The Last Goodbye

Album: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Scottish actor and musician Billy Boyd, who played Peregrin Took in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, wrote and recorded this tune for the end credits of The Battle of the Five Armies. The Peter Jackson-directed movie is the final part of his six film journey based on the J.R.R. Tolkien classic novels Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. "We focused on not just the final installment, but more so on this ten-year epic adventure," Boyd told Billboard magazine. "A song to sum up the six movies. We recorded in Wellington, New Zealand, at one point travelling to Auckland to Neil Finn's studio -- where we recorded some of the guitar."

    "It was surreal to be in his studio," he added, "as he did the song for [2012's] The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

Comments: 1

  • Donna Ratliff from FloridaI want this song played at my memorial. I love them. I cry ehen i hear them. They speak to my soul.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.