Buzz
The Lord of the Rings hit bookshelves in the mid-1950s, and musicians quickly embraced its enchanting tales as a rich source of creative inspiration. By the late 1960s, figures like Gandalf and Gollum began appearing—with varying levels of subtlety—in songs across all genres. J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces remained a favorite muse for songwriters in the decades that followed. Here are 11 standout tracks, ranging from Led Zeppelin’s iconic “Ramble On” to Flight of the Conchords’ hilariously witty “Frodo, Don’t Wear the Ring.”
1. “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin
Robert Plant’s well-known admiration for Tolkien shines through in several Led Zeppelin songs, such as “Misty Mountain Hop,” “The Battle of Evermore,” and “Ramble On,” which includes the following verse:
“In the shadowy depths of Mordor, I encountered a fair maiden, but Gollum and the dark force crept in and whisked her away.”
If Plant’s nods to Middle-earth in “Ramble On” appear overly obvious, he has a ready excuse: “I was just 21 when I wrote that,” he told the Santa Barbara Independent in 2013. Plant also admitted some remorse for not using his rockstar influence to address more pressing issues during the band’s prime. “My peers were crafting profound social critiques, while I was wandering the Welsh borders, lost in thoughts of Gollum,” he told Planet Rock Magazine in 2019. He still holds a fondness for “Stairway to Heaven,” however.
2. “I Think I Understand” by Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell’s 1969 track “I Think I Understand” includes the lyric “Fear is like a wilderland”—a nod to Tolkien’s Wilderland, a northern region of Middle-earth home to the ominous Mirkwood forest. While the reference might seem accidental, Mitchell confirmed its inspiration during her performance at the 1969 Mississippi River Festival: “My favorite character was the enchantress Galadriel. She gifted the travelers a vial of light before they ventured into perilous lands, saying, ‘Take this and use it in dark times.’”
Mitchell saw Galadriel’s gift as a symbol of “a memory of brighter days” to help face the “terrifying creatures” of the Wilderland. “Just like life,” she mused. So captivated was Mitchell by Tolkien’s tales that she wrote him letters and even named her music publishing company Gandalf Publishing.
3. “Rivendell” by Rush
In 1975, Toronto rock trio Rush channeled the enchantment of Middle-earth with “Rivendell,” a serene acoustic piece portraying Elrond’s haven as “a refuge from the world / Where the dark Lord’s reach ends / A sanctuary of peace by the rush of flowing waters.” This heartfelt depiction comes from a true admirer: Rush’s Geddy Lee even featured in the 2005 documentary Ringers: Lord of the Fans, discussing Tolkien’s profound influence on his music.
4. “Lothlórien” by Enya
Enya’s legacy is intertwined with Middle-earth, thanks to her contributions to Peter Jackson’s 2001 adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Beyond her Oscar-nominated track “May It Be,” featured in the credits, she also composed “Aníron,” the theme for Arwen and Aragorn, heard during the Council of Elrond. However, her bond with Tolkien’s world began years earlier: Her 1991 album Shepherd Moons includes the instrumental piece “Lothlórien,” a tribute to Galadriel’s mystical realm. Her label even approached her for Jackson’s films, knowing she and her lyricist, Roma Ryan, were ardent admirers of Tolkien’s trilogy.
5. “Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider” by Camel
Camel’s nine-minute, three-part masterpiece from their 1974 album Mirage narrates Gandalf’s evolution from Grey to White, primarily through instrumental passages. However, the progressive rock band didn’t remain tied to Tolkien’s lore for long. “I’d read The Lord of the Rings, like many others, and penned ‘The White Rider’ … drawing inspiration from Gandalf and his world,” Andy Latimer shared with Prog in 2015. “During recording, we thought, ‘Why not create an entire album based on a story?’ So, we searched for the perfect book.” After considering works by Hermann Hesse, they settled on Paul Gallico’s 1941 novella The Snow Goose. (Gallico’s legal threats led the band to rename the album Music Inspired by The Snow Goose before its 1975 release.)
6. “The Wizard” by Black Sabbath
Gandalf proved a muse for many 1970s musicians, including heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. Fans have long speculated that the “funny clothes” and “tinkling bell” in their 1970 track “The Wizard” refer to Tolkien’s wise sorcerer, a theory bassist Geezer Butler confirmed. “I was immersed in The Lord of the Rings at the time, so I crafted the lyrics around Gandalf,” he explained to Metal Sludge in 2005.
7. “Songs of the Quendi” by Sally Oldfield
Sally Oldfield’s 1978 piece “Songs of the Quendi” showcases her profound understanding of Middle-earth, drawing from early Elven history. The lyrics mention the Moriquendi, Elves “born from darkness”; the Laiquendi, “from green lands”; and the Calaquendi, “from clear light.” Oldfield, known for weaving invented words into her music, was particularly inspired by Tolkien’s “exquisite Elven language … reflecting his deep knowledge of ancient global tongues.”
8. “In the House of Tom Bombadil” by Nickel Creek
Frodo and his companions’ brief yet memorable visit to Tom Bombadil’s home in The Fellowship of The Ring cemented Bombadil as one of Tolkien’s most fascinating characters. In the novel, the ancient and mysterious Bombadil resides in his secluded realm, often expressing himself through song—making him a perfect muse for musical adaptation. Americana group Nickel Creek encapsulated his spirit with “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” a lively, fiddle-driven instrumental from their 2000 self-titled album.
9. “This Day We Fight!” by Megadeth
After composing “How the Story Ends,” inspired by Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine considered crafting a song about the drums and flags used to signal retreat in ancient battles. However, deeming “The Drums and the Flags” an uninspiring title, he turned to Aragorn’s rousing speech in the 2003 film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. “[Aragorn] declares, ‘We may die tomorrow, but not today. This day we fight,’” Mustaine recalled to Rolling Stone. “I thought, ‘That’s an incredibly powerful battle cry.’”
10. “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins” by Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy began his delightfully quirky musical journey in 1966 with Mr. Spock’s Music From Outer Space, an album filled with space-themed songs performed in character as his Star Trek alter ego. By 1968’s Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy, he expanded his repertoire. One side remained dedicated to Spock, while the other showcased covers of hits like Tim Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter.” This side also included “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins,” a whimsical recounting of Bilbo’s adventures in The Hobbit. “I found it charming and was deeply intrigued by [The Hobbit] tales,” Nimoy remarked in a 2003 interview. His enthusiasm even led him to create a music video for the song.
11. “Frodo, Don’t Wear the Ring” by Flight of the Conchords
While Nimoy left the humor of his Tolkien-inspired song open to interpretation, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement left no doubt that theirs was a full-blown parody. “Frodo, Don’t Wear the Ring” not only mocks Frodo’s quest to Mordor—featuring iconic lines from Jackson’s films—but also satirizes the myriad music genres Tolkien’s work has influenced, from folk to heavy metal. (They even throw in a rap verse for good measure.) The track debuted in “The Actor,” an episode of their HBO series, and has been performed live. McKenzie also appeared as an extra in Jackson’s Tolkien adaptations, though singing wasn’t part of his role.
