ANCIENT BARDS LYRICS

1. Before The Storm

[storyteller]

The world seems to hold its breath anticipating what is to come. The quietness only broken by the rattling of battle weary lungs pressed to the ground. Barely perceivable to most, they roar loud as thunder in the minds of the two combatants, as they prepare for the crucial battle.

2. A Greater Purpose

[Storyteller]

Thick, dark voracious clouds
wolfing down the tops of the highest towers
bleed unforgiving gloom
that drips down carving stones like knives of terror

[Daltor]

I was always so narcissistic,
superficial and arrogant,
slaying dragons to satisfy
nothing but my vanity.
All the glory and adoration
made me feel like some kind of god,
I was sure that my valiant deeds
would go down in history.

Here on my shoulders i bear the weight
of so many faultless lives,
my sword's so much heavier now
that I know they all depend on me.

Seeing things from this new perspective
all my past seems so trivial,
I was only a fatuous boy
living out his own deceit.
I am filled by this new awareness,
for my sins I will make amend,
I will cherish the wisdom born
from my strange epiphany.
Here on my shoulder I bear the weight
of so many faultless lives,
my sword's so much heavier now
that I know they all depend on me.

[Storyteller]

He is face to face with Sendor,
with his cruelest enemy,
while he's waging the battle
with the demons inside of him!

[Daltor]

Embrace my evolution,
cause I sense I was brought to this life
for a greater purpose.
Smack down the fiend!

[The Group]

See the mortal dance
Left right left right up down up down
One hops forward one steps back
dodges blows bending to the side
Left right left right up down up down
One hops forward one steps back
Cold blades cut the air seeking flesh hungry for bones

[Daltor]

Though this day of grand disillusion
might as well be my very last
I am grateful for I received
the great gift of clarity
The result of past behavior
wasn't meaningless after all
if there's anything I've ever learned
is to spear cold-bloodedly

Here on my shoulders i bear the weight
of so many faultless lives,
my sword's so much heavier now
that I know they all depend on me.

[Storyteller]

He is face to face with Sendor,
with his cruelest enemy,
while he's waging the battle
with the demons inside of him!

[Daltor]

Embrace my evolution,
cause I sense I was brought to this life
for a greater purpose

[Storyteller]

He is face to face with Sendor,
with his cruelest enemy,
while he's waging the battle
with the demons inside of him!

[Daltor]

Embrace my evolution,
cause I sense I was brought to this life
for a greater purpose.
Smack down the fiend!

3. Flaming Heart

[Man]

Be careful my son there's a bear
there in the clearing,
I taught you what you need to know,
this time it's your turn.
Come down now and sneak through the grass,
slowly get closer,
don't ever lose sight of your prey,
don't make any noise,
feel the wind blowing
and breathe in the wild
in sweet harmony.
Every fighter knows
that his chances are stronger
when peace lies within
Go!

Well you made the bear run away,
you're injured and dirty,
Why didn't you listen to me?
Do you ever learn?

[Daltor]

But father it wasn't my fault,
I did what you told me,
I followed your every advice,
look what they got me!
Maybe it's time to admit that you are worthless,
you're grey and you're old.
I don't wanna hunt with you ever again,
will you leave me alone?

[Storyteller]

In Daltor's flaming heart
when judgement falls apart,
resentment runs like a river that flows out of its bed,
infectious makes him lie,
disown his blood ties,
disgrace the holy bond of family.

[Daltor]

My words resound in my head,
I'm incredibly sad and ashamed at the same time.

[Storyteller]

Running fast between the oaks,
sliding down the slopes,
Daltor leaves the forest and heads to his father.

[Daltor]

I'm rushing to get back home,
I can't wait to see him,
I want to look straight in his eyes,
and apologize.
I hope he'll forgive my contempt,
I'm so unworthy.
Oh father please open the door!
Oh please let me in!
You can't leave me outside just let me explain,
I'm breaking in!
Oh my god he's hanging down from the ceiling!
Oh why! Tell me why!

[Storyteller]

In Daltor's flaming heart
when judgement falls apart,
resentment runs like a river that flows out of its bed,
infectious makes him lie,
disown his blood ties,
disgrace the holy bond of family.

In Daltor's aching heart,
as his world falls apart,
despair grows faster than weeds on sunny summer's day,
it feeds upon his guilt,
for he has to be
the new king of the West
and be brave
and pretend
for no one has to know
it was his fault!

4. Across This Life

[Shadow]

Ego fero densum malum
primae noctis leti mei

[Sendor]

Look down don't raise your head,
just stay there where you are.
What is the quickest way
to take away that sneer?
Don't fight, don't mess with me,
don't tell me you despise me
cause I don't care at all,
my heart knows no regret.

You will perish
in the attempt to
try and stop me
just like your father

You took all the blame,
you grew up in pain,
all of this time you never knew
it wasn't your fault,
the whole thing was staged.

How about now?
Where is your rage
that kept you alive,
throughout these lands, across this life
when I'm the one that made him go home,
pick up a rope and hang himself?

You will perish
in the attempt to
try and stop me
just like your father

You took all the blame,
you grew up in pain,
all of this time you never knew
it wasn't your fault,
the whole thing was staged.
How about now?
Where is your rage
that kept you alive,
throughout these lands, across this life
when I'm the one that made him go home,
pick up a rope and hang himself?

You took all the blame,
you grew up in pain,
all of this time you never knew
it wasn't your fault,
the whole thing was staged.
How about now?
Where is your rage
that kept you alive,
throughout these lands, across this life
possessed by me
he stepped on the chair and put
the rope around his neck?

[Shadow]

Ego fero densum malum
atri leti mei

5. In My Arms

[Shena]

As ages pass and fly away
the men keep battling,
but in the end nobody cares
what I went through.
I felt him growing inside of me,
felt him moving inside of me
and I wondered "how can I be so in love with someone I don't even see?"

So here I am laid on the floor
and they keep battling.
Sendor is both my enemy
and my kindred soul.
How I wish that he still could see
his true love when he looks at me.
In this battle against the inevitable fate
the one who really lost is me.

He passed away, hopelessly,
he passed away in front of my eyes
when his little life had just begun,
you don't know what I'd give
just to hold him once again
in my arms.

Daltor is blind and not intent,
but he keeps battling,
he's so completely stuck inside
his vindictive mind.
And while I'm making my worn out plea
he falls down landing on his knees
and now Sendor's really tired of this game
so he hits him and knocks him down.

He passed away, hopelessly,
he passed away in front of my eyes,
when his life had just begun,
you don't know what I'd give
just to hold hom once again
in my arms
and feel the rythm of his gentle breath here on my chest.
while I sing to him a lullaby
and this pain I must endure.
Fate's not ours to decide,
we can't control our lives, we have to learn to cope
and move on.

Anima mia, che riposi in tormento,
nei sogni ti sento, ritorna da me!

He passed away, hopelessly,
he passed away in front of my eyes,
when his life had just begun,
you don't know what I'd give
just to hold hom once again
in my arms
and feel the rythm of his gentle breath here on my chest.
while I sing to him a lullaby!
And this pain I must endure,
we can't control our lives,
I just try to cope and to move on,
for I do believe we will meet again,
and I'll hold him tight
in my arms.

6. The Last Resort

[Storyteller]

It seems like the end is drawing near,
everyone's on the ground
and Sendor can't decide
on who he should drop the sickle first.
Rahed is not ready to give up yet,
he's not willing to let go
and with firm voice incite the other kings:

[Rahed]

We need to s tep up and do something,
I know we're weak and paralyzed,
but if we don't do everything in our power
then tomorrow will never come.
We are the custodians of wisdom,
of millennial magic arts,
so there must be something we can do
to prevent a dreadful end!

[Sendor]

In your death throes...

[Storyteller]

Dipped in the blood, the dust and the dirt,
the kings crawl to the floor, exhausted and hurt,
reaching for their weapons,
summoning strength for their last resort,
the only hope
to survive.

[Storyteller]

The rod is summoning the force
of the magic elements,
the bow attracts the ring
and then they start floating in mid-air
and as the weapons come in contact
they create a beam of light
that suddenly goes into Daltor's sword.

[Rahed]

Oh look at the silver sword shining!
It's a dazzling blinding glow
and what we are witnessing is
the eternal fight between light and the dark.
We are the custodians of wisdom,
of millennial magic arts,
I knew there'd be something we could do
to prevent a dreadful end!

[Sendor]

In your death throes...

[Storyteller]

Dipped in the blood, the dust and the dirt,
the kings crawl to the floor, exhausted and hurt,
reaching for their weapons,
summoning strength for their last resort,
the only hope
to survive.

7. Showdown

[Daltor]

Shyly I think of my father
and the words that he used to say:
"Every fighter knows that he's stronger
when there's just peace to rule his mind."
Like a lightning passing through the sky
their true meaning is so clear right now.

Slowly I move in a circle,
while I search for
the balance in me.
In this state of stillness and blessing
I know who I am and what I can do.
In my hand the sword he gave to me,
this same hand will make him proud, you'll see.
In my mouth the bitter taste of blood,
I won't stop 'til he lies face in mud.

[Sendor]

I saw you in the forest,
I heard you scream his name,
your stupid whining made me
sick and nervous.
I could have spared you the sight,
but why remove the fun?
You needed a true lesson
to become the man that you are now.

[Storyteller]

Sendor's face is rabid and tense,
it's as if his skin's electrically charged
for it sends sparks to the magic sword
in an endless cycle of energy.
His ever growing strength is far superior
than anything seen before!

[Sendor]

I didn't have a family,
why did he anyway?
He wasn't good enough to raise his children.
I spared your sister the sight,
but no, you had to see,
you needed a true lesson
to become the man that you are now.

[Storyteller]

Sendor's face is rabid and tense,
it's as if his skin's electrically charged
for it sends sparks to the magic sword
in an endless cycle of energy.
His ever growing strength is far superior
than anything seen before!

[Sendor]

You judge me, my pain you don't understand.
I told you, you will die like your dad.

[Daltor]

Don't call his name, for him I will get revenge.
I'm here, ready, feel how sharp is my blade!
You had to use a dragon to have me killed
and since it failed can you do it yourself?

[Sendor]

Aren't you tired of
the nonsense you say?
Your intimidations don't work with me.
One way or the other
I'm gonna see Surod anyway!

[Storyteller]

The rivals strike each other,
the silver blade prevails,
the crystal sword gets shattered into pieces.
So Daltor with a swift move,
no space for second thoughts,
shouts: "This is for my father!"
then he pierces Sendor through his heart.

[Storyteller]

Sendor's face is peaceful and calm,
it's as if all evil has left his soul
and though his eyes
were touched by the death
they sure look more human
and more alive.
His ever growing strength
was far superior
than anything seen before!

8. In The End

[Daltor]

Move it guys, let's get out of this place,
everything is falling down.
Turn around, we cannot go this way,
cause the last flight of stairs has collapsed.
This doomed castle is changing its face,
see, the walls turned into rocks!
And the floor is so uneven and thick,
waits for us to stumble down its clefts.

... Hurry my friends there's no time to hesitate...

Follow me on this meandering path,
put the corpses on my back.
Careful now, we all better crouch down
or these tangled branches will strike us.
There's the sea and the stream looks so strong,
hope it didn't steal our raft.
Come on Shena, I know it's hard,
but we have to get soon to the pier.

... Hurry my friends there's no time to hesitate...

[The group]

Tribute we pay to the goddess of war
who stands by the side of those in the right,
calming their fears with the feeling that good
always wins in the end

These two bodies need a proper burial that's for sure,
we'll give them a due funeral and then return to our realms.

Tribute we pay to the goddess of war
who stands by the side of those in the right,
calming their fears with the feeling that good
always wins in the end

Tribute we pay to the goddess of war
who stands by the side of those in the right,
calming their fears with the feeling that good
always wins in the end!

9. Spiriti Liberi

[Alron]

In the Plain of the Rocks there's a meadow,
with a large willow tree,
like a miracle it grows
on that hostile ground.

[Rahed]

Over those hills there's a valley
caressed by the wind,
where the fawns quench their thirst
in the crystal clear lake.

[Shena]

After this goodbye I won't get a chance
to come back here and visit their graves.
Any place we choose is gonna be fine, cause their spirits are free somewhere.

[Storyteller]

He's with him somehow,
running through the fields with him right now,
laughing with his son for the first time,
soaking deeply in his love sublime,
reunited.

Spiriti liberi da quel che fu
Persi nel tempo infinito lassù

He's with him somehow,
running through the fields with him right now,
laughing with his son for the first time,
soaking deeply in his love sublime,
reunited like a family.

Spiriti liberi da quel che fu
Persi nel tempo infinito lassù

10. A New Dawn Ending

[Alron]

Just right before we left,
I was catching my breath,
I was binding up my wounds
and checking myself everywhere
for broken bones.
I had nothing there left to do,
until I looked up
and I saw it laying there,
I saw the shattered sword.

History says we owe respect
to this legendary sword.

We know, oh mighty kings,
the Dark Cave is where it belongs.
We'll lay it there for the world to see
we restored our eternal peace.

As soon as I stood up,
I collected the pieces
and then put them in this pouch,
which I tied to my belt
to keep it safe.
But now look at this, everyone,
the crystal is white!
I don't know what this change means,
the black has gone away.

History says we owe respect
to this legendary sword.

We know, oh mighty kings,
the Dark Cave is where it belongs.
We'll lay it there for the world to see
we restored our eternal peace.

We know, oh mighty kings,
the Dark Cave is where it belongs.
We'll lay it there for the world to see
we restored our eternal peace.

Here falls the blue veil of the night,
the deep blue veil of the night.

[Daltor]

Lie there for eternity!
We should stay here and rest our bones,
I think we deserve this much at least!
Oh majestic, proud Black Dragon watch our sleep,
this will be your last guard.

[Shadow]

"Oh lowly, unsuspecting sleeping kings, your immense
valor makes my duty all the more harrowing. Oh, there
you are... When I look upon you the part of me that still
remembers my life on these lands craves to touch you.
Sadly, those memories don't belong to me anymore and
my purpose is different. I see you in your restless sleep
and I know what you're dreaming of... images from the
ancient legend... it all will soon be clear, I promise, but
now you need to wake up, wake up Daltor, wake up!"

[Daltor]

"Uh! Uh? Who is it? Who's speaking?

[Shadow]

"Don't be afraid Daltor, it's me, your father"

[Daltor]

"What? No! No! That's... that's impossible!"

[Storyteller]

Thick, dark voracious clouds
have devoured almost the entire castle,
while unforgiving gloom
still drips down carving stones like knives of terror.

Evil is still around!

[The Dark Demon]

I'm finally free, I'm finally out,
I was there, trapped for so long,
held down, locked and kept in chains,
closed in, since the beginning of time!

I am the anguish darkness fears,
everything from now on will change.
Bow down for there's no escape,
indulge me and if you don't you will die!

[Storyteller]

Echoes in the halls,
whose voice is this?

For the righteous there's no rest,
no truce to his misery,
'cause the universe relies on him
to protect, fight and serve.

Maybe a preventive spell
has brought Sendor to this world again?
Duping hard the laws of death
to put an end to what began.

Evil is still around!

[The Dark Demon]

Damnation is a trifle
in comparison to my depravity.
Wicked, cruel and unmerciful,
perverted since the beginning of time!

I'm finally back to rule the world,
everything will bend at my will.
I'm the Lord of all your souls
indulge me and if you don't you will die!

[Storyteller]

Echoes in the halls,
whose voice is this?

For the righteous there's no rest,
no truce to his misery,
'cause the universe relies on him
to protect, fight and serve.

Maybe a preventive spell
has brought Sendor to this world again?
Duping hard the laws of death
to put an end to what he had begun.

In its presence, turmoil, crisis!
Nothing grows and nothing rises!

[Father]

"With Dorus' arrival so began your venture forged in
deception. What you were seeing was just a body brought
back to life, for Dorus was a child without a soul, sent to
you by the Dark Wizard. You were deceived, and used, by
Sendor, for he needed your weapons, brought together,
to open the chest containing the black crystal sword. He
needed that sword and its supreme power, a power that
he thought could also bring back the soul of his son too.
With this well-orchestrated deception he got what he
wanted, he got the sword."

[Father]

"But that sword, a source of pure evil, is not made
to be held by men as it makes them lose their
reasoning, and you son, you did the only thing
you possibly could do. But see? The pieces of
crystal have turned white... that means that you
released something far more dangerous than
Sendor, something that only an old legend dares
to talk about. There's nothing left to do now
but prepare to face the worse, because the legend
is becoming truth and the truth is now.
History is repeating itself: the most ancient of
evil has been freed."

[Daltor]

No! Things are so much worse than before!

[The Dark Demon]

"Finally! I have been awakened!"

11. Melodies Of Life

[Japanese Bonus Track, Final Fantasy IX Theme]








ANCIENT BARDS LYRICS