Now let the song begin! Let us sing together!

Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,

Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,

Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,

Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:

Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!

In The Fellowship of the Ring: The Old forest, where we first "meet" Goldberry, her voice is described as “young and ancient as Spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills” and “falling like silver”, while singing the song above to greet the four hobbits to Tom Bombadil’s house. Her hair is long, wavy, and yellow, and she is usually clad in clothing that reminded one of rain, or rivers, etc. 

She is depicted with the beauty of the elves, though it is never told that she is, indeed, an elf. However, there is reason to believe she could have been an elf with this statement to Frodo: “…I see that you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it.” (The Fellowship of the Ring, In the House of Tom Bombadil)

Not much is known of Goldberry, since she played so little a part in The Fellowship of the Ring. She is said to be the daughter of the River, though this expression isn’t explained in The Lord of the Rings. In the Encyclopedia at the website Council of Elrond (www.councilofelrond.com), Goldberry is said to be the daughter of the River-woman, a spirit of the river Withywindle.

According to the Encyclopedia at Council of Elrond, Goldberry is also Tom Bombadil’s wife. Tolkien did not state this relationship outright in The Fellowship of the Ring, but it can be concluded when Tom calls Goldberry “his lady” and that she waits at his home for his return.

…By that pool long ago I found the River-daughter,

fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes.

Sweet was her singing then, and her heart was beating!

Written by Jennifer ~ Fánefalmë, a LOTRLounge Member