Revolutions lyrics

So this song has a few lines that still perplex me because I can't discern whom they're referring to, whereas Answers and Dragonsong were pretty spot on.

Quote:

---

A lover lost, a family torn

---

Not sure who's lover was lost. I maybe overlooked it, but did any of the main characters we met in SB had a lover who died during the expansion or perhaps in the distant past? "Family torn" may be referring to Lyse I guess and her sister Yda?

Quote:

---

Soul scarred, twelve-fold

---

Is this referring to how Ala Mhigans have been wanting to be liberated for so long from Garlean rule but the "gods won't help them", so they feel forsaken by the twelve? This is my guess, but then again they still worship Rhalgr pretty heavily. Or is this a reference to Hydalyn's people in general, that there's been so much war, death, and calamities since time immemorial, but the gods do nothing to intervene?

Quote:

---

Two lives
Two swords
Given in to shadowed whispers; wicked words

---

Is this referring to Fordola/Yotsuyu how they're both seduced into being traitors to their own people and fight against their own?

Well, this is my speculation but take from it what you will:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lyrics from 'Revolutions'

"A lover lost, a family torn."

---

This I felt was referring to Yda/Lyse and Papalymo's relationship, as it was always hinted that there was much more between them than first appeared. And Papalymo's sacrifice at Baelsar's Wall hit everyone very hard, not just Lyse - it literally 'tore' the 'family' (as in, the Circle of Knowing the Scions) apart, leading to a lot of soul searching amongst them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lyrics from 'Revolutions'

"Souls scarred. Twelve-fold."

---

This is very metaphorical but I took the 'twelve-fold' part to refer to the XIIth Imperial Garlean Legion, the current occupying force of Doma and now Ala Mhigo as well (and particularly it's Legatus, Zenos.) As for the 'souls scarred' line, it's possible it refers to the atrocities the XIIth has been committing on the Ala Mhigan and Doman people, scarring them terribly. Or possibly a

foreshadowing of Zenos's synthetic Echo effect he's granted? (aka, the Echo allows a person to hear the 'whispers of the soul', so an artificial version could be considered 'soul-scarring' in a sense).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lyrics from 'Revolutions'

"Two lives. Two swords. Give an end to shadowed whispers. Wicked words."

---

Again very ambiguous and metaphorical, but to me the most obvious fit for this is referring to again the two disparate insurrections against the Garleans - the Ala Mhigan Resistance (and the Eorzea Alliance allied with them), and the Doman Liberation Front (and the Confederacy and the au ra clans on the Steppe), the 'two lives' line referring to the two major figures that guide them - Lyse (for Ala Mhigo) and Yugiri/Goesetsu (for Doma). As for the 'end to shadowed whispers/wicked words,' well, your guess is as good as mine. Bringing an end to Garlean domination and their insidious propaganda is one possibility, but that's rather vague. I'd have to get back to you on that.

Again this is just how I interpreted the lyrics so I'm liable to have probably gotten a lot wrong (if not all of it!) :p So feel free to offer your own opinions or thoughts on this.

The 'family torn' shows Yotsuyu in the Revolutions trailer when it's sang. Given her backstory, it fits pretty well.