in the snow, and before it lay a narrow space, a dizzy eyrie above the mists of the world... Out he sprang, and even as I came behind, he burst into new flame... A great smoke rose about us, vapour and steam. I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountainside where he smote it in his ruin.” - The Two Towers p.134-135 (J.R.R. Tolkien)
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Line of Durin Otis, Oregon
A tribute to Tolkien's dwarves, Line of Durin's songs tell the history of Durin's folk. The soul of this music is the soul of the mountains, where all of Line of Durin's songs are written and recorded.
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