Endwalker (song)

"Endwalker" is the main theme of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. It was first revealed on May 14, 2021 as part of the full opening trailer of Endwalker.
"Endwalker" is the version of the song that focuses on the new melody composed for Endwalker while "Endwalker - Footfalls" is the full version of the song that was used in the full-length opening trailer. Both versions were first released as part of the Endwalker 7-inch Vinyl Single.
==Lyrics==
===Endwalker - Footfalls===
====English====
The official lyrics of "Endwalker - Footfalls" were released on the Developers' Blog.https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/003250.htmlhttps://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/blog/003236.html
;English
:Heart of ember, autumntide
:Cooling swiftly, bleeding light
:Smold'ring softly, biding time
:Marching forward, left behind
:Fire as shadows clash
:Forgotten footfalls engraved in ash
:Fire will be repaid
:'Fore our echoes begin to fade
:Fade away... Fade away...
:Heart of ember, autumntide
:Burning brightly, hot and white
:Kindred severed neverwhere
:Sorrow's silence, we needn't bear
:Stories sown along the way
:Tales of loss and fire and faith
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Rohs an kyn ala na [All my brothers wake]
:Mah morn [Death comes]
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Sahl djahs afah an [Vengeance will be ours]
:Storm of blood, born from blood, of our fallen brothers
:Thunder stilled, oaths fulfilled, now we yearn for freedom
:Born in blood (still we forge ahead), stained in red (unto tomorrow)
:Bound by love (so we forge ahead), purpose fed (unto tomorrow, bring us tomorrow)
:Courage thrives (ever forge ahead), hand in hand (unto tomorrow, welcome tomorrow)
:Souls aligned (that we forge ahead), forge ahead (yeah, we forge ahead, yeah, we forge ahead)
:Forward
:Our song of hope, she dances on the wind higher, oh higher
:E'er our vows endure, and remain forever strong
:Standing tall in the dark do we carry on
:On wings of hope, you rise up through the night higher, oh higher
:Carrying our song, cradled fast within your arms
:That its chorus might ring for all
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
:Tumbling down to the never
:Every step we take
:Echoes in our wake
:Winding 'round our fate
:To forge ahead
:Should we lose our way
:Tire of all this pain
:We won't be afraid
:To forge ahead
:Fearless hearts ablaze
:(When the world comes crumbling down)
:No more time to waste
:(Know I'll be there)
:No, it's not too late
:(Though our fleeting moment has gone)
:To forge ahead
:(You're not--you're not alone YEAH)
:As we ride again
:(As you turn your eyes to the stars)
:To another end
:(Oh, I'll be there)
:Where it all begins
:(With my chorus guiding you)
:Forge ahead
:(Forge ahead)
;Japanese translation
:暮れゆくころ、燃え尽きかけの心
:疾く冷まし、炎は消して
:穏やかに燻り、時を待つ
:進んでいながらも、取り残されているかのように
:死にゆく者が散らした火花
:灰に刻まれた忘れられし足跡
:いつかまた炎は灯るだろう
:人々の声が聞こえなくなる前に
:消えていく......失せていく......
:そして結実のころ、まだ微かに燃えている心
:熱く白く、明るく盛りだす
:絆はもはや断たれることなく
:悲しみの静寂を纏う必要もない
:旅しながら蒔いてきた、物語の種
:冷たい哀しみと、焦がすような歓び、温かな信頼が実った
:我らの眠りは妨げられた
:我が血族が目覚める
:死は来たれり
:我らの眠りは妨げられた
:復讐は我がものなり
:斃れた我らが同胞より生み出されし血の嵐
:雷が収まり、誓いが果たされた今、自由を目指さん
:血だまりに生まれ（なお前へ）紅蓮に染まる（そして明日へ）
:愛によって結束し（ゆえに進まん）決意せよ（明日へ！未来へ！）
:勇気はみなぎる（さらに前へ）手を取り合い（来たるべき明日へ）
:心をひとつに（そして進まん）前へ進もう（そう、前へ！）
:前へ！
:希望の唄は風に乗り、天高くへ舞い上がる
:約束はいつまでも消えず、確かに残り続けるだろう
:困難の中でも、胸を張って生きてゆけ
:希望の翼に乗り、あなたは夜空へ舞い上がる
:その腕に抱き、私たちの唄も運んでいって
:すべてに響き渡るように
:一人は影を、もう一人は光をもたらす
:二色の残響が時を転がり落ちていく
:――永久に転がり落ちていく
:足跡を一歩刻むたび
:この背に響く声
:『私たちの命運も巻き込んで
:　前へ進め』と
:道を見失い
:痛みに疲れ切ったときには
:『決して恐れずに
:　前へ進め』と
:果敢な心が燃え上がる
:（世界が崩れ落ちるときにも）
:もうぐずぐずしている暇はない
:（お前のそばにいる）
:遅すぎるなんてこともない
:（私たちは過ぎ去ったけれど）
:ただ前へ進め
:（君は決して、独りじゃない）
:再び乗り出そう
:（あなたが星を見上げたとき）
:別の終わりへ
:（きっとそばにいる）
:新たな始まりでもあるその場所へ
:（この唄が導くから）
:ひたすらに進め
:（前へと、進んで――）
====Korean====
;Korean
:뜨겁게 불타올랐던 마음
:어느새 식고 잦아들어
:하지만 때를 기다려
:웅크린 채 고갤 들어
:꺼져가는 생명의 불꽃
:재에 새겨진 발자국
:언젠가 또 타오르리라
:그들의 소리 그치기 전에
:멀어져가네
:사라져가네
:때가 이제 다가와
:밝고 뜨겁게 타오른다
:끝없이 이어진 인연
:슬픈 침묵 거두리라
:숱한 환희와 슬픔 속에
:피어난 믿음의 이 노래
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Rohs an kyn ala na [All my brothers wake]
:Mah morn [Death comes]
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Sahl djahs afah an [Vengeance will be ours]
:쓰러진 형제의 피로써 우린 태어나
:붉은빛 맹세로 자유를 향해 나가
:한 피로 (우린 전진해)
:맺어진 (내일 향해)
:뜨거운 (계속 나아가)
:형제여 (미랠 향해 달려야 해)
:일어나 (앞을 향하여)
:승리의 (힘을 다해 멈추지 마)
:그날을 (마음을 다해)
:향하여 (하나 되어 나아가)
:달려
:희망의 노래 바람결에
:높이 더 높이
:울려 퍼지네 어둠 속에서도 굳게 서
:확실한 약속 우리는 기억해
:희망의 날개에 올라타
:높이 더 높이
:밤하늘 향해 당신 품에 이 노래 실어
:세상 울려 퍼지도록
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:시간을 따라 진동하는 두 울림
:끝없는 추락뿐!
:지난 발자국 뒤 들리는 목소리
:우리의 운명 함께 나아가
:길 잃고 아픔에 지쳤을 때도
:두려워 말고 함께 나아가
:불타는 용기 (세상이 무너진대도)
:더는 지체 말고 (곁에 있을게)
:당당히 맞서 (우리는 사라졌지만)
:나아가 (넌 혼자가 아냐)
:또 다른 결말 (밤하늘 별을 볼 때도)
:새로운 시작 (곁에 있을게)
:널 위해 준비됐어 (이 노래로 널 지켜줄게)
:나아가 (나아가)
;Romaja
:Tteugeopge bultaollatdeon maeum
:Eoneusae sikgo jajadeureo
:Hajiman ttaereul gidaryeo
:Ungkeurin chae gogael deureo
:Kkeojyeoganeun saengmyeongui bulkkot
:Jaee saegyeojin baljaguk
:Eonjenga tto taoreurira
:Geudeurui sori geuchigi jeone
:Meoreojyeogane
:Sarajyeogane
:Ttaega ije dagawa
:Bakgo tteugeopge taoreunda
:Kkeuteopsi ieojin inyeon
:Seulpeun chimmuk geodurira
:Sutan hwanhuiwa seulpeum soge
:Pieonan mideumui i norae
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Rohs an kyn ala na [All my brothers wake]
:Mah morn [Death comes]
:Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
:Sahl djahs afah an [Vengeance will be ours]
:Sseureojin hyeongjeui pirosseo urin taeeona
:Bulgeunbit maengsero jayureul hyanghae naga
:Han piro (urin jeonjinhae)
:Maejeojin (naeil hyanghae)
:Tteugeoun (gyesok naaga)
:Hyeongjeyeo (mirael hyanghae dallyeoya hae)
:Ireona (apeul hyanghayeo)
:Seungniui (himeul dahae meomchuji ma)
:Geunareul (maeumeul dahae)
:Hyanghayeo (hana doeeo naaga)
:Dallyeo
:Himangui norae baramgyeore
:Nopi deo nopi
:Ullyeo peojine eodum sogeseodo gutge seo
:Hwaksilhan yaksok urineun gieokae
:Himangui nalgaee ollata
:Nopi deo nopi
:Bamhaneul hyanghae dangsin pume i norae sireo
:Sesang ullyeo peojidorok
:One brings shadow, one brings light
:Siganeul ttara jindonghaneun du ullim
:Kkeuteomneun churakppun!
:Jinan baljaguk dwi deullineun moksori
:Uriui unmyeong hamkke naaga
:Gil ilko apeume jichyeosseul ttaedo
:Duryeowo malgo hamkke naaga
:Bultaneun yonggi (sesangi muneojindaedo)
:Deoneun jiche malgo (gyeote isseulge)
:Dangdanghi matseo (urineun sarajyeotjiman)
:Naaga (neon honjaga anya)
:Tto dareun gyeolmal (bamhaneul byeoreul bol ttaedo)
:Saeroun sijak (gyeote isseulge)
:Neol wihae junbidwaesseo (i noraero neol jikyeojulge)
:Naaga (naaga)
==Composition==
The main theme begins with an initial, moody segment featuring the main vocalist referring to his "heart of ember", and an instrumental section with electric guitar. The song starts to pick up in energy and hope with the introduction of background vocals, some of which are taken from the Dravanian passage of "Heavensward". This passage transitions into the main vocalist singing the chorus of "Storm of Blood". As the main vocalist wails, the lyrics become layered at this point, and the next instrumental section (a leitmotif of "Torn from the Heavens") is more symphonic, featuring string instruments rather than the guitar. After more background vocals praising the ideal of hope (that are also present in the song "With Hearts Aligned", track 51 in the official album), the main vocalist sings the chorus of "Shadowbringers" before arriving at the climax of the song, in which the main vocalist belts out lyrics vowing to "forge ahead" no matter what enemies he faces. The background melody also features a remix of "Torn from the Heavens", so that every expansion of Final Fantasy XIV to date is featured in the main theme. According to Masayoshi Soken, the main theme uses chords that most guitar players do not use.
==Music video==
thumb|200px
The Primals published a music video for their release of the 7-inch vinyl single of "Endwalker". The music video stars Juri Morine, who plays a woman who starts the video sitting around in her home, which has a moogle statue and goobbue plush. Throughout the video, The Primals perform "Endwalker" in a field, and the protagonist departs from home, walking towards the field and mouthing the lyrics to herself. After she meets a woman on a bridge who is smoking a pipe similar to Yotsuyu goe Brutus's, the protagonist walks through a rocky field reminiscent of the moon, and walks off into the sunset, analogously to the Warrior of Light's exit in the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker trailer.
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker===
The main theme was revealed with the full trailer of Endwalker. The trailer follows the Warrior of Light walking on the Moon while the Scions of the Seventh Dawn fight against the impending destruction of their world orchestrated by Fandaniel and Meteion. The trailer's narration is Emet-Selch's description of the Final Days of Amaurot, which is paralleled by the conflict between the Scions and Fandaniel.
In-game, the leitmotif of "Endwalker" is used throughout the expansion, including in the dungeon boss theme, "Finality". "From Below", the leitmotif of "Torn from the Heavens" arranged by Soken plays during Thancred Waters's solo quest battle in and in Labyrinthos for the duration of its late-game quests. Arranged as a boss theme by Yoshitaka Suzuki, "Endcaller" plays in the boss fight against Zodiark whom Fandaniel merged into in . "With Hearts Aligned", a mix of "Endwalker" and "The Maker's Ruin" arranged by Soken plays during the final phase of .
"Endwalker - Footfalls" itself plays in the final solo quest battle against Zenos viator Galvus in .
"Endwalker - Footfalls" is the 1st track and "Endwalker" is the 53rd track on the Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack. "Endwalker (Chiptune Version)" is a bonus track available on the original soundtrack.
The lyrics of the verse "On wings of hope" are used as achievements for completing the main scenario quests of Endwalker.
=== Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail ===
"Endwalker - Footfalls" plays in a main scenario cutscene in Dawntrail, when Vrtra and his brood appears to destroy the Alexandrian fleet attacking Tuliyollal.
==Live performances==
===The Primals: Live in Japan - Beyond the Shadow===
An arrangement of "Endwalker" by Masayoshi Soken and The Primals was performed live by The Primals and recorded as track 1 on the album.
==Compilation album appearances==
===Endwalker Vinyl LP===
"Endwalker - Footfalls" is track 1 of side A on the album.
==Behind the scenes==
The main theme was composed by Masayoshi Soken and arranged by both Soken and the Primals, with lyrics written by head of localization Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and translated by head of the writing team Natsuko Ishikawa. Main vocals were provided by Sam Carter, the lead singer of the band Architects, while additional vocals were provided by Amanda Achen and reused vocals were provided by Jason Miller. The instrumentation was performed by the Primals. Carter said that he was "[r]eally proud to have been a part of this" after the trailer was released.
A Korean version was released later featuring of the band Guckkasten and of the band Jaurim as the vocalists with the characters' lines spoken in Korean as well.
A fragment of the main theme was released with the teaser trailer. The lyrics of this version were muted and muffled, and only three minutes of the six-minute long theme were released at the time.
The main theme received praise from music critics who do not typically review video game music. Rock magazine Loudwire wrote that the main theme was "epic" and describe Carter's performance as a "full-belting vocal giving listeners a broad view of his range"., while Rock Sound said that the trailer looked "absolutely stunning" and praised the builds, emotions, and "spiraling melodies" of the main theme.
==Citations==
==External links==
* Final Fantasy XIV - Endwalker Main Theme Song 'ENDWALKER - Footfalls' Special M/V - YouTube (Korean version)
Category:Battle themes from Final Fantasy XIV