Of the Ruin of Berieland and the Fall of Fingolfin

So many good bands are drawing inspiration from timeless classics of literature that gone are the days in which an angry parent might equate rock with lack of literacy. The song I selected is “Time Stands Still at the Iron Hill” by Blind Guardian. This song describes the clash between Morgoth, the evil God of Fire and Finglofin, lord of the Elves of Noldor, in single combat.

Fingolfin obviously dies at the end, for powerful and immortal as he was, he was no god, whereas Morgoth IS a god himself. An evil one, but a god nevertheless.

The song is part of the album “Nightfall in Middle Earth”, a concept album completely based on the work Simarillion, from JRR Tolkien. The entire span of the book is recounted in the tracks of this album, even if somewhat obliquely. Fans of the book will certainly understand the lyrics even if the lyrics taken alone do not lend themselves to understanding the book.

Enjoy.

Time Stands Still at The Iron Hill Blind Guardian Light fails at dawn The moon is gone And deadly the night reigns Deceit Finally I’ve found myself In these lands Horror and madness I’ve seen here For what I became a king of the lost? Barren and lifeless the land lies I stand alone No one’s by my side I’ll dare you Come out You coward Now it’s me or you He gleams like a star And the sound of his horn’s Like a raging storm Proudly the high lord Challenges the doom Lord of slaves he cries Slowly in fear The dark lord appears Welcome to my lands You shall be damned

The iron crowned Is getting closer Swings his hammer Down on him Like a thunderstorm He’s crushing Down the Noldor’s Proudest king Under my foot So hopeless it seems You’ve troubled my day Now feel the pain The Elvenking’s broken He stumbles and falls The most proud and most valiant His spirit survives Praise our king (chorus) Lord of all Noldor A star in the night And a bearer of hope He rides into his glorious battle alone Farewell to the valiant warlord The Fate of us all Lies deep in the dark When time stands still at the iron hill