Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[Iscah]

Intepreting Tomorrow and Tomorrow:

Am I the only one feeling that this is the Ancients that want new generations/people to have a chance at live in the world speaking to those same people?
The song really gets me emotional, since I feel that this carries so much hope as well as a promise for a better future than the one the Ancients left behind...
And I feel it also carries a wish to those who mourn what was lost to one day find succor and happiness again.

As well as what you mentioned, another story element it reminds me of is Vidofnir's part of the quest The Legacies We Leave at the end of Heavensward - particularly the reference to the fallen living on in song, and rising up once more.

It was always a beautiful piece of writing to me, and I think the song captures the same feeling that I get from it.

(The song is amazing, by the way - ever since I heard the instrumental version of it in the Crystarium that just evolves and blooms and finally the last verse is sung... it's absolutely beautiful.)

VIDOFNIR

Friend of Ysayle, warrior of warriors─thou art ever welcome in Anyx Trine. What bringeth thee to us this night?
...There is much wisdom to be gained from looking to the past. To walk half-remembered paths, and mark anew their twists and turns. We too do this, though not through pilgrimage, nor less the written word beloved of thy historians.
In song do we preserve the deeds of our lost and chronicle the passing of the ages. Naught hath greater power to stir our hearts. 'Twas a dirge of profoundest sadness that roused Nidhogg's brood to action. A dirge which soundeth no more.
Now a new song riseth to fill the void. One of hope rekindled, of war's end and peace's rebirth. I shall sing of thee and Ysayle ever after, that all may know and remember.

We sing of Nidhogg, even now─not to praise him, but to speed his soul unto its rest, for even he is deserving of peace.

...In the chorus, the fallen could rise once more. For none are dead whose names yet echo in the heavens, and the song would not end until the last voice fell silent. Heroes and villains, sinners and saints─all would live again...

[Mysteltain]

Finally got through the story this past weekend, so now I can finally re-visit the forums without fear of story spoilers! Anyway, I had some small changes to make to Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but you beat me to the punch on that, Iscah: all of your changes were edits that I was going to make. As for Titania's theme, I've managed to pull out a few phrases during the more hectic portion of the song, as well as make a few edits from Rocl's take on the theme, as well as the odd youtube and reddit comment I've come across.

What Angel Wakes Me

Dancing on the wind
Up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

From a flowery bed
To the cloud's ascent
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Yet with each descent
You will rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

'Til taunting the skies vaunted quiet
Wanton silence. [Before tea] we ride
Wond'ring when we'll be...~

Dancing on the wind
Up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

From a flowery bed
To the cloud's ascent
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Yet with each descent
You will rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Still taunting the sky's gentle sun,
Gently wandering alone in the night,
Joyous cries when you're free!~

Run and run around
[???]
[???]
[Fine flowers]

Petals cast aloft
Flower of our heart
[???]
Ring-a-ling~

Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
[Powers in this place]
How I want to sing
Some story

Spirits of the Spring
Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
[???]
Together we...

Run and run around
[Magic of our heart]
[???]
[???]

Dance among the stars
Fa-la-la-la-la~
[Look into our hearts]
[And ???]

Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
Feel the freedom ring
[Scents among this place]
[???]

Feel the touch of Spring
Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
[???]
Tomorrow we...

Autumn's whisper soaring high
Up among the lullaby
Baby's breath and butterflies
Singing our sweet lullaby
Summer child with heavy eyes
Fa-la-la-la-lullaby
Come my lonely angel [???]
Singing our sweet lullaby

Dull, lonesome fate
Luster lost in the rain
Lost and silent
'Til the Spring comes again.

[ScootPatoot]

I've only been able to get through a few phrases in What Angel Wakes Me, and agree with most of what Mysteltain/Robin said, but had some slight changes to some of the lines. Bolded lines have been changed.

Dancing on the wind
Up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

From a flow'ry bed
Do the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Yet with each descent
Do we rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la...

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

'Til taunting the skies vaunted quiet
Wanton silence. [Before tea] we ride
Wond'ring when we'll be...~

Dancing on the wind
Up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

From a flowery bed
Do the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Yet with each descent
Do we rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la...

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Still taunting the sky's gentle sun,
Gently wandering alone in the night,
Joyous cries ring free!

Run and run around
[???]
[???]
[Fine flowers]

Petals cast aloft
La la la la la
[???]
Remember me

Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
Flowers in the Spring
How I want to sing
Some story

??? we bring
Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
[???]
Together we...

Run and run around
[Magic of our heart]
[???]
[???]

Dance among the stars
Fa-la-la-la-la~
[Look into our hearts]
[And ???]

Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
Feel the freedom ring
[Scents among this place]
[???]

Feel the touch of Spring
Ring-a-ling-a-ling~
[???]
[B] ??? tomorrow.

Autumn's whisper soaring high
Lulla, lulla, lullaby, (this is a reference to A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Baby's breath and butterfly
Sing in our sweet lullaby. (another Midsummer reference)
Summer child with heavy eyes
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Come my lonely angel [???]
Sing in our sweet lullaby.

Dull, lonesome fate
Luster lost in the rain
Lost and silent
'Til the Spring comes again.

[Berethos]

From a flowery bed
Do the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la~

Possible this splits the difference between your suggestion and Mysteltain/Robin?

Specifically, "To the clouds ascend" rather than "Do the clouds ascend."

It seems to be talking about those in the song engaging in that act/behavior, suggesting they are traveling to the clouds before coming back down again.

[Resolut]

Has there been any efforts on the song from Rak'tika Greatwood yet? I'm about 70% certain she is singing in Quechua but I don't know enough about the language to pick words out to run through a dictionary. I'll play with it for a few days though.

[IceMateria]

Crown and scepter lyrics

What Angel Wakes Me?

Dancing in the wind
up and down again
'round and 'round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

From a flowery bed
'til the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

Yet with each descent
Do we rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

'til dawn had turned the skies
Wanted quiet wanton silence
Frivol do we lie
wondering when we'll be...

Dancing on the rain
Up and down again
'round and 'round the bend
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

From a flowery bed
'til the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

Yet with each descent
Do we rise again
To our heart's content
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

Fly away my friend
For a day and then
You'll begin again
Fa-la-la-la-la-la

Step down, turn the skies
Gentle song gently wandering
Along in the night
Joyous cries ring free...

La-la-la-la-la
Now here comes my part
Doing what we know
Follow this

Prayer thats cast along
Fa-la-la-la-la-la
Be my one and only
Me-mo-ry

Ring-a-ling-a-ling
Problems in this place
Hollow what it takes
Trans-fer-ing

Spirits that we break
Ding-a-ling-a-ling
Fading everything together we

Fa-la-la-la-la
Frantic is my heart
Glowing in the dark
Be-live it

Cousin from the source [maybe stars instead of source?]
Fa-la-la-la-la
Lurking in this place
Con-tin-ually

Ding-a-ling-a-ling
Fe-el free to bring
Something from this place
Lin-ger-ing
feelings [workin' on this]
Ring-a-ling-a-ling
Fight for what we can
Tomorrow

Autumn's whisper soaring high
la-la-la-la-lullaby
Baby's breath and butter-flies
Sing along... sweet lullaby

Summer turned to heavy eyes
la-la-la-la-lullaby
Come my lonely angel
My singin'... sweet lullaby

Don't wait on fate
[workin' on this] loss in the rain
Lost 'til summer end
'til the spring calls again...

thoughts after reading others interpretations:

-Sing in our sweet lullaby makes MUCH more sense.
-I'm like... 1,000% sure they're talking about our WoL/WoD for the part where they sing fast rather than going on about spring or whatever
-Uh... crazy that someone else picked up on the word wanton. That had me on loop for a few hours... But y'all missed that FRIVOL mixup.
-Y'all sure about taunting the skies? Fits the first chunk, but not the second. But I listened to in on hecka slow-mo so...
-There is a lot of lyric. I like the end verse interpretation that's here better than mine. I think that is absolutly correct and mine is wrong. (I kept hearing something that starts with a b, but LUSTER lost in the rain does it.)

[Alleluia]

From those who've fallen, to those who'll rise
A prayer to keep us ever by your side
An undying promise that we just might
Carry on in a song

Pray don't forget us, your bygone kin
With one world's end, does a new begin
And should our souls scatter unto the wind
Still we shall live on

Considering that this part kicks in:

As G'raha walks up to the group(if you have the scene advancing on auto, anyway), perhaps this bit also conveys the feelings of those from the future that he carries? The future that, if everything goes right, will never be seen. But they live on thru his memories and actions, thru the songs sung about future deeds that would not have happened otherwise.

I mean, yeah it also applies to the ancients. But there's a marked change in melody when that part starts, so I think it might be indicating a second story threading in.

[Rocl]

Official Titania Lyrics via: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/blog/002817.html

Dancing on the wind up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa la la la la la
From a flow'ry bed to the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa la la la la la
Yet with each descent do we rise again
To our hearts' content
Fa la la la la la
Fly away my friend for a day and then
We'll begin again
Fa la la la la la

Till down turn the skies
Wonted quiet, wanton silence
For long do we lie
Wond'ring when we'll be

Dancing on the wind up and down again
Round and round the bend
Fa la la la la la
From a flow'ry bed to the clouds ascend
Tumble down again
Fa la la la la la

Yet with each descent do we rise again
To our hearts' content
Fa la la la la la
Fly away my friend for a day and then
We'll begin again
Fa la la la la la

Still down turn the skies
Gentle song gently wand'ring
Along in the night
Joyous cries ring free

La la la la la
Lying lost in thought
Do you love me not?
Follow these
Petals cast aloft
La la la la la
Will you, when I'm gone, remember me?

Ring a ling a ling
Lovers in the spring
How the garden sings
Ever green
Spirits lush, we bring
Ring a ling a ling
Braving anything
Together, we

La la la la la
Learn to play our part
Navigate the dark
Up we reach
Catch a falling star
La la la la la
Lock it in our hearts eternally

Ring a ling a ling
Flying without wings
Kites without a string
Loop and leap
To these crowns we cling
Ring a ling a ling
For we'll all be kings tomorrow

Autumn's whisper soaring high
Lulla lulla lullaby
Baby's breath and butterflies
Sing in our sweet lullaby
Summer child with heavy eyes
Lulla lulla lullaby
Come our lonely angel nigh
Sing in our sweet lullaby

Time wilts and fades
Luster lost in the rain
Bows to the blade
Till the spring calls again

[Mikki]

I literally was just going to come here to post what I heard for this verse, which was:
Til dark turned the sky, wanted quiet, wonton silence.
For long do we lie
Wondering when we'll be~

I was so close. In fact, many people were very close with all of the lyrics!
Glad the official lyrics are finally out. They're lovely.

[Alleluia]

So I was listening to an awesome cover/remix of Shadowbringers (found here if anyone wants to hear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uiMjBEZ4YA) and it prompted me to examine some of the lyrics more closely.

Specifically this set of lyrics:

One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Three score wasted, ten cast aside
Four-fold knowing, no end in sight

And I have a few thoughts. First, I admire that Soken was able to work in "1, 2, 3, 4" like that. I just think its cool.

Secondly, I was curious about what the lyrics mean, so I looked some stuff up and got an interesting tidbit, I think.

I think the "four-fold knowing" refers to an idea exemplified in this paper I found: https://www.researchgate.net/publica...way_of_knowing Long story short, it seems to refer to a way of looking at how social scientists apply the scientific method. To quote from the paper "it is an attempt to explicate and to understand those features of scientific method which are an exemplification of the personalities (styles of inquiry) and social environments of social scientists."

It comes with this figure to demonstrate the idea:

Given how we know Amaurot was structured, with a heavy emphasis on knowledge and magic-science, I think the above idea is what the "four-fold knowing" lyric is referring to. And I am finding taking that figure's information and trying to apply it to what we know about the Ancients as a whole, and the ones we've gotten to know in particular, just really interesting. (Amaurotine!WoL = Global Humanist, methinks. lol)



Also, the line "three score wasted, ten cast aside" seems to be a reference to the biblical quote of a man's lifespan being three-score and ten (70) years long. (One of many sources here: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/...e-and-ten.html)

So on one hand, the line could be taken as saying a lifetime (or many) is being wasted and cast aside; I'd say an ascian's (presumably Emet-Selch's) given the context of the rest of the song.

But it did strike me that it says ten are cast aside. You know, as opposed to all 3-score and ten being "wasted"? And then it occured to me that we know that three members of the Convocate survived un-sundered, while the other ten were broken apart, and I'm now wondering if maybe this choice in wording is referencing that. One could call Lahabrea, Elidibus, and Emet-Selch's lives wasted in the pursuit of the dark goal that is the Rejoining. If none of the ascians had survived intact we wouldn't be dealing with any of this, after all. No one would remember that there was a dark god they needed to restore if that was the case. Perhaps this lyric phrasing is implying that three were spared sundering so they could be used, at the expense of the sundering of the other ten? Like, Zodiark could only keep three intact and he chose them, and thus their burden began and their lives were destined to be wasted away to it?