Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[zuzu-bq]

Heavensward is divided in three parts. Scions, Ishgard and Dragons.

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

I am trying to find lyrics for the 2nd phase theme of Shinryu "Worm's Tail", but to this day I can't find any besides the basic Stormblood chorus.

Are there any lyrics yet about it?

[zuzu-bq]

There aren't. I hope it's not the same case as Ultima again.

[Annana]

I am trying to find lyrics for the 2nd phase theme of Shinryu "Worm's Tail", but to this day I can't find any besides the basic Stormblood chorus.

Are there any lyrics yet about it?

Chances are it's more faux latin outside of the Stormblood bit.

[Mysteltain]

Apologies for not doing any updates the last few...months, I think? I've been on a bit of a hiatus from the game and forums beyond the odd post here and there. But I've gone and updated the main post with some new formatting to separate the 1.0/2.0 songs from the 3.0 and 4.0 songs, as well as made a separate section for any songs with lyrics outside of the game, such as the Eorzean Symphony (thanks for those, Annana!). There were a few other minor changes I made to some titles and lyrics that we've received since my last update.

Beyond that, looks like Byakko's 2nd phase has lyrics of some kind? They previewed the song during the most recent Live Letter (XLI) during the mid-letter intermission, and after listening to it a bit more, I can't make out much beyond possibly them repeating the word "Kaze" at the end, so perhaps we have our first song with Japanese lyrics?

[Ametrine]

"Kaze" is a word roughly translated to wind, so Byakko may have an air theme.

[Mysteltain]

After double-checking what I remember of the Four Symbols, turns out my memory isn't as bad as I thought. Byakko, the White Tiger of the West, represents both the season of Autumn as well as the principle element of Metal in classical Chinese alchemy. Unlike the classic elements of Western Alchemy that I imagine most of us are used to (fire, water, wind, and earth), classical Chinese Alchemy (among many, many other practices) consists of Five Phases: fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. In this system, for our purposes, 'metal' and 'wind' are usually interchangeable as far as how they are represented.

So, yeah, it makes sense for Byakko to be a wind-themed encounter. And, extrapolating from that, if the bosses are given to us in the order of seasons (and if not we at least have their elemental themes), our next fight will be Genbu (representing Winter and Water), Seiryu (representing Spring and Wood, so rejuvenation), and lastly Suzaku (Summer and Fire).

(Also, as an aside, I'm not entirely sure if the Four Lords are going with a Chinese or Japanese theme. If not the former, Chinese Alchemy, we have a roughly equivalent Japanese system to go by for elements. Likely we're going with their Japanese incarnations, but I'm a bit biased toward their Chinese versions, after going through some classical Chinese literature recently.)

[Mysteltain]

Just a quick update: the theme for all Gyr Abanian and Far Eastern dungeon bosses is called Triumph, the Roll of which is obtained from the Gold Saucer. And, unless it was an error on SE's part, it seems that each expansions' regions will retain their boss themes, as Fractal HM still played Revenge Twofold, rather than Triumph.

And Byakko's second phase theme is called Amatsu Kaze, which means "Heavenly Wind," if my google searching is up to par. I think the lyrics are all in Japanese, barring maybe one small section in the middle, but given that I neither speak or read Japanese, I'm just going by what it sounds like to my ears.

EDIT: Looks like someone made a pretty strong attempt at the song! All credit to Rainy Moon on Fenrir for their transcription: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes.../blog/3698107/

[zuzu-bq]

Byakko lyrics are revealed. But since this is the english forums we should get a romanized and translate versions for our OP right? I've asked some friends to help me out but I'll post the thing here just in case any of you can get the translation faster.

[Mysteltain]

Rainy Moon updated their blog post to include romanizations of the lyrics, as well as their translation of the Japanese lyrics. I'll add this to the OP once I come up with some good formatting for it.

takeredomo
猛れども
Though stormed

yorube naku
寄る辺なく
nowhere to go

waga koe mo
我が声も
Even my roar

kaze ni kiyu
風に消ゆ
fade out in the storm


shide no koromo wo matoite umaru wa noroi ka sadame ka toite
死出の衣をまといて生まるは　呪いか定めか問いて
Wondering if it was a curse or a fate that was born to wear a dress for death

hitori sanya wo samayoi ikuru ha nagare ni makaseshi hate yo
独り山野をさまよい生くるは　流れに任せし果てよ
It was the result of leaving it to the flow that I lived solitude lonely by the countryside

naredo waga mae araware sakebu wa sadame ni aragau samurai
なれど我が前現れ叫ぶは　定めに抗う侍
However it is Samurai who resists fate that appeared before me to encourage

nareba waga tama moyashite sakebeyo seifu todoroke maeyo
なれば我が魂燃やして叫べよ　西風轟け舞えよ
So I do burn my soul and roar, dance in the Westerly Winds


Storm, ride the storm
嵐よ、嵐を越えよ

Never-ending
終わりはしない

Skies darkened, torn
空は覆われ、引き裂かれ

Heaven-rending
天空引き裂き

Ire, fury borne
憤怒よ、生まれし怒りよ

Never-ending
終わりはしない

Roar, hear my roar!
轟け、我が叫びよ！

kaze todoroke kaze todoroke kaze todoroke
風轟け　風轟け　風轟け
Roar, storm! Roar, storm! Roar, storm!

sa! fuke midareyo fuke midareyo fuke midareyo
さあ！吹け乱れよ　吹け乱れよ　吹け乱れよ
Come on, storm! Come on, storm! Come on, storm!

kaze todoroke kaze todoroke kaze todoroke
風轟け　風轟け　風轟け
Roar, storm! Roar, storm! Roar, storm!

fuke midareyo fuke midareyo
吹け乱れよ　吹け乱れよ
Come on, storm! Come on, storm!

fuke! amatsu kaze yo
吹け！天つ風よ！
Come on, storm! Through the sky!