Nan Elmoth Lyrics

There long ago in elder days
ere voice was heard or trod were ways
the haunt of silent shadows stood
in starlight dusk Nan elmoth wood
in elder days that long are gone
a light amidst the shadows shone
a voice was in the silent heard
the sudden singing of a bird

There melian came, the lady grey
and dark and long her dresses lay
beneath her silver griddle seat
and down unto her silver feet

The nightingales with her she brought
to whom their song herself she tought
who sweet upon her gleaming hands
had sung in the immortal lands

Ir ithil ammen eruchin
menel vir sila diriel
si loth a galad lastu din
a hir annun gilthoniel
le linnom im tinuviel

A bird in Nan elmoth wood thrilled
and to listen Thingol stood amazed
then far away he heard
a voice more fair than the fairest bird

a voice as crystal clear of note
as thread of silver glass remote

Thence wayward wandering on a time
from Lorien she dared to climb
the everlasting mountain wall of valinor
at whose feet fall the surges of the shadowy sea

Ir ithil ammen eruchin
menel vir sila diriel
si loth a galad lastu din
a hir annun gilthoniel
le linnom im tinuviel

Alone beneath the wheeling sky
while starlight years on earth pass us by
in Nan elmoth the trees grow dark and tall
the murmuring seas rising and falling on the shore
and Ulmos horn we heed no more