I know that is has been over a year since this post was started, but this song is so haunting from a psychological sense, I had to chime in. I’m taking college level psychology and wow is all I have to say with what obviously Gollum is talking to Sméagol. Here is what I think is being said. The first two lines are a set up showing the transformation of Sméagol to Gollum. Where once was light, now darkness falls. I think this goes all the way back to when Sméagol took the ring from Deagol and killed him the process. Before the ring, Sméagol’s life was filled with light. The ring, being pure evil, smothered all the light (or good) out of Sméagol leaving nothing but darkness (which of course is the Gollum personality). Where once was love, love is no more. This is the transformation from Sméagol (who loved others) to Gollum (who loved no one but the ring). Don’t say goodbye. Gollum telling Sméagol don’t say goodbye to Frodo because that could lead to more attachment. Don’t say I didn’t try. Sméagol saying don’t say I didn’t try to get rid of Gollum. These tears we cry are falling rain, for all the lies you told us, the hurt the blame. Gollum’s anger toward Frodo for his supposed betrayal. And we will weep to be so alone. There, Gollum take over again leaving them sad and alone once again. We are lost. Gollum takes over again which makes Sméagol emotionally lost again, unable to feel love that he was beginning to feel toward Frodo. We can never go home. Gollum knows that he can never have his old life back and is therefore not able to return to the home he was born. So in the end I'll be what I will be. This is Sméagol’s acceptance of Gollum. No loyal friend was ever there for me. This is Sméagol saying no one ever had is back. Saying that Deagol was no loyal friend because he wouldn’t give the ring to him. Saying that Frodo was not loyal friend because of his supposed betrayal. Now we say goodbye. Gollum saying goodbye to Frodo. We say you didn't try. Gollum saying to Frodo that he didn’t try to be a loyal friend. These tears you cry have come too late. This is Gollum talking to Sméagol. He is trying to turn Sméagol from loving Frodo to hating him by telling him, “I told you Frodo didn’t love you and crying will not help you because it’s too late for that.” Take back the lies, the hurt, the blame. I read this as two possible answers. This is Sméagol telling Gollum to take back all the bad things that have happened to Sméagol because of Gollum. I also read this as Sméagol telling Frodo to take back all those nice things that Frodo said to him in light of his supposed betrayal. And you will weep when you face the end alone. You are lost. You can never go home. Gollum to Sméagol. What an awesome song that is trying to describe the multiple personalities of Gollum and the singular personality of Sméagol and the transformation between the two. I read all the books and have seen all the movies made from the books which do include the cartoons that were made. What a mind job! My hat goes off to John Williams for having Emilliana Torrini sing this song. She was able to put such anguish into her voice and she changes her mood between Gollum and Sméagol and the overall sadness that Sméagol feels because of Gollum.
