“Into the West”
(Annie Lennox)
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
“Lay down your sweet and weary head; night is falling, you have come to journey’s end”: the first words of this song, written in 2003 by Annie Lennox with Fran Walsh and Howard Shore for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings third chapter (The Return of the King), set a dreamy and wistful mood in which a woman comforts her loved one, promising him they will be together again after his parting: “Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face? Soon you will see all of your fears will pass away; safe in my arms, you’re only sleeping”.
And while moonlight softly lights the sea in silver, sorrow slowly replaces with peace: “And all will turn to silver glass; a light on the water, grey ships pass into the West”.
“Into the West”, interpreted as an Elvish lament, was inspired by the demise of Cameron Duncan, a young film maker who was going to make a cameo in the film.
And last but obviously not least, Annie won her (at now) first Oscar for Best Original Song at the 76th Academy Awards.