Equilibrium (song)

"Equilibrium" is a boss theme from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, introduced in Patch 3.4 for the battle against Sophia, the Goddess.
It was composed by Masayoshi Soken, with lyrics written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and vocals performed by Ayumi Murata.
==Lyrics==
A full transcript of the lyrics was shown during the Lore & Localization panel at the Fan Festival 2016 in Las Vegas. According to Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, the lyrics describe a Meracydian family torn apart by war against the Allagans and Sophia's brand of "justice" and "balance": after the father is slain in battle by the Allagans ("A torn uniform in hand, farewells unsaid"), the mother becomes abusive ("Forsaken, beaten, tried, on her knees") and, at Sophia's request, the daughter murders the mother to restore the imbalance created by her father's death ("The heart seeketh equilibrium / With balance will your worry part"), and then commits suicide, punishing herself for murder and leaving their home empty and forgotten ("And therewith shoulder thee / One last step only leaving / An empty hearth down by the sea").
After the Fan Festival 2016 in Las Vegas, the lyrics were reposted on the Developers' Blog publicly but contain a difference for one of the lines, writing "An empty hearth dawn by the sea".https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/001686.htmlhttps://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/001674.html In the song, the singer can be heard saying "down" and the booklet for the official soundtrack that was released later in June 2017 writes "An empty hearth down by the sea". Therefore, it can be inferred that the blog post has a typo.
;English
:The sigh of the shifting sea
:The kiss of the salt-sweet breeze
:The white of her silken dress stained in red
:A memory fading fast,
:Her mother sits, eyes downcast
:A torn uniform in hand, farewells unsaid
:That once a certainty, lost in grief
:A daughter's desperate cries, unheard pleas
:Forsaken, beaten, tried, on her knees
:A prayer passes from her lips
:Into her soul the Goddess whispers:
:"A heartbeat without harmony
:Is moonlight without dark
:The heart seeketh equilibrium
:With balance will your worry part,
:"So still this broken melody
:And therewith shoulder thee
:One last step only leaving
:An empty hearth down by the sea
:An empty hearth down by the sea"
;Japanese translation
:移ろいゆく海の吐息
:潮風の口づけ
:白き絹の衣が深紅に染まる
:瞬く間に消えゆく思い出
:座り込む母　目は伏せて
:手にするは破れた軍装　別れすら言わぬまま
:確かなことが　悲嘆の内に失われ
:娘の泣き声　聞き遂げられぬ想い
:忘れられ　殴られ　試され　跪く
:唇からこぼれた祈りが届く
:そして　女神は彼女の魂に囁きかける
:「調和なき鼓動は
:　暗闇なき月光なり
:　心が求めるは均衡
:　平衡を保てば悩みは晴れよう」
:「さあ　乱れた旋律を静めよ
:　さすれば残るは　ひとつの重荷のみ
:　最期の一歩を踏み出せば
:　残るは　空っぽの海辺の家だけ
:　空っぽの海辺の家だけ」
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward===
This song plays in the second half of and .
It is track 43 on the The Far Edge of Fate: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
==Arrangement album appearances==
===Pulse: Final Fantasy XIV Remix Album===
A remix arranged by Masayoshi Soken was released for the album. The vocals were provided by Ayumi Murata.
===Scions & Sinners: Final Fantasy XIV ~Arrangement Album~===
A band arrangement of "Equilibrium" performed by The Primals appears on this album, with vocals provided by GUNN.
===Sanctuary's Heart: Final Fantasy XIV Chill Arrangement Album===
A remix arranged by DJ Uppercut was released for the album.
==Live performances==
===The Primals: Zepp Tour 2018 - Trial By Shadow===
"Equilibrium" was performed by The Primals in a live concert.
===Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival 2021===
"Equilibrium (Scions & Sinners)" was performed by The Primals during the Digital Fan Festival 2021.
==Etymology==
==Citations==
Category:Battle themes from Final Fantasy XIV
de:Equilibrium (FFXIV)