Dragonsong

"Dragonsong" is the main theme of Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward. It was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, arranged by Tsutomu Narita, and sung by Susan Calloway. The lyrics were written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Kazutoyo Maehiro and translated into Japanese by Banri Oda.
The lyrics relate to the history of Ishgard: from the story of Hraesvelgr and Saint Shiva to the Dragonsong War.
==Lyrics==
The lyrics were released on the Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack along with the Japanese translation. With the release of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the lyrics were revisited on the Developers' Blog.https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/003230.htmlhttps://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/003221.html
;English
:Children of the land do you hear
:Echoes of truths that once rang clear
:Two souls intertwined
:One true love they did find
:Bringing land and heavens near
:But flames that burned full bright soon fell dark
:Memories dimmed by shadowed hearts
:In the waxing gloom
:Did wane the lovers' moon
:Watching as their worlds drift apart.
:One soul's cry
:A passion welling within
:Sacrifice
:A final plea to her kin
:Yet this bond of hope
:By treachery was broke
:Scattering her words to the wind
:Swelling overlong
:Seas of blood are a song
:And death an afterthought
:To those who fight for naught
:A throne lying empty
:A reign incomplete
:Alone for eternity
:A pain without cease
:Children of the land answer this
:Why must you turn to empty bliss
:Tell me why break trust
:Why turn the past to dust
:Seeking solace in the abyss
:Tell me why create
:A circle none can break
:Why must you let go
:The life you were bestowed
:This I fear I'll never know
:Never know...
;Japanese translation
:我が子らよ、聞こえるだろうか
:遠い日に響いていた、真実の谺が――
:結ばれし、ふたつの魂が
:真実の愛を見出し
:そして、対立せし者たちをも結びつけた
:しかし、明るく燃える灯火も、やがて輝きを失い
:闇に包まれた心が、記憶を消し去ってゆく
:満ちる暗闇の中
:恋人たちの月は欠け
:ふたりの世界が引き裂かれるのを見届けながら
:ひとつの魂が叫びを上げる
:熱き想いを秘めて
:犠牲
:それは、彼女が同胞に託した最期の願い
:しかし、その願いは
:裏切りにより打ち砕かれた
:そして、真実は風の中に散っていく
:長きに渡り満ちる
:血の海は、ただの詩（うた）
:死に重みはなし
:ただ戦い続ける者たちには
:主なき玉座
:捨てられた治世
:永遠の孤独
:終わりなき痛み
:我が子らよ、答えてほしい
:何故、忘却を選ぶのか
:何故、他者を裏切るのか
:何故、過去を塵に還すのか
:何故、闇に救いを求めるのか
:教えてほしい、なぜ創るのか
:壊し得ぬ輪廻を
:なぜ捨てるのか
:与えられた生命を
:わたしには、その答えを知る術はない
:知る術はない......
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward===
This song plays in the beginning of the final battle against Nidhogg during and trials. It is track 6 on the Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward - EP Vol.1 digital mini album and track 55 on the Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
"The Heavens' Ward" is an arrangement of the song, with additional composition by Masayoshi Soken and arranged by Kenichi Kuroda, that accompanies the eponymous Heavens' Ward.
"Contention" and "Misconception" are two other instrumental arrangements. The former was arranged by Kuroda and Soken while the latter was arranged by Ken Ito and Soken.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker====
A number of arrangements are used again in . "The Heavens' Ward" plays during the first phase against the knights of the Heavens' Ward in the Chancel. During the fourth phase, "Contention" plays in the fight against the Eyes of Nidhogg in the Final Steps of Faith. "Dragonsong" itself plays during the fight against both Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr during the sixth phase.
"The Heavens' Ward" is track 28, "Contention" is track 31, and "Dragonsong" is track 34 on the Growing Light: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
==Arrangement album appearances==
===Journeys: Final Fantasy XIV ~Arrangement Album~===
An arrangement of "Dragonsong" by Keiko appears as an extra track on this album, with Keiko as the pianist and the vocals provided by Susan Calloway.
==Live performances==
===Distant Worlds IV: more music from FINAL FANTASY===
An orchestral arrangement conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and Susan Calloway is included on this album.
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album===
A concert performance of "Dragonsong" for the Eorzean Symphony was recorded and appears on this album. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mih Khetto Chorus, with vocals provided by Susan Calloway.
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.2===
A concert performance of "Dragonsong" for the Eorzean Symphony was again recorded and appears on this album. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nikikai Chorus Group, with vocals provided by Susan Calloway.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.2 (Concert version).
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3===
"Dragonsong" was again performed and recorded during the Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert 2022 -Eorzean Symphony-, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Glory Chorus Tokyo, with vocals provided by Amanda Achen.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3 (Concert version).
==Compilation album appearances==
===Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017===
"Dragonsong" appears as track 40 of disc 2 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary.
===Final Fantasy XIV - The Best===
"Dragonsong" is track 2 on the album.
===Final Fantasy XIV Vinyl LP Box===
"Dragonsong" is track 6 on side B of the Heavensward Vinyl LP album.
==Citations==
Category:Battle themes from Final Fantasy XIV