Melodies Of Life (song)

"Melodies Of Life" is the main theme and vocal theme song of Final Fantasy IX. The song was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, arranged by Shirō Hamaguchi, and sung in both Japanese and English by Emiko Shiratori. The lyrics were written by Ciomi and translated into English by Kako Someya and Alexander O. Smith. "Melodies Of Life" is Nobuo Uematsu's favorite track on the Final Fantasy IX soundtrack.
In-game, the theme is associated with the summoners' village of Madain Sari, and is the motif for Zidane Tribal and Garnet Til Alexandros XVII's romantic relationship. The theme could be seen as the theme of Gaia in juxtaposition to Terra's theme of "A Place to Call Home".
==Lyrics==
The official lyrics for both Japanese and English versions were released on Melodies Of Life -Final Fantasy IX- and Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack.
===Japanese version===
;Japanese
:宛てもなく彷徨っていた
:手がかりもなく探しつづけた
:あなたがくれた想い出を
:心を癒す詩にして
:約束もすることもなく
:交わす言葉も決めたりもせず
:抱きしめそして確かめた
:日々は二度と帰らぬ
:記憶の中の手を振るあなたは
:わたしの名を呼ぶことが出来るの
:あふれるその涙を
:輝く勇気にかえて
:いのちはつづく
:夜を越え
:疑うことのない明日へとつづく
:飛ぶ鳥の向こうの空へ
:いくつの記憶預けただろう
:儚い希望も夢も
:届かぬ場所に忘れて
:めぐり逢うのは偶然と言えるの
:別れる時が必ず来るのに
:消えゆく運命でも
:君が生きている限り
:いのちはつづく
:永遠に
:その力の限りどこまでも
:わたしが死のうとも
:君が生きている限り
:いのちはつづく
:永遠に
:その力の限りどこまでもつづく
;Rōmaji
:Ate mo naku samayotteita
:Tegakari mo naku sagashi tsuzuketa
:Anata ga kureta omoide o
:Kokoro o iyasu uta ni shite
:Yakusoku mo suru koto mo naku
:Kawasu kotoba mo kimetari mo sezu
:Dakishime soshite tashikameta
:Hibi wa nido to kaeranu
:Kioku no naka no te o furu anata wa
:Watashi no na o yobu koto ga dekiru no
:Afureru sono namida o
:Kagayaku yūki ni kaete
:Inochi wa tsuzuku
:Yoru o koe
:Utagau koto no nai ashita e to tsuzuku
:Tobu tori no mukō no sora e
:Ikutsu no kioku azuketa darō
:Hakanai kibō mo yume mo
:Todokanu basho ni wasurete
:Meguriau no wa gūzen to ieru no
:Wakareru toki ga kanarazu kuru no ni
:Kieyuku unmei demo
:Kimi ga ikiteiru kagiri
:Inochi wa tsuzuku
:Eien ni
:Sono chikara no kagiri dokomademo
:Watashi ga shinou tomo
:Kimi ga ikiteiru kagiri
:Inochi wa tsuzuku
:Eien ni
:Sono chikara no kagiri dokomademo tsuzuku
;Unofficial English translation
:I was wandering around aimlessly
:I kept on searching without a clue
:I made a song to heal my heart
:With the memories you gave me
:The days of embracing and confirming
:Without even making any promises or
:Deciding on the words to say to each other,
:Are never to return
:Waving your hand in my memory,
:You can call out my name
:Transform those overflowing tears
:Into shining courage,
:And life will carry on,
:Transcending the night
:And continuing to a tomorrow where there is no doubt
:How many memories have I entrusted
:To the sky beyond the flying birds?
:I have forgotten them in a place where
:Fleeting hopes and dreams are out of reach
:We can say it is a coincidence that we met
:The time will surely come when we say goodbye, and yet...
:As long as you are alive,
:Even if I'm doomed to fade away,
:Life will go on
:Forever,
:In every way, to the best of its ability
:As long as you are alive,
:Even if I die,
:Life will endure
:Forever,
:Lasting no matter where it goes to the best of its ability
===English version===
:Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark,
:For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
:To weave by picking up the pieces that remain,
:Melodies of life—love's lost refrain.
:Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why.
:We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye.
:And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
:Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
:In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
:Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
:A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
:Adding up the layers of harmony.
:And so it goes, on and on.
:Melodies of life,
:To the sky beyond the flying birds—forever and beyond.
:So far and away, see the bird as it flies by.
:Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky.
:I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings.
:Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.
:In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
:Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
:A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
:Adding up the layers of harmony.
:And so it goes, on and on.
:Melodies of life,
:To the sky beyond the flying bird—forever and on.
:If I should leave this lonely world behind,
:Your voice will still remember our melody.
:Now I know we'll carry on.
:Melodies of life,
:Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts, as long as we remember.
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy IX===
"Melodies Of Life" is one of the game's most prominent themes with several arrangements on the soundtrack. It plays during the final credit roll, and the track "Melodies Of Life ～Final Fantasy", the 22nd track of the original soundtracks's fourth disc, includes it.
"Melodies of Life (The Layers of Harmony)" is a rearranged version of the theme with additional backing vocals and less instrumentation, and is only sung in English. It is the 26th and the last track of the fourth disc on the soundtrack.
Among the variations of "Melodies Of Life" are the following themes:
*"Memory Erased by a Storm" plays during the opening cinematic. It is the second track of the original soundtrack's first disc.
*"Steiner Crashes into the Tower" is heard in the FMV between the events at Alexandria Castle and the subsequent play at the M.S. Prima Vista. It is the second track of the original soundtrack PLUS release.
*"Over the Hill" plays as the overworld theme until the endgame, and is one of the most widespread variations of "Melodies Of Life". It is the 25th track of the original soundtrack's first disc.
*"The Song of Zidane and Dagger" is a short version of "Melodies Of Life" with vocals by Emiko Shiratori. It plays during the FMV involving Zidane and Garnet at Lindblum Castle's tower. It is the original soundtrack PLUS release's ninth track.
*"A Song From Her Memory" plays during the storyline sequences after Zidane meets Garnet at the Lindblum Castle tower. It is the fourth track of the original soundtrack's second disc.
*"South Gate" plays during Garnet and Steiner's visit to South Gate. It is the 11th track of the original soundtrack's second disc.
*"Garnet's Theme" plays during Garnet's flashback with Doctor Tot in Alexandria, and later on before her coronation. It is the 20th track of the original soundtrack's second disc.
*"All Hail the New Queen" plays when Garnet returns to Alexandria to become queen. It is the game's original soundtrack PLUS release's 18th track.
*"The Girl from Madain Sari" plays when Eiko hatches a plan to write a love letter, and is a blend of "Melodies Of Life" and "Eiko's Theme". It is the original soundtrack PLUS release's 32nd track.
*"Light of Destiny" plays during the Battle of Alexandria preceding the summoning of Alexander. It is the 14th track of the original soundtrack's third disc.
*"Zidane and Dagger Part Ways" plays in the ending as Zidane stays behind and Garnet leaves the Iifa Tree on the Hilda Garde III. It is the original soundtrack PLUS release's 28th track.
*"Back to Kuja" plays when Zidane returns to the Iifa Tree during its fall to rescue Kuja. It is the original soundtrack PLUS release's 29th track.
The game's original soundtrack PLUS release has two unused variations of "Melodies Of Life". The album's 34th track, "Main Theme", is a more lively variation of "Over the Hill", originally considered for use as the game's world map theme. "Melodies of Life (Silent Mix)" is the album's 42nd track: an arrangement by Tomoharu Hani featuring few instruments, a calm feeling throughout, and a piano solo in-between chorus repeats.
====Story====
When the party stays at the Dali inn, Zidane hears mysterious singing, thinking it was Garnet's voice. During the party's stay at Lindblum Castle, he hears singing from the observatory post atop the castle and finds Garnet and asks her about the song. She does not remember where she learned it, having always known it. She explains she sings it when she feels sad or lonely.
When the party ventures to the Outer Continent, they meet Eiko Carol, the last survivor of the summoners' village of Madain Sari, who takes them to the village ruins. Zidane calls the song "our song" after he catches Garnet singing it in Madain Sari. They board a row boat and while floating below the village hear the song again, but this time it is not Garnet's singing. Zidane wonders who is singing it, and Garnet recalls the village's destruction by Invincible and passes out. The singer was Eiko, who also knows the tune. She reveals its origins in the summoners' village from where Garnet also hails from, unknown to her since the Alexandrian royal family adopted her when she in her childhood lost her memories during a violent sea voyage following the village's decimation.
After the party defeats Trance Kuja and Necron in Crystal World, they return to the base of the Iifa Tree, and Zidane remains behind to look for Kuja while the others depart. Garnet returns to Alexandria to reign but never hears back from Zidane. When Tantalus Theater Troupe returns to Alexandria to perform I Want To Be Your Canary, during the play's climax, the actor playing Marcus casts aside his cloak to reveal his identity as Zidane. Garnet rushes to the stage to reunite with him and asks how he survived. Zidane explains he wanted to come home to her and sang their song.
===Final Fantasy XV===
"Over the Hill" appears in the music player as the first track of Memories of FFIX (Disc 1) - OST album purchased from Coernix Station - Cauthess for 100 gil.
"Over the Hill -arrange- (from FINAL FANTASY IX)" is available on the Memories of DISSIDIA FF album purchased from Old Lestallum for 500 gil.
===Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)===
An arrangement of "Over the Hill" by Mitsuto Suzuki titled "Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" is featured as the background theme of the Destiny Odyssey IX storyline stage boards.
"Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" is the ninth track of Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack second disc.
====Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy====
"Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" returns as Zidane's world map theme.
===Theatrhythm Final Fantasy===
For the Nintendo 3DS version, "Melodies of Life ~ Final Fantasy" is used as the ending theme for the Final Fantasy IX Series play. "Over the Hill" was selected as the representative Field Music Sequence of the Final Fantasy IX Series play.
For the iOS version, "Over the Hill" can be downloaded as part of the Final Fantasy IX Field Music Basic Bundle, as well as "Dark City Treno". "Melodies of Life ~ Final Fantasy" can be downloaded as part of the Final Fantasy IX Other Field Music Bundle, and also "Not Alone".
====Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival====
"Over the Hill" returns as a playable Field Music Sequence. It is available to the player by default.
Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty
Beginner 	Basic 	Expert 	Ultimate 	Transcendent
N/A 	2 	4 	6 	N/A
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
"Melodies Of Life ～Final Fantasy" is included as part of the 6th anniversary special arrange medley, taken from the top 10 music from All Final Fantasy Big Vote.
===Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon===
"Fragment of Memory" is an arrangement of "Over the Hill" by Yuzo Takahashi and is the 16th track on the original soundtrack.
==Arrangement album appearances==
===Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IX===
This album features a piano arrangement of "Melodies Of Life" by Shirō Hamaguchi performed by Louis Leerink as its 14th track.
===Guitar Solo Final Fantasy Official Best Collection===
This album features a classical guitar arrangement of "Melodies Of Life", arranged and performed by Yuji Sekiguchi, as its 19th track.
===Distant Worlds II: More Music from Final Fantasy===
"Melodies Of Life" is featured in this studio recording—named "A Place to Call Home - Melodies of Life"—and is sung by American singer Susan Calloway. It was the fourth song of the line-up.
===More SQ===
The album features an arrangement of "Melodies Of Life", arranged by Yusuke Hirado and performed by Miyuki Hatakeyama and Yusuke Hirado Trio.
The same track also appears on the album SQ Swing.
===Cafe SQ===
"Cafe SQ: FINAL FANTASY IX "Over the Hill", arranged and performed by yuxuki waga, is a song on this arrangement album with music arranged to the theme of music that plays in cafes.
===Final Fantasy IX Chips===
An 8-bit arrangement of "Over the Hill" by ajiponn is this album's second track.
===Final Fantasy Tribute ~Thanks~===
The album features an arrangement of "Melodies Of Life" by DAISUKE ENDO, with vocals provided by Aoi Teshima.
===Piano Opera Final Fantasy VII/VIII/IX===
"Melodies Of Life" is the 12th track on this piano arrangement album, arranged and performed by Hiroyuki Nakayama.
The same track also appears on the compilation album Piano Opera Final Fantasy I-IX.
===Square Enix Jazz -Final Fantasy-===
"Melodies Of Life〜Final Fantasy Jazz Arrangement" is an arrangement by Ryu Kawamura with vocals provided by Junko Iwao.
==Live performances==
"Melodies of Life" is a popular song at orchestral Final Fantasy concerts and is often played with the theme from the same game, "A Place to Call Home".
===20020220 music from Final Fantasy===
This concert recording includes "A Place to Call Home - Melodies of Life", arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi, and performed live by Emiko Shiratori and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the 13th song of the line-up.
===More Friends - Music from Final Fantasy===
This live recording of an orchestral concert includes "A Place to Call Home ~ Melodies of Life", performed by the World Festival Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arnie Roth at the Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City in Los Angeles, California, on May 16, 2005. It was the 11th song of the line-up.
===VOICES: Music from Final Fantasy===
"A Place to Call Home ~ Melodies of Life" was performed live during the concert, arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi and performed by Emiko Shiratori.
It was also recorded and released in the album.
===Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy The Journey of 100===
An orchestral arrangement of "A Place to Call Home - Melodies Of Life" was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by Emiko Shiratori and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi.
==Compilation album appearances==
===Final Fantasy S Generation: Official Best Collection===
This compilation includes "Melodies of Life (Original Japanese Version)" as its 16th and final track.
===Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy===
The piano arrangement of "Melodies of Life" by Shiro Hamaguchi from the Piano Collections release of Final Fantasy IX is included on this album as its 12th track.
===More Friends: Music From Final Fantasy original soundtrack===
"Melodies of Life"'s original version was released as the 12th track of this collection of themes present in the Dear Friends -Music from Final Fantasy- concert tour.
===Final Fantasy IX Vinyl===
"Melodies of Life" is the final track on the second disc of Final Fantasy IX Vinyl, a selection of tracks from Final Fantasy IX in the format of vinyl records on two picture discs.
==Non-Square Enix appearances==
===EXIT TRANCE PRESENTS FamiTrance EX===
A rearranged version of "Melodies of Life" appears as the third track on this album.
===A New Dawn Ending===
A cover version of "Melodies of Life" appears as the Japanese bonus track of the 11th album by the Italian symphonic metal band Ancient Bards.
==Other media==
thumb|320px|Coca-Cola commercial
Final Fantasy IX was heavily marketed before and after its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, months before its July 7 release date, Final Fantasy IX characters were used in a Japanese Coca-Cola commercial produced by Squaresoft (now Square Enix), made in similar style as the game's in-game FMVs where Zidane and his friends chase a Coca-Cola bottle cap through Alexandria. The melody from "Melodies of Life" plays in the beginning of the commercial, and the music for it is included on the Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack.
==Sheet music==
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==Citations==
==External links==
*GeekyCoder's videos for Melodies Of Life.
*A notable fan arrangement of "Melodies of Life" by Kate Covington.
Category:Event themes from Final Fantasy IX
es:Melodies of Life (Canción)
fr:Melodies of Life