“May It Be” is a song by the Irish artist Enya, created for the 2001 film “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” directed by Peter Jackson. Enya and Roma Ryan wrote the song. It achieved the number one spot on the German Singles Chart in 2002 and was performed by Enya at the 74th Academy Awards.
“May It Be” is a song that offers a blessing to those who stand up for goodness, even when the odds are against them. This theme of staying true to what is right, loving, and good, even in the toughest of times, is a consistent theme in J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings.
In this article, we’ll delve into the deeper meaning behind the lyrics.
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“May It Be” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
May it be, an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be, when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh, how far you are from home
In Verse 1, the lyrics mention an evening star shining down upon someone, symbolizing a source of light and reassurance.
The line “May it be when darkness falls, Your heart will be true” in “May It Be” serves as a heartfelt plea for Frodo to remain steadfast and true to his moral compass, even in the face of the darkest.
The following line “You walk a lonely road, Oh! How far you are from home,” aligns with Frodo Baggins’ quest to destroy the One Ring, which led him from his home in the Shire to Mount Doom in Mordor.
This verse emphasizes the idea that even in difficult times and on arduous paths, there is still a glimmer of hope and a belief in staying true to oneself.
[Chorus]
Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now
The chorus mentions “Mornië utúlië” and “Mornië alantië,” which are phrases in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Elvish language. These phrases signify a sense of hope and encouragement.
The first line, “Mornië utúlië,” can be translated to mean “Darkness has come.” It reflects the acknowledgment of difficult times or challenges.
The second line, “Believe and you will find your way,” encourages maintaining faith and trust even during those dark times.
The third line, “Mornië alantië,” can be translated to mean “Darkness has fallen.” It suggests that despite the challenges, there is still hope and promise for a brighter future.
The fourth line, “A promise lives within you now,” reinforces the idea that the strength and determination to overcome obstacles are already present within oneself.
[Verse 2]
May it be, the shadow’s call
Will fly away
May it be, you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun
Verse 2 suggests that the shadows and difficulties that have been troubling the characters in The Lord of the Rings will eventually fade away.
The lyrics encourage them to keep moving forward on their quest, symbolizing a path towards brighter days.
Deeper Meaning Behind “May It Be”
“May It Be” is a song composed for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” The lyrics offer comfort and support to those facing challenges, just like the characters in the movie. It talks about stars shining in the dark, like a guiding light during hard times.
The chorus uses Elvish words from J.R.R. Tolkien’s world to talk about believing and not giving up. “Mornië utúlië” means “Darkness has come,” acknowledging difficulties, while “Believe and you will find your way” says it’s important to have faith and keep trying.
Then, “Mornië alantië” means “Darkness has fallen,” suggesting that even in tough times, there can be light. The line, “A promise lives within you now,” means you have inner strength and determination.
The song “May It Be” is titled as such because it conveys a message of hope and well-wishing. The phrase “May it be” is an expression of a wish or a blessing for something positive to happen. It can be interpreted as a heartfelt wish for the characters and their quest to be successful, for light to prevail over darkness, and for hope to endure despite the challenges they face.
In short, “May It Be” is a song about staying strong and believing that, even when things are tough, there’s still hope, guidance, and a way to a better future.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.