Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[lololink]

"One soul's cry
A passion dwelling within
Sacrifice, a final plea to her kin"

Shiva, seeing the darkness for what it is, cries out to her kin not to embrace it. The question is, did she ask them to sacrifice, or did she stake the plea on her own sacrifice? The lyric could be read either way, and either could make sense, and either could fit with the next line. . .

"Yet this bond of hope, by treachery was broke
Scattering her words to the wind"

An initial reading says that the bond is the love between Shiva and the dragon. I still favor that reading, but I have to acknowledge that it could be saying there was a brief turning back by the Ishgardians that was then shattered. I prefer the former reading, but have nothing to rule out the latter. One thing of note is the element of treachery. This isn't just her kin ignoring her cries. Someone close would have had to turn against her for it to be "treachery," I'd say.

I think this part meant that Shiva wanted to show Ishgardians that they could live with the dragons in a way that would sacrifice her own life but didn't work because she was betrayed.

[Anonymoose]

I just realized that the Rise of the White Raven lyrics have a typo that turns futurum (future) to fututum (to f**k).

[Mysteltain]

I just realized that the Rise of the White Raven lyrics have a typo that turns futurum (future) to fututum (to f**k).

Not anymore they don't, haha. Thanks for the catch. I'm pretty sure I just copy/pasted those from somewhere, so I hadn't noticed that that was a typo.

[Tanama]

I have been listening to the guildhest theme and notice a choir but I cannot for the life of me make out the lyrics. Are there any lyrics available for this?

Brothers in Arms(?) - Guildhest Theme
Vocals: ???

[lololink]

I don't think there is any, it must be like Ultima's theme, only voices that looks cool but don't mean anything.

[PArcher]

Anyone try to listen to the chanting in the first part of Shiva?

[Mysteltain]

I always figured that it was Dravanian, so I never bothered to try and transcribe them.

[PArcher]

I always figured that it was Dravanian, so I never bothered to try and transcribe them.

All the more reason to IMO

[Mysteltain]

So, while waiting for server congestion to die down, I found Ravana's theme! Here's my transcription of the lyrics with only one line missing, and a few I'm questioning. In terms of the song itself, "heroic" is the only way I can describe, like Greek army marching into glorious battle! ...okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but it's the closest I can describe it.

Ravana Theme

High on high I stand,
Gazing down to see
The endless garden
Awaiting me!

Red bloometh the rose of conviction.
And red bloometh the rose of hate.
Yes, red bloometh the rose of conquest!
So we ???

And the war it wageth on!
The storm it rageth on!
The bold ever fight on!
Their lives, a golden Song!

HAH!

All, like snow, lay fall.
Petals blocked and strewn.
Yet from their seeds grow
This war anew!

Blood trickling down from my fullers.
And blood trickling down mine hands.
This blood trickling down to Hydaelyn.
Until I understand!

And the war stil wageth on!
The storm still rageth on!
The bold blindly march on!
Their lives lost in a Song!

To avoid spoilers at the moment, I'll simply say that I'm surprised to find a certain character directly referenced. I don't think any other song directly references another character (beyond Dalamud, which we know what was in it).

[Viridiana]

So, some updates to the Dragonsong speculation, based on level 55 quests, so spoilered:

So, according to Hraesvelgr, his sister Ratatoskr was slain by a traitorous King Thordan, who then consumed her eye. I think this answers the lines about treachery, and the empty throne. Also, Hraesvelgr mentioned that the dragons experience the past the same way they experience the present, explaining why Nidhogg, who was first to discover the betrayal, is still enraged a thousand years later.

Correction, the Aery final scene shows that the empty throne would be Ishgard, after Haldrath refused to take the throne.