Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

I was wondering, since the conquest of ala mhigo happened during the reign of the previous emperor, who was an admirer of arts, maybe he decided to adapt the ala migan anthem as the garlean empire anthem,

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Originally Posted by Remedi

I was wondering, since the conquest of ala mhigo happened during the reign of the previous emperor, who was an admirer of arts, maybe he decided to adapt the ala migan anthem as the garlean empire anthem,

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While it's never specified whether The Measure of Our Reach is the anthem for the Empire as a whole or just for Colonial Ala Mhigo, my bet is the latter. Garlemald was established as a Republic over 500 years before there's any evidence of them encountering Ala Mhigans, and were a nationalistic, expansionist empire decades before the same; it's hard to imagine them not having some unifying anthem for any of that history, or to imagine them replacing an existing one with one based off that of a freshly-conquered state.

True but since they've been depitched much like the roman republic/empire where they like to add to their culture something off conquered nations, I have the suspect that since the emperor was enamored with arts he might've found the ala mhigan anthem fitting for the empire.
I do remember it beign called regional anthem once so you might be correct with your sentence but still I do wonder

Felt like I should drop off the lyrics used in the Eorzean Symphony renditions of some songs.

Ultima

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Heart of darkness beatheth, Ultima
Iron enigma treateth, Ultima
Shielding light retreateth, Ultima
Hydealyn defeated. Ah, Ultima
Witness
Witness
Witness
Witness
Witness
Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
Witness
Witness
Witness
Ah, rise, Ultima!
Witness Ultima
Darkness come, rend the shield of light
Destruction
Salvation
Ultima!
Witness
Ah, witness
Ah, witness
Ah, witness
Ah
Heart of darkness beatheth, Ultima
Shielding light retreateth, Ultima
Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
Witness Ultima
Witness Ultima
Witness!

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Calamity Unbound

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He watcheth
He knoweth
Ah, chaos

He taketh
Bestoweth
Ah, chaos

He reapeth
He soweth
Ah, chaos

He graspeth
Foregoeth
Ah, chaos

Undying
Unbroken
Ah, pandemonium

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Revenge Twofold

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Saih alamorn in o sai asah afah
[Extinction or eternal redemption, thou must choose]
Shess y gahr y Nidhogg dran afah
[Behold the wrath of wyrm Nidhogg eternal]
Saih alamorn in o sai asah afah
[Extinction or eternal redemption, thou must choose]
Sekh a nesh seh anoh ahs an
[Or we shall melt thy flesh and see thy bones ash]

Wills unbending
Faith unending
Stone defending
Now our steel shall sing

To their trespass
We are witness
Here to pass this
Final sentence

No forgiveness
Guide us, O mighty Fury
No deliverence
Only justice
Only vengeance

No forgiveness
Guide us to victory!
No deliverence
Only justice
Only vengeance

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Heroes

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Dys an sohm in
[Our slumber disturbed]
Rhos an kyn ala na
[All my brothers wake]
Eehl an sohm in
[Our peace sacrificed]
Sahl djas afah an
[Vengeance will be ours]

Guide us!
Guide us!
Guide us!
Guide us!
Guide us!
Guide us!
Grant us this victory!

Justice, no forgiveness
Vengeance, no deliverance
Witness to their trespass
Pass this final sentence

Justice, no forgiveness
Vengeance, no deliverance
Witness to their trespass
Pass this final sentence

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Thanks for posting that Annana - finally we have Ultima lyrics! :D And interesting they mention the Heart of Sabik and the breaking of the 'Shield of Light' and vanquishing Hydaelyn (that was a little premature on Lahabrea's part though ;)).

Either way, thank you for that update. :D

In Ultima's case, we know that original version is all latin sounding nonsense, but the Eorzea Symphony version is pretty easy to understand. Even if they do say witness a lot.

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Originally Posted by Remedi

True but since they've been depitched much like the roman republic/empire where they like to add to their culture something off conquered nations, I have the suspect that since the emperor was enamored with arts he might've found the ala mhigan anthem fitting for the empire.
I do remember it beign called regional anthem once so you might be correct with your sentence but still I do wonder

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It was mentioned by Kojiin the lore panel that it is the regional anthem chosen to make the Garleans look less like evil conquerors (obviously this was before Zenos). This suggests that Gyr Abania was the first place outside Ilsabard to fall.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

It was mentioned by Kojiin the lore panel that it is the regional anthem chosen to make the Garleans look less like evil conquerors (obviously this was before Zenos). This suggests that Gyr Abania was the first place outside Ilsabard to fall.

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"Regional," in this case, likely applies to Gyr Abania / Ala Mhigo. The intent is to make it seem like the Imperials are saying "Well, we brutally subjugated conquered your homeland and are your dictators governors now, but we're letting you keep a mockery of an aspect of your culture! We're not so bad, see?"

Either way, Gyr Abania was not the first place outside of Ilsabard that Garlemald conquered. That "honor" goes to Dalmasca, which was "easily" taken with the Imperial airship fleet, as I recall. Next went Doma, and then Ala Mhigo... I think.

Specifically, the description of that orchestrion role is thus: "Music roll for The Garlean Territorial Anthem for Gyr Abania and Surrounding States - The Measure of Our Reach. Use to add to your orchestrion list." (bolded emphasis added) - so it was only intended to be applied to Eorzea at most.

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Originally Posted by Cilia

"Regional," in this case, likely applies to Gyr Abania / Ala Mhigo. The intent is to make it seem like the Imperials are saying "Well, we brutally subjugated conquered your homeland and are your dictators governors now, but we're letting you keep a mockery of an aspect of your culture! We're not so bad, see?"

Either way, Gyr Abania was not the first place outside of Ilsabard that Garlemald conquered. That "honor" goes to Dalmasca, which was "easily" taken with the Imperial airship fleet, as I recall. Next went Doma, and then Ala Mhigo... I think.

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Yep you are right. So as Apoptomon said it's the territorial Anthem for THAT specific territory. Makes you wonder how many anthems the Garlean Empire has.