Talk:Bilbo's Last Song

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Just wondering what "the obvious difficulties over the last word" are. --Earendilyon 04:18, 14 April 2006 (EDT)

JRRT originally wrote the poem as "Bilbo's Last Lay", 'Lay' being an ancient term for "song". However, once first published in poster form by Allen & Unwin, the American publishers Houghton Mifflin chnaged it to "Bilbo's Last Song" due to the sexual connotations of "lay". Unsigned comment by Sancho proudfoot (talk • contribs).
So much I feared. *sigh* Just becasuse people don't know their language anymore, a publisher changes the title of an author's writings. Has this term in British English the same connotations? --Earendilyon 05:26, 14 April 2006 (EDT)
No, not really; the original title appeared on the Pauline Baynes illustrated poster without much fuss - it was Houghton Mifflin that changed it. -en passant the illustration showed a lateen-rigged ship sailing out into the setting sun, and Peter Jackson mirrored the image in the film The Return of the King. Unsigned comment by Sancho proudfoot (talk • contribs).
Stupid 'Mericans. --Earendilyon 08:57, 14 April 2006 (EDT)