Sauron's Lament (Film Score)

Atmospheric electronic film score, wide stereo field with swelling layered synth textures, solo piano ostinatos, low woodwinds, French horns and timpani; deep gravelly male baritone shifts from dry spoken verses to a deep wordless choir and sung choruses; 90–95 BPM, serene passages rising through bold harmonies into a climactic orchestral crescendo

[Spoken Verse 1]
You know I sent my nine riders out after the Ring.
Nine kings, undying, on the best horses in Mordor,
chasing a handful of hobbits. —
Hobbits, Saruman — . . . Hobbits!
They had them. — Inches away, hiding under a tree root.
And one of the little ones threw a stick into the woods,
and all nine of my riders went to see what the noise was.

[Sung Chorus 1]
Nine of them,
and they chased a stick,
nine dead kings
and not one quick.
I gave them their rings,
I gave them their might,
and they couldn't outwit
a hobbit at half height.

[Spoken Verse 2]
Then the hobbits jumped onto a ferry and pushed off,
and my riders can't swim, so they went the long way around.
They asked me for a pool once, for training. I said no.
Apparently this is my fault now.
Then they gave me a whole lecture on where the ferry town gets its name,
because that's what I needed today.
And then they found the inn where the hobbits were sleeping,
crept in, and stabbed the beds to pieces.
The hobbits weren't in them. It was pillows.
They killed a roomful of pillows.

[Sung Chorus 2]
I'd rub my temples,
but I don't have any,
I'd sigh, but I've got no lungs,
and I've got reasons plenty.
I'm the lord of this land,
I'm the power in the tower,
and my riders are out there
stabbing pillows in the midnight hour.

[Spoken Verse 3]
Now here's the part that almost went right.
They caught up with them on a hilltop, and they stabbed the one carrying the Ring.
That was good. Then a Ranger shows up.
One man, with a sword and a torch, and he sets a couple of robes on fire,
and my nine riders run.
They're invisible, Saruman. The robes are the only thing anyone can see.
I asked them why they didn't just take the robes off.
They told me it was chilly.

[Sung Chorus 3]
I've got no eyelids,
so I can't shut it out,
I just watch and I watch
what the fools are about.
Now there's a twitch in my eye
and a crack in my wall,
and some days I wonder
if it's worth it at all.

[Spoken Verse 4]
So an elf picks up the wounded one on a horse faster than mine,
and they chase her to a river. Shallow. Twenty, thirty feet across.
She crosses. My riders stop at the edge.
And they ask her, politely, to hand him over.
She says no. They draw their swords. They start across, slowly,
because they tell me slow looks menacing.
And the river rises up in the shape of horses,
and my riders turn around to face it. And wait.
It washed them all away. Most of my horses drowned.
My trained horses, Saruman.

[Sung Chorus 4]
Nine of them,
home soaking wet,
no One Ring,
just more regret.
So I'll give them some wings
and I'll hope for the best,
and I'll pray to no one
they can handle the rest.

[Spoken Outro]
Anyway. How's your day going?
. . . Building an army out of mud? Good for you.
Me, I've got nine idiots and a tower with a cracked beam,
and the toilets are backed up again.

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[Spoken Intro] Saruman's on the palantír. We'll finish this later. You nine — go. Get down to the yard and get yourselves new mounts. Something with wings, this time. Something that can fly over water. . . . Saruman — Yes, I can see you. I can always see you. You would not believe the day I've had. [Spoken Verse 1] You know I sent my nine riders out after the Ring. Nine kings, undying, on the best horses in Mordor, chasing a handful of hobbits. — Hobbits, Saruman — . . . Hobbits! They had them. — Inches away, hiding under a tree root. And one of the little ones threw a stick into the woods, and all nine of my riders went to see what the noise was. [Sung Chorus 1] Nine of them, and they chased a stick, nine dead kings and not one quick. I gave them their rings, I gave them their might, and they couldn't outwit a hobbit at half height. [Spoken Verse 2] Then the hobbits jumped onto a ferry and pushed off, and my riders can't swim, so they went the long way around. They asked me for a pool once, for training. I said no. Apparently this is my fault now. Then they gave me a whole lecture on where the ferry town gets its name, because that's what I needed today. And then they found the inn where the hobbits were sleeping, crept in, and stabbed the beds to pieces. The hobbits weren't in them. It was pillows. They killed a roomful of pillows. [Sung Chorus 2] I'd rub my temples, but I don't have any, I'd sigh, but I've got no lungs, and I've got reasons plenty. I'm the lord of this land, I'm the power in the tower, and my riders are out there stabbing pillows in the midnight hour. [Spoken Verse 3] Now here's the part that almost went right. They caught up with them on a hilltop, and they stabbed the one carrying the Ring. That was good. Then a Ranger shows up. One man, with a sword and a torch, and he sets a couple of robes on fire, and my nine riders run. They're invisible, Saruman. The robes are the only thing anyone can see. I asked them why they didn't just take the robes off. They told me it was chilly. [Sung Chorus 3] I've got no eyelids, so I can't shut it out, I just watch and I watch what the fools are about. Now there's a twitch in my eye and a crack in my wall, and some days I wonder if it's worth it at all. [Spoken Verse 4] So an elf picks up the wounded one on a horse faster than mine, and they chase her to a river. Shallow. Twenty, thirty feet across. She crosses. My riders stop at the edge. And they ask her, politely, to hand him over. She says no. They draw their swords. They start across, slowly, because they tell me slow looks menacing. And the river rises up in the shape of horses, and my riders turn around to face it. And wait. It washed them all away. Most of my horses drowned. My trained horses, Saruman. [Sung Chorus 4] Nine of them, home soaking wet, no One Ring, just more regret. So I'll give them some wings and I'll hope for the best, and I'll pray to no one they can handle the rest. [Spoken Outro] Anyway. How's your day going? . . . Building an army out of mud? Good for you. Me, I've got nine idiots and a tower with a cracked beam, and the toilets are backed up again.

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