Into the West

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Into the West

As Bilbo Baggins once spoke in Rivendell,

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

Though it isn’t something I am happy to do, I believe it’s time for me to turn towards the lighted inn and put to rest my adventures on the road. I started writing this blog to share the music that I loved, but found myself writing more and more for the wrong reasons. The road truly goes ever on, and I’ve found myself unable to keep up — my feet wearied by the pressure to premiere and pick sides. It is a beautiful thing and I have learned much, but there comes a time when staying ahead isn’t as important as being true to yourself, and I don’t want to compromise that. Running out of free hosting space wasn’t the whole reason.

The Road Goes Ever On was never meant to be read. It wasn’t even supposed to be a music blog, just somewhere my friends could go to find music after we went our separate ways. When people who I didn’t know started to read it back in April/May, it wasn’t expected, but I couldn’t have been more excited. If it weren’t for all of you that kept coming back and spreading the word, I wouldn’t have been able to share music with as nearly as many people as I have. I’d like to thank you for sticking with me, even when posting would die down for weeks.

But most importantly, this site would have been nothing without all the beautiful artists that I met along the way. They are the reason this industry exists. Without them, there would be no gems to mine, but they turn what we all love into a renewable resource and I will never be able to thank them enough.

While the time has come for me to say goodbye to this amazing community I have become a part of and get off the road, as Bilbo said, “let others follow it who can.” I will be around, reading the sites of writers I have grown to respect, and anxiously awaiting new writers to emerge. And I may return someday, but right now, I definitely need some time to rest and reevaluate myself.