Pippin's Song

I include Pippin's "Home Is Behind" song because my friend Drew Trott (and at least one correspondent who has read this site) thinks the melody might be a variation of the Gondor theme. The similarity is definitely there, but I think it is coincidence.

As described in the music documentary in the Return of the King Extended Edition, the melody for this song was written by Billy Boyd on very short notice during the shooting for Return, after Philippa Boyens heard Boyd sing at a local karaoke bar. Since the live-action shooting for all three movies was done at once, that means it was probably written sometime in 2000. Shore could have heard it and based the Gondor theme on it in time for that theme's first appearance during the Council of Elrond in Fellowship. However, to my knowledge neither Shore nor anyone else has ever said he did this; and furthermore there is no particular reason that I can think of to base the Gondor theme on a folk song ostensibly from the Shire. Despite the undoubted similarity between the two melodies, I think it's a reach.

Whatever the answer is, if anyone has better information on this point I would be happy to hear it.