Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[Cleretic]

We've got Forged in Crimson lyrics! (So yes, I was wrong about them being nonsense; hell, they're even in English!)

Fears rise, blades fall
His void calls

Fires blaze, waters rage
Gods above are deaf now to your cries (deaf now to your cries)
Earthen scourge, gale winds surge
Look within and seek your own salvation
Do you claim to have the strength to brave the flames of battle, conquest, death, annihilation

Here souls weep, sorrow steeped
Wherefore would you mourn the coming dawn (mourn the coming dawn)
Save your tears, face your fears
In despair you will find no safe harbour
Dare to stoke the fire in your soul, make keen your blade, stand fast or die bereft of honor

In the darkness be by fear consumed
Hearts turn cold where naught ever blooms

Elemental fury given to flesh
Raw strength on a level mere mortals cannot contest
The embodiment of earth─earth, wind, water, and fire

Fears rise, blades fall
His void calls

Flames consume, tides subsume
Cut down all who would dare hold you back, prove there's naught you lack
Earth befouled, fierce winds howl
Face hell now to prove your will unyielding
You must walk this path alone, but know that you are not the first nor last to seek purgation

Flames consume, tides subsume
Cut down all who would dare hold you back, prove there's naught you lack
Earth befouled, fierce winds howl
Face hell now to prove your will unyielding
You must walk this path alone, but know that you are not the first nor last to seek purgation

In the darkness be by fear consumed
Hearts turn cold where naught ever blooms
Elemental fury given to flesh
Raw strength on a level mere mortals cannot contest
Steel your soul or ever burn─burn with boundless ire, forged in crimson fire

This is an ass-kicking theme through and through; doesn't give us much in terms of facts or information, but a lot into general outlook. However, it should be noted that it's written by FFIV's game designer, so that insight is probably more into FFIV's Rubicante more than ours. Certainly there's not that feeling of remorse that I'd say is unique to XIV's.

[Roxas33150]

Damn i was sure it was latin lyrics

[Cleretic]

And today we've got Dedicated to Moonlight lyrics, too!

(Oh at fair moon's rise
Into the night fly
Follow the moonlight
Fear not what you find)

(O heart's desire
Join now our choir
For love conspire
Go, chase it higher)

Through the silent woods tonight,
I am guided by moonlight,
For the first time so alone fearing no shadow

Like my mother before me I follow this path
Knowing love will find me

She will hear my song tonight
(Tonight, full moon rise)
Dedicated to moonlight
(Clouds part, how she shines)
See that I'm a woman grown enough for secrets
(Dance as once did I. O daughter of mine)

Like my grandmother before me I know each note every beat,
(Go, oh, go, go)
Melody mine to keep

(Go, sing now unto the sky)
(Girls are born to step into the light)

O wide open midnight sky, please
Carry my voice aloft
Far away where she waits
Lover's moon
(Oh, Moon)

Fairest goddess wandering the night
In your name we bare our hearts
(Songbirds of night)
With your grace will our passion take flight
(Passion take flight)

We would keep your song alive
Shrouded safe in soft moonlight
(Silver and white forest moonlight)

Maiden goddess of heavens above
In your name we share our hearts
(This world we share)
With your grace will our prayer become
(With you through prayer)

Solace, shelter, hope and love
Greater than the tales sing of
(Oh, true love)
Oh, love

(Songbirds of night, passion take flight
Silver and white forest moonlight
This world we share with you through prayer
Oh, love for you)

So this is definitely a hymn of some kind to Menphina, same as In The Balance was to Nald'thal. In that context, the mention of a mother and grandmother might be a reference to our good ol' matriarchal society of the mooncats!

Honestly the entire thing helps get a bead on Menphina worship in that regard, since we never got a look at that faith. It seems like she's treated as herself interchangeable with the moon, which makes sense, with its moving across the sky being treated like her wandering. It also seems to be a very familial faith, in keeping with both the mooncats and that whole 'goddess of love' thing

[LillyWandsworth]

That is exactly how it sounds to me too.

[Roxas33150]

To be honest, i'm disappointed that white stone black doesnt have real lyrics, but who knows maybe later.

[Kuroka]

I still want some for ENDCALLER as well, id hoped we get some with the Orchestrial...

[Cleretic]

I still want some for ENDCALLER as well, id hoped we get some with the Orchestrial...

From what I know, I don't think Endcaller actually has lyrics, it's just fancy vocal nonsense.

Like Ultima, it's probably got 'semi-official' lyrics just so that people can actually sing the thing in concert, but it's not supposed to be understood.

[Enkidoh]

Werll, the orchestral arrangement for Endcaller just released does seem to confirm one theory I had at least even for the original BGM version - I am certain now that the final verse is actually the same verse from With Hearts Aligned/Endwalker ~ Footfalls (the part sung by Amanda Achen). Listen closely to the orchestral arrangement for Endcaller at around the 2' 30" mark and it is definetely the following (with maybe a possible difference in a word or two which I haven't worked out):

"Our song of hope, she dances on the wind, higher! O' higher."
"And our vows endure, and remain forever strong!"
"Standing tall in the dark do we carry on."
"On wings of hope, you rise up through the night, higher! O' higher!"
"Carrying our song, cradled fast within your arms."
"That it's chorus might ring for all!"

Which, does kind of make sense given this is Zodiark's theme, and Big Z was meant to defend Etheirys against Meteion's Dynamis assault.. so...

[Zero-ELEC]

The original "Endcaller" does not have lyrics, featuring a wordless chorus like the original version of "Ultima". Just like "Ultima", the orchestral arrangement, which was released in Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album Vol.3 and performed at the Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert 2022 -Eorzean Symphony-, does have lyrics. They read:

Should we lose our way
Tire of all this pain
We won't be afraid
To forge ahead

Marching forward
Ever forward
Marching forward
Ever forward

Storm of blood inside us
Born from blood in silence

Two tone echoes down,
Tumbling down down
Now we yearn for freedom
For freedom

Stories sown along the way
Tales of loss and fire and faith

On, carry on
Strong, ever strong

Courage thriving hand-in-hand
Our souls aligned we forge ahead

Forward
Marching forward
Forge ahead

Our song of hope, she dances on the wind higher, oh higher
E'er our vows endure, and remain forever strong
Standing tall in the dark do we carry on

On wings of hope, you rise up through the night higher, oh higher
Carrying our song, cradled fast within your arms
That its chorus might ring for all

E'er the chorus rings
E'er the chorus rings on

Souls aligned, we forge ahead
Forge ahead

[Mysteltain]

New patch, new songs! This time around, looks like we have lyrics for P9/10 and P12, although P9 and 10 are largely a remix of P12, which is a remix of all Pandemonium themes. Here's what I've got for P12 (boss spoiler in the song title!):

Athena, the Tireless One
Soul laid bare, foul and fair
Every secret, ???
Answers unfold, one with the truth divine

By my guiding hand, perfected you stand
I won't be denied, you are mine, your mind doubtful
'Til the end, cast down forevermore

I create, manipulate your kind in my image, my chosen ones
For you, the time has come
Your sun is setting

(Say goodnight
With each bite does your sanity die
Sucking the life out, letting the dark
Inside
Say a prayer as the light leaves your eyes
Or scream all you like, your gods can't hear you)

Say goodnight
To the weakness that you hide behind
You're living a lie, screaming in fear
Inside
Never once were you truly alive
So scream all you like, no one can hear you

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)

(Pride, greed, in mud thrive these seeds
Rotten and reeking the fruits of your making
Testify
Come take a bite)

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)

???
Twisted and broken, no words left unspoken
Journey's end
As I ascend

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)

Here I rise, claim my prize
Every moment, every sacrifice
In Anabaseios, I am the truth divine

By my guiding hand, perfected you stand
I won't be denied, you are mine, your mind doubtful
'Til the end, cast down forevermore

I create, manipulate your kind in my image, my chosen ones
For you, the time has come
Your sun is setting

(Say goodnight
With each bite does your sanity die
Sucking the life out, letting the dark
Inside
Say a prayer as the light leaves your eyes
Or scream all you like, your gods can't hear you)

Say goodnight
To the weakness that you hide behind
You're living a lie, screaming in fear
Inside
Never once were you truly alive
So scream all you like, no one can hear you

(Dark horizons, boiling seas
From the borders chaos bleeds
(This chaos bleeds)
Savage nobles, cultured thieves
Here be lions, follow me)

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)

(Pride, greed, in mud thrive these seeds
Rotten and reeking the fruits of your making
Testify
Come take a bite)

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)

???
Twisted and broken, no words left unspoken
Journey's end
As I ascend

(PAN-DE-MO-NI-UM)