Song Lyrics in FFXIV: Compilation, Discussion, and Interpretation

[Enkidoh]

Is that all of them though? I'm wondering if the aetherial chanting in One Small Step (the

Mare Lamentorum/lunar surface zone theme

) for instance is actual lyrics or just Soken using the synthetic vox fx again like Ultima, Civilizations and others. I'm certain I can pick out some words in them, or at least sound like words, (I think I hear "twisting, turning" and "transcending" mentioned for instance), so I'm curious if that really has lyrics. I certainly hope it does!

Also speaking of the

moon

, has the lyrics for Endcaller, the Dark Inside's theme been released yet? (aka

Zodiark's battle theme

) I did consider at least some of it might be part of Endwalker ~ Footfalls's lyrics (particulary in the final stanza), but knowing Soken he might have changed things. I'm pretty sure I can hear "Forevermore" in there, and I'm certain I hear "Lord Zodiark"... "while we fall..." but that's all I can come up with on that front.

As I fell in love with this particular track hearing it in the launch trailer (it's the orchestral/choral section in the second half of the trailer), I'm very interested in what the lyrics were (my only disappointment is I was so sure this was going to be the final battle theme for EW, given SE had a habit of sneaking a preview of the final battle theme into the previous launch trailers with the exception of ARR, but that's just me.:P)

[Mysteltain]

I get the feeling that those two songs are using synthetic vocals. I can't really make out any distinct words in either, but we can't be certain until the OST gets released next year. What I'm most curious about is (major endgame spoilers!)

the opening to the final boss' theme. I'm not sure if those are actual words during The Worm's Tail section, since they don't sound like the Eorzean Symphony version, nor do they resemble the synthetic vocals in the game soundtrack. The Invincible section definitely sounds like the synthetic vocals from the game soundtrack, though, which is a bit disappointing, since I like the lyrics for the Symphony version.

[Iscah]

Regarding lyrics for "Close in the Distance"

You got it mostly right I think but here is what I heard:

Whispers, falling silently drifts on the wind
But I hear you
Our journey, now a memory fading from sight
But I see you
Unbroken promises we made so long ago
You're still here
Unspoken requiem for a river of tears

Flowing, winding to our eternal sea
And yet our hope remains
Guiding! Lighting our way
No time for mourning

Rises on a memory born from the ashes
With the heaven's true sunset
Blood red skies tranquil after the storm
Blessed shadow -------> (This entire verse is a reference from ARR to ShB)

Turning, wending always
Night follows day
The sun will shine again
Walk on, never look back
Through you we live

Tales of loss, and fire, and faith
Everywhere, our hearts impaled
In the dark, you will not stray
Forge ahead, 'til the end we pray

I feel like firstly it needs to be broken up differently, or less – you've put verse breaks where the music shifts, but lyrically the words should continue directly.

My arrangement, with edits in bold:

* I also pulled out a lot of commas

Whispers
Falling silently, drift on the wind
But I hear you

Our journey
Now a memory fading from sight
But I see you

Unbroken
Promises we made so long ago
You're still here

Unspoken
Requiem for the river of tears
Flowing, winding to an eternal sea
And yet our hope remains
Guiding, lighting our way
No time for mourning

Rises on a memory born(e?) from the ashes
'Mid the heavens to sunset
Blood red skies tranquil after the storm
Blessed shadow
Turning, wending always
Night follows day
The sun will shine again
Walk on, never look back
Through you we live

Tales of loss and fire and faith
Every word on our hearts engraved
In the dark you will not stray
Forge ahead 'til the end, we pray

And interpretation notes, some of which contain late game spoilers:

Re. general pacing, the whole thing feels like it may be structured like one big blank-verse poem and phrases sit across what seem to be verse breaks, like "a river of tears / flowing to an eternal sea" and "through you we live / tales".

Also, an important thing to notice with the first sets of lyrics is that they seem intended to echo the Scions' sacrifices as we progress through the zone, starting with Estinien (a wind to carry us forward), Y'shtola and Urianger (sight, seeing the truth), G'raha (promises made).


On some specific verses:


"Rises on a memory..."

"Born" could also be "borne" – so instead of rising on [a memory born from the ashes], it's rising on [a memory] carried from the ashes to new destinations.

I'm not convinced of my other edits but "Heaven's true sunset" is a rather meaningless phrase (and nothing that links clearly to Heavensward) so I'm trying to think what else it could be. I definitely think it sounds like "to" not "true".

On the note that it's referencing our journey through each expansion's symbolism, I see that flowing into the next verse too – more on Shadowbringers and the idea of an unending journey.


"Every word on our hearts engraved"

I'm certain of this one.

[Mysteltain]

New raid, new music! Looks like the new theme is called "Hic Svnt Leones" ("Here are Lions"). Here's my best take on the lyrics for now, though it's not much:

Wild
Freaks
Rise through the deep
Dangerous creatures, perverted and evil
From foulest rite
Covered in ???

Teeth
Bared
Claw at the air
???
Sought as king
By fire-born wings

Stewards
Slack
Fall on your back
Here in the valley your death casts no shadow
Seal this fate
Come storm the gate!

???
???
???
With the moans that fill the night
???
Run free!
Go forth!
'Til there's nothing left but ash!

Dark arises hoarding fear (Call them from beyond!)
From the voice, chaos kneels (This chaos kneels...)
??? controlling (Call them from beyond!)
Here we lie, follow me (Follow me...)

???
In
Pull back the skin
See what's inside you, the sickness that drives you
Painted black
???

???
???
???
??? awakened
Test divine
Come take a bite

Bite
Down
Blood in the cut
Choking a life, as the light's slowly swallowed
???
Or join the fray

???
???
???
With the bones that feed your insanity
Unwind
???
Your mind
'Til it shatters just like glass!

Dark arises hoarding fear (Call them from beyond!)
From the voice, chaos kneels (Chaos kneels...)
??? controlling (Call them from beyond!)
Here we lie, follow me (Follow me...)

[QuellingStrikes]

With some stocking up from Myst's post for parts I did not understand at all, here is my take on the lyrics:

Wild
Freaks
Ride through the deep
Dangerous creatures, perverted and evil
From foulest rite
Covered in ties

Teeth
Bared
Clawing the air
Sing ‘bout the fugitive that lax has not given
Slaughtered kin
By fire-born wings

Guards; Slack
balk on your back
Here in the valley your death casts no shadow
Seal this fate
come storm the Gate!

(now come)
Be free
Break in
With the wings of evil that lie in wait
Bark for
Bark free
Brand for
‘Til there’s nothing left but ash!

Dark all night, folding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the borders Chaos bleeds
(Chaos Chaos)
Sanis novus I conjure thee
(PANDAEMONIUM)
Hear be Lions, follow me
(follow me)

Choir

Dig, in, pull back the skin
See what's inside you
The sickness that what drives you
Fleeting, Black, Demoniac

Dark, Green, like a disease
Ought in the raking source of own making
Tested, vile, come take a bite

Bite, down, low’ring the court
Changing your life as the light’s slowly swallowed
Feed your way
or join the fray

Hear hear
be free
break teeth
in the bones that feed your insanity

Like wine
come forth
you’re mine
'Til it shatters just like glass!


Dark all night, folding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the borders Chaos bleeds
(Chaos Chaos)
Sanis novus I conjure thee
(PANDAEMONIUM)
Hear be Lions, follow me
(follow me)

[Rocl]

Too little too late to the party this time, I think most of what I think I've heard has been said regarding HIC SVNT LEONES but nonetheless,

Wild freaks, dragged through the deep
dangerous creatures, perverted and evil
whose foulest rise, pervert and die

Teeth bared, crawling in there
Soon ???? storm the gate ???
Slaughter kin, ????

Jaws slack, flat on your back
here in the valley your death casts no shadow
seal this fate, come storm the gate

Break free! Run free!
Let the bonds that slip fall ??? [Let the bones that fuel burn passionately]
Run wild! Run free! Run free! Go forth!
Till there's nothing left but ash

Dark Horizons folding deep (pandaemonium) [Dark horizons pointing deep]
on the borders chaos leads (where does chaos lead?) [lead-bleed?]
????? ??? (pandaemonium)
Here be lions, follow me (follow me)

[ominous chanting of pan/dae/mon/ium]

Dig in, pull back the skin
See what's inside you, the sickness that drives you
Paint it black, de-mon-iac

Fight, win, covered in sin [Die, bleed, marked by disease]
????? awake? [Rotten but wicked, the rules overwritten]
Test your might, come take a bite [Testify, come take a bite]
Bite down, blood in the court
Choking on life as the light slowly swallows [Taking a life as the light slowly swallows]
Feel your hate and join the fray [Feel your rage and join the fray!]

Escape! Break free! Run free!
Let the bonds that slip your sanity [There's no bones that feed your insanity]
Run wild! Run forward! You're mine!
Till it shatters just like glass

Dark horizons folding deep (pandaemonium) [Dark horizons pointing deep]
on the borders chaos leads (here chaos leads) [lead-bleed?]
Signed in nobles' [???] (pandaemonium)
Here be lions, follow me (follow me)

square brackets being alternate guesses of mine

[GoldStarz]

Combined some of my original guesses with what other people were able to get from the song. Here's a link to my original guess as to what was being sung before seeing any others.

Wild
Freaks
Ride through the deep
Dangerous creatures, perverted and evil
From foulest rite
[Can't make this part out]

Teeth
Bared
Blood in the air
Sing ‘bout these evils
That lax has not given
Slaughtered kin
By fire-born winds

Jaws
Slack
Blood on your back
Here in the valley
Your death casts no shadow
Seal this fate
Come storm the gate

Now come!
Be Free!
Repeat!
With the bones that feed your nihility!
Walk Forth!
Walk Free!
Walk Forth!
'Till there's nothing left but ash!

Dark old magicks, holding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the border, chaos bleed
(Chaos chaos)
Sad ignobles conjure thee
(PANDAEMONIUM)
Here be lions
Follow me

[Chanting, not sure if they're just vocalizing]

Dig
In
Pull back the skin
See what's inside you
The sickness that drives you
Fleeting, Black, Demoniac

Dying
Green
Marked by disease
Ought in the raking
Thou doomed soul awakens
Testify
Come take your place

Bite
Down
Blood in the current
Choking a life that
Your light slowly swallows
Feel your way
Or join the fray

Hear, hear!
Repeat!
Repeat!
The bones that feed your insanity

Like wine!
Ride forth!
You're mine!
'Till it shatters just like glass

Dark old magicks, holding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the borders, chaos bleeds
(Chaos Chaos)
Sad ignobles conjure thee
(PANDAEMONIUM)

Here Be Lions!
Follow Me!

[Elecrom]

My take on the lyrics:
[] means words and sentences I wasn't sure on

Wild freaks ride through the deep
Dangerous creatures, perverted and evil
From foulest rite
Perverted tie

Teeth Bare Clawing the air
[Sing ‘bout the fugitive that lax has not given]
Slaughtered kin
[By fire-born wings]
Scorched slack bark on your back
Here in the valley your death casts no shadow
Seal this fate
come storm the Gate!

[Forward
Break free
Repeat]
With the bones that feed your [nihility]
[Forward
For free
Forward]
‘Til there’s nothing left but ash!

Dark horizons, folding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the borders chaos be
(As chaos be)
Sad ignobles [conjure thee]
(PANDAEMONIUM)
Here be Lions, follow me

Choir

Dig in pull back the skin
See what's inside you
The sickness that drives you
[Eating] Black, Demoniac

Burn, Grief, [like] a disease
Rotten and aching, a bruise on the waking
Testify, come take a bite

Bite down, lord in the court
Thinking on life as your light’s slowly swallowed
Feed your way
or join the fray

[Here here]
Be free
Repeat
In the bones that feed your insanity

[In white]
come forth
you’re mine
'Til it shatters just like glass!


Dark horizons, folding deep
(PANDAEMONIUM)
From the borders chaos be
(Chaos Chaos)
Sad ignobles [conjure thee]
(PANDAEMONIUM)
Here be Lions, follow me
(follow me)

[FrogFather]

Thank you Mysteltain, QuellingStrikes, Rocl, GoldStarz and Elecrom. I have gone through a few of your lyrics and after listening to the song a few dozen times I think we are close. Going to present these lyrics, which are in essence a combination of the previous entries of what I believe to be the closest along with my small modifications.

Wild
Freaks
Ride through the deep
Dangerous creatures
Perverted and evil
From foulest rite
Covered entire


Teeth
Bared
Clawing the air
Sing 'bout these creatures
That lax will not give
Slaughtered kin
By fire-born wings!


Jaws
Slacked
Balk on your back
Here in the valley your death casts no shadow
Seal his fate
Come storm the gate!


Breathe Free!
Rip! Eat!
With the bones that seek your nihility
Go forth!
Walk free!
Go forth!
'Till there's nothing left but ash!


Dark horizons folding deep! (Pandaemonium)
From their borders chaos flees (Chaos flees)
Sad'ning nobles conjure thee (Pandaemonium)
Hear be lions, follow me (Follow me)


Dig
In
Pull back the skin
See what's inside you
The sickness that drives you
Paint it black
Demoniac


Dying
Green
Marked by disease
Loud in the raking
Thou doomed soul awakens
Testify
Come take a place


Bite
Down
Blood in the gut
Choking on life as your light's slowly swallowed
Feel your way
Or join the fray


Breathe Free!
Rip! Eat!
With the bones that sate your insanity
Run wild!
Run forth!
You're mine!
'Till it shatters just like glass!


Dark horizons folding deep! (Pandaemonium)
From their borders chaos flees (Chaos flees)
Sad'ning nobles conjure thee (Pandaemonium)
Hear be lions, follow me (Follow me)

[Kiroko]

No sure if this has been posted yet but I think these are the correct lyrics to Flow, little differences but imo makes more sense than the ones I've seen more often. https://genius.com/Masayoshi-soken-flow-lyrics