To the Edge

"To the Edge" is the final boss theme of patch 5.3 in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, composed and arranged by Masayoshi Soken, with lyrics written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and vocals by Jason Charles Miller. The lyric concept was conceived by Natsuko Ishikawa.
==Lyrics==
The official lyricshttps://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/003015.html do not include the italicized lyrics, which are either taken from "Shadowbringers" or from a previous stanza.
The lyrics were translated into Japanese by Natsuko Ishikawa.
;English
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
:Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
:Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
:Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
:Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
:All our splendour bathed black in silence
:Our surrender a sombre reverie
:Slowly drifting down into twilight
:Left to sifting through faded memories
:Know our places, for worth is wordless
:Evanescent, this writing on the wall
:Brother stay this descent to madness
:Come and save us. Catch us before we fall
:Riding home
:Riding home
:Finding hope
:Don't lose hope
:Like broken angels, wingless, cast from heavens' gates
:(Our slumb'ring demons awake)
:We only fly when falling, falling far from grace
:(Hell take us, heaven can wait)
:Our lives a message in a bottle cast to sea
:(Disgrace untold and unseen)
:Quick to their ends, our candles burn until we're free
:In monochrome melodies
:Our tears are painted in red
:(Bleeding to the edge)
:Deep inside we're nothing more
:Than scions and sinners
:In the rain
:Do light and darkness fade
:Yes, time circles endlessly
:The hands of fate trained ahead
:(Pointing to the edge)
:All things change, drawn to the flame
:To rise from the ashes.
:To begin
:We first must see the end
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
:Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
:Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
:Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
:Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
:Rock of ages, we cast the first stone
:In our cages, we know not what we do
:Indecision here at the crossroads
:Recognition, tomorrow's come too soon
:Follow blindly like lambs to slaughter
:At the mercy of those who ply the sword
:As our song wends dead underwater
:We're forgotten for now and evermore
:Riding home
:Riding home
:Finding hope
:Don't lose hope
:Without a compass wand'ring lost in lies of faith
:(Faith slowly wasting away)
:Only alive in fighting Death's amber embrace
:(Our hearts beat loud, unafraid)
:On Hands and knees we pray to gods we've never seen
:(Come shadow, come follow me)
:The final hour upon us, no more time to breathe
:In monochrome melodies
:Our tears are painted in red
:(Bleeding to the edge)
:Deep inside we're nothing more
:Than scions and sinners
:In the rain
:Do light and darkness fade
:Yes, time circles endlessly
:The hands of fate trained ahead
:(Pointing to the edge)
:All things change, drawn to the flame
:To rise from the ashes.
:To begin
:We first must see the end
;Japanese translation
:我らの栄華は黒き静寂に浴し
:屈することさえ叶わぬ夢
:ゆっくりと黄昏へ漂う
:色あせた記憶を選り分けながら
:身の程を知れ、価値は言葉になりはしない
:重大な兆しほど、儚く消えてしまうものなのだから
:同胞よ、狂気への転落を止めてくれ
:我らを救い、落ちる前に捕まえてほしい
:堕天せし者のように羽をもがれ、楽園から追放された
:（我らの内に眠れる過ちが目を覚ます）
:落ちゆくときしか飛べず、恩寵から遠ざかる
:（地獄よ、歓迎したまえ。幸福は後回しでいい）
:我らの人生は寄る辺なく、海を漂う瓶詰の手紙にも似て
:（計り知れぬほどの不道を犯したのだ）
:いつか解き放たれるまで、この魂は業火に焼かれる
:――色のない旋律の中に
:互いの涙が赤で描かれる
:（端まで滲んでいく）
:結局のところ、お前も自分も
:罪を抱いた、一端の人にすぎない
:滴る雫の中でなら
:光と闇も混ざり合うだろう
:――そう、時は終わりなく巡っていく
:運命の針はただ真っ直ぐに
:（刻限を指し示す）
:その炎に呑まれ、すべては変わる
:灰の中から再び生まれ来るために
:始めるにはまず
:終わりに辿り着かねばならない
:揺らがぬものには真っ先に石を投げるが
:籠に入れば、何をすべきか見当もつかない
:岐路においては優柔不断
:明日はもう目前だと、手遅れになって気づく
:結末も知らぬまま大人しく従い
:剣を持つ者に翻弄される人々よ
:我らの歌が水底で死んでいくように
:かつての人は忘れられるのだろう、永遠に
:羅針盤はなく、すがった嘘の内で彷徨う
:（本当の心はゆっくりと薄れていく）
:琥珀のような死の抱擁に抗うときのみ、生を知る
:（恐れはない、鼓動は高まっている）
:手足をついて、見たこともない神に祈りを
:（降りて従え、我が影よ）
:息をする間さえなく、今、最後の時が来る
==Composition==
"To the Edge" features a portion of "Shadowbringers" and is an arrangement of "'Neath Dark Waters", the theme of Amaurot, which in turn shares the same motif as the themes of the Tempest ("Full Fathom Five") and ("Mortal Instants"). The song is written in common time, and its instrumentation mainly consists of electric guitar and percussion; the latter provides a metronomic effect.
According to Final Fantasy XIV Community Team member Sicycre, the lyrics of "To the Edge" refer to the characters present at the Seat of Sacrifice (Elidibus, Emet-Selch, Azem, and the Warrior of Darkness), describing them as "those who became incapable of bringing things to an end, and those who arrived to bring closure." As such, "To the Edge" can both be interpreted as a description of the Final Days of Amaurot, and as a description of the loss of memories that Emet-Selch and Elidibus experienced in immortality. As with most songs which refer to Azem, "To the Edge" alludes to "amber", or more precisely "Death's amber embrace".
The album Scions & Sinners: Final Fantasy XIV ~Arrangement Album~ is named in honor of the quote "Deep inside we're nothing more / Than scions and sinners" from "To the Edge".
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers===
In Reflections in Crystal, "To the Edge" plays in the final boss battle against Elidibus as a primal form of the legendary Warrior of Light in and .
"To the Edge" is track 2 on the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers - EP2 digital mini album. It was released again as track 44 on the Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
==Arrangement album appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album Vol.3===
An orchestral arrangement of "To the Edge" was released with Sachiko Miyano as the arranger and recording director. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by Jason Charles Miller, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Glory Chorus Tokyo.
===Sanctuary's Heart: Final Fantasy XIV Chill Arrangement Album (Deluxe Edition)===
An arrangement of "To the Edge" by VaVa appears as track 22 on the album as an extra track.
===Forge Ahead: FINAL FANTASY XIV ~Arrangement Album~===
A band arrangement of "To the Edge" was performed by The Primals and Jason Charles Miller.
==Live performances==
===Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival 2021===
"To the Edge (Scions & Sinners)" was performed by The Primals and Jason Miller during the Digital Fan Festival 2021.
===Square Enix Presents at TGS 2021 Online===
"To the Edge" was performed at Lounge Jam - SQUARE ENIX MUSIC TGS 2021 Special Live -, featuring a fusion acoustic arrangement. It was performed by the Ryo Miyachi Quintet: Ryo Miyachi (bass), Hiroyuki Ishikawa (trumpet, flugelhorn), Takuma Asada (guitar), Shota Watanabe (keyboard), and Natsumi Inokuchi (drums).
===The Primals: Live in Japan - Beyond the Shadow===
An arrangement of "To the Edge" by Masayoshi Soken was performed live by The Primals and recorded as track 12 on the album.
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3===
"To the Edge", orchestrated by Sachiko Miyano, was performed and recorded during the Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert 2022 -Eorzean Symphony-, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by guest vocalist Jason Charles Miller and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3 (Concert version).
==Compilation album appearances==
===Untempered 2: Final Fantasy XIV Primal Battle Themes===
"To the Edge" is track 10 of disc 2 on the album, as an extra track.
===Final Fantasy XIV Vinyl LP Box===
"To the Edge" is track 5 on side B of the Shadowbringers Vinyl LP album.
===Square Enix Music Sampler CD Vol.16===
"To the Edge" is track 6 on the album.
==Behind the scenes==
"To the Edge" was written during Masayoshi Soken's stint in hospital in 2020, while undergoing treatment for cancer.
Referring to the composition of "To the Edge", Jason Charles Miller said that "Soken is indeed a genius and I'm super grateful to work with him!" See pinned comment.
==Citations==
Category:Battle themes from Final Fantasy XIV