With the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey moving ever closer, the hype machine is moving into overdrive, with music from the film’s end credits being released online today.

Written and performed by Crowded House front-man Neil Finn, Song of the Lonely Mountain is an epic ballad which can now be heard over at Rolling Stone.

Developed from a theme the film’s dwarves sing early in the film, Finn told the music mag that he wrote the song after director Peter Jackson told him to get in a “dwarven state of mind.”

“After some days of mining underground (actually in Peter’s office) I emerged with the song, then set about recording it with my songs Elroy and Liam,” he explained. “David Friedmann came in at the end with a bold mix. He seemed to respond well to my demands for ‘more anvil!’. Pop music needs more anvil!”

The film’s soundtrack hits on December 11, with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released on December 14.

Chris Tilly is Entertainment Editor for IGN, while Crowded House was the first band he ever saw live. Chris's idle chat can be found on both Twitter and MyIGN.

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