Drifting Soul

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Drifting Soul is a vocal theme song from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The song was composed by ACE and sung by Jen Bird. The original lyrics are written by Tetsuya Takahashi and the English lyrics are written by LYSSA.
==Usage==
The song plays twice in the cutscenes, the first being after the first phase of the and boss battle at the Olethro Ruins, and the second in the cutscene between the phases of the final boss of Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
===Soundtracks===
Drifting Soul is Disc 2, Track 19 on the Xenoblade2 Original Soundtrack and Disc 7, Track 19 on the Xenoblade Chronicles Original Soundtrack Trinity Box.
===Other arrangements===
Drifting Soul (Violin Version) is a variation of this track with the vocals replaced by a violin, and with a shorter ending. Kaleidoscopic Core and Nia - Toward the Heavens from the music of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are remixes of this track, and uses it as a motif.
==Development==
Drifting Soul and One Last You were among the final songs to be recorded for the soundtrack, with both being recorded in July 2017.https://www.procyon-studio.com/blog/2017/07/19/recording-part1/12165/ UK-based vocalist Jen Bird traveled to Japan to lend her voice. To help Bird get a feel of the songs, Yasunori Mitsuda explained the context of the game's scenario.https://www.procyon-studio.com/blog/2017/07/22/recording-part4/12190/https://www.procyon-studio.com/blog/2017/07/23/recording-last-day/12193/
==Composition==
The song is written in F major with a tempo of 74.
==Lyrics==
===English version===
Among the mist I see a stretching path,
reaches out so far, beyond what I can see
How far would I be walking 'til I reach the end,
the end of the path that's to be seen?
I would keep thinking and questioning to myself
why do I have to walk this path, oh why?
I can't seem to find the real meaning to this path that I take,
fate to accept, and my goal seems so far away
So tell me why I'm here and what's the reason I am here today
If I recall it was you, you wish that I would stay
No matter how much wind will blow against me I will keep on, oh oh
I will keep moving on, to find the answer to
I'm lost in search for you
I'm tired from the constant carry on shouting that I can't I see away ahead
The words would fill the mist so gently in the air,
and it melts as time just passes by
When I look back there is no trace of my path
I cannot find my way to the past
And it's just too late, time has elapsed
there's only now that goes on here on out,
my eyes see ahead
So tell me why I'm here and what's the reason I am here today
If I recall it was you, you wish that I would stay
No matter how much wind will blow against me I will keep on, oh oh
I will keep moving on, to find the answer to
I'm lost in search for you
When you stop and look ahead and face up to the blue above
The Jacob's ladder will come down and check me up
If I could climb up to the top, would you be waiting at the top?
Will this mean, I search no more?
I'll try and reach for the ladder that's there
Far away the distance I hear the voices
Was this what I've expected I don't even know, oh oh
Is this the real me I've longed for, wish that was the case
I know I'll let go of the ladder that's there
I will start walking from this point on...
I'm not here at all, I don't exist here at all
I gotta search for me
I wish that I find myself soon
I need to find myself, myself
===Original lyrics===
霧の中　一本の道が　はるか彼方へと延びている
どこまで歩けば　この道は終点に辿り着くの？
僕は考える　僕はなぜ歩かなければならないのかを
この果てしなく終わりのない道を　そこに運命や意義なんて見いだせやしないのに
僕はどうして　こんなところにいるの？
あなたが望んだからここにいるの？
どんなに強い向かい風が吹こうとも
答えを探して僕は歩き続けるんだ
あなたを探して僕は彷徨うんだ
歩き疲れしゃがみ込み　もう無理だと叫んでも
言葉は静かに宙を舞い　霧の中へと拡がり溶けていく
振り返ればそこに道はなく　もうあの頃へは戻れない
もう遅いんだ　時は過ぎ去って　僕の前には一つの道しか残っていない
僕はどうして　こんなところにいるの？
あなたが望んだからここにいるの？
どんなに強い向かい風が吹こうとも
答えを探して僕は歩き続けるんだ
あなたを探して僕は彷徨うんだ
ふと立ち止まり　蒼を仰ぎ見れば
ヤコブの梯子が　僕の前に振りてくる
これを登れば　あなたの側へと行けるの？
もう歩かなくてもいいの？
僕は　梯子に手をかける
遠くから誰かの声が聞こえてくる
それが僕の望んでいた事なのかと
それが本当の僕なのかと...
わかっているんだ　だから僕はーー
梯子から手を離してまた歩き始めるんだ
僕はここにないから　ここに存在していないから
僕を見つけないといけないから
そう　僕は見つけるんだ　僕自身をーー
====Translation====
==Album notes==
==Trivia==
* In Xenoblade Chronicles 3, when recruiting Nia as a Hero with Japanese voices, Nia hums a section of this piece to herself (corresponding to "The words would fill the mist so gently in the air") before noticing the party. (In English, she hums Torigoth/Night instead.)
* Although the track is most strongly associated with Nia due to its use in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the original Japanese lyrics use male pronouns.
==Drifting Soul (karaoke)==
Drifting Soul is a playable track in Karaoke JOYSOUND for Nintendo Switch. It is a MIDI version of Drifting Soul with no vocal line. In-game, there is the option to include a voice pitch guide that plays the melody on top of the piece; notably, this melody has some minor differences from that of the original Drifting Soul and of Drifting Soul (Violin Version).
==Credits==
Vocals: Jen Bird
Music: ACE (TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO)
Original Lyrics: Tetsuya Takahashi
English Lyrics: LYSSA & Castro Satoshi
Category:Music (XC2)Category:Songs composed by ACE