Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[Mysteltain]

Halone never even crossed my mind as who might be referred to in Oblivion, but I've gotta agree with you two's thinking. That definitely does turn this into much more of a "Holy War", then, if it's even more about the ideologies of their gods in conflict rather than just for the Holy See.

Also, two things (well, three!): first, I've made a few edits to Oblivion. After listening to the song a bunch more times, I'm changing the line "I'll clear my eyes now here I go" to "Open my eyes now here I come". I've also changed a few other bits, such as the second chorus, the first echo is "Please let it go..." rather than just "Let it all go...", and "...screaming back "No, no, no!" was changed to "...screaming back "Hell no, no!" Minor changes that don't really change much meaning behind the song.

Secondly, I'm adding the link Alenore provided to Ferne's "High Sylphic" thread to the OP for anyone else who wanders into this thread and is curious about it.

And lastly, it seems that there are some lyrics in Snowcloak's theme! There are only four lines in the 9-minute song, and they appear to be in Latin, although I'm not ruling out Dravanian, just in case =P. I'll update this post with what I've found once I've translated them. They're pretty simple, to be quite honest. The same last word seems to be repeated with each line.

Latin
Festum dius
Festum diu

Fatum dius
Sanctum dius

English
A divine festival
A long festival

A divine fate
A divine sanctuary

I'm unsure of the last line. It sounds like "Disus', but I can't come up with a word that accurately translates to something (or a derivative of such). Still, I like the lyrics if this is what they are.

And fourthly (because there is a fourth out of three!) there are also lyrics present in Pharos Sirius BGM, "Through the Gloom", but it'll take some time to get an idea of what's being said. I'll try to work on it in my free time, but that'll rapidly disappear soon with finals fast on the horizon *gulp*.

[Anonymoose]

Aaand Shiva's lyrics are up!

Oblivion

Staring at death, I take a breath, there's nothing left
Now close my eyes, for one last time, and say goodbye

Lying naked while the snow falls all around me
Drifting closer to the edge but She won't have me

Wake up in sweat, full of regret, try to forget
These memories, lurking beneath, lost in a dream

---

Unchosen paths, a broken past, forespoken wrath
The pain won't cease, I'll find no peace, no sweet release

Fragile creatures, we are taught to fear the Reaper
Ever running, we are dead before we meet Her

These voices telling me let it go (let it all go)
I try and try but I can't say no (try and say no)
This endless nightmare has just begun (nowhere to run)
My heart is dragging me down into oblivion

---

The endless lies, I've cast aside, locked them in ice
Steeled is my soul, my blood grown cold, I've gained control

Fearless creatures, we all learn to fight the Reaper
Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her

These voices screaming to let it go (never let go)
This time I'm screaming back no no no (go on say no)
My mind's made up, yeah my fear is gone (Where have you gone?)
Open my eyes now here I come, oblivion

For the last time (I won't say goodbye)
For the last time (I won't say goodbye)
For the last time (I won't say goodbye)
For the last time

[Mysteltain]

Nice! I'll get right to updating the main post once I get home. Now we just need those opening lyrics... Ferne! Appear before this thread and giveth us enlightenment! Or something like that!

[subteraneanbird]

The change of a single line (Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her) sorta warps my perspective on the song.

My reinterpretation, staying in line with how Shiva is in-game, leads me to believe that Shiva (and by extension Iceheart?) believe that death/oblivion is the only salvation/end to the War and have taken it upon themselves to become the new Reaper.

[MercuryD]

The change of a single line (Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her) sorta warps my perspective on the song.

This also changes my interpretation of the fight (this is also brought on my Knee-High-Socks Soken's description of a "change" in Iceheart and Shiva, which is why the pre-Diamond and post are different themes.) I think that at the beginning od the encounter we are seeing Iceheart but as the battle progresses Saint Shiva is gaining control, until we ultimately dispel her essence.

You can get this from the battle quotes, I think...
(Iceheart) Those who have taken up the sword shall perish by the sword! // Iceheart speaking to the WoL or in regards to her mission.

(Iceheart-Shiva) Rise to join in the chorus, my brothers! // Shiva gaining control.

(Iceheart/Shiva) Embrace the serenity... Renounce the hatreds that consume you... And scatter them like dust in the wind... // Shiva's strength is growing, Iceheart's "breaking point". A reference to both Iceheart and Shiva's shared view of breaking the cycle of hatred.

(Shiva) Forgive them, my beloved... // Obviously Shiva, assumingly, speaking to the dragon with whom she laid.

(There will likely be more later but gtg for now...)

[Anonymoose]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there are no meanings behind the lyrics for the song. I utilized a random lyric generator that added in random Latin words from a database over the music

After all that effort! LOL! Sneaky sneaky Soken.

[Mysteltain]

After all that effort! LOL! Sneaky sneaky Soken.

And thus didst I shed many a tear... T_________T

Ah well, it was fun, regardless! I'll update the OP. I guess this means Penitus and Calamity Unbound are similarly lyricless.

[PArcher]

Here's a question:

With what we know from Final Coil, should we go back and re-examine Answers?

If it was discussed here, I'm sorry, but I've missed it and a link would be nice

[Anonymoose]

With what we know from Final Coil, should we go back and re-examine Answers?

We can (and might possibly get somewhere with it), but I, myself, will be waiting until Before the Fall (Patch 2.5) content is finished. Answers has been the theme since long before Tanaka departed; it was in some of the very first trailers. And now we know that Heavensward (FFXIV Season 2) will have a different main theme than 1.0 and ARR (FFXIV Season 1). Whatever the truth of the song is, it's related to the original story - Primals, Ascians, and the events surrounding the Fall of the Keeper. Considering that Lady Iceheart quoted the lyrics to Answers, I think we might get some info that will radically narrow down our interpretations.

[Brickshouse]

I'm thinking he may have.

BUT I don't think it's worth anybody getting bent out of shape over.

There's important context - this event was in London. Think of his audience; European FFXIV players have been playing on European servers that are European in the sense that Doctor Evil would /airquotes if he said it outloud. Think of the frustration that Titan must have caused for many of them. All anybody said was exactly what a lot of them were thinking, and they thought it was funny as hell.

It was what we were all thinking and I shouted it last night after being Lagg Landslided off the platform in titan hard mode. (No lol Dragoon references please :P even my FC members said I was miles away from it and then just suddenly went sideways at speed!)However you must remember that the event was for age 16+ onlym (on the ticket) so in terms of language it was the norm of vocabulary that most kids in the Uk know this word and use it quite often at aged 10 and even lower. And the crowd cheer reaction was pure as in no one gave a .... about it.


On the subject of the songs, is there any chance of adding credits to them i.e. who wrote the lyrics, composed the music and sang the song, in my nerdism mind its info I would like to have, I know Nobuo Uematsu wrote the music for Answers and alot of the 1.0 soundtrack.