Melodies Of Life (song)

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It's okay. Keep singing. 'Cause it's our song, right?

Zidane Tribal

"Melodies of Life" is the main theme and vocal theme song of Final Fantasy IX. The song was was written by Hiroyuki Ito, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, and sung in both Japanese and English by Emiko Shiratori.

Game appearances

Final Fantasy IX

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

"Melodies of Life", being the main theme of the game, is one of the most prominent themes of the game, with several arrangements of it being present in the game's soundtrack. "Melodies of Life", also being the theme song of the game, is, like "Eyes on Me" before it, the motif for the romantic relationship between Zidane Tribal and Garnet Til Alexandros XVII. In-game, it is only heard in the final credit roll, and was included in the track "Melodies of Life ~ FINAL FANTASY", the twenty-second track of the original soundtracks's four disc.

Among the variations of "Melodies of Life" are the following themes:

• "Memories Erased by a Storm", which plays during the game's opening cinematic. It is the second track of the game's original soundtrack's first disc.
• "Steiner Crashes into the Tower", which is heard in the FMV between the events at Alexandria Castle and the subsequent play at the Prima Vista. It is the second track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.
• "Over the Hill", which plays as the Overworld theme until disc 4, and is one of the most widespread variations of "Melodies of Life". It is the twenty-fifth track of the game's original soundtrack's first disc.
• '"Zidane and Dagger's Song"', a short version of "Melodies of Life", used for the FMV involving Zidane and Garnet at Lindblum Castle's tower, with vocals by Emiko Shiratori. It is the ninth track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.
• "A Song from Her Memory", which plays in the storyline sequences after the FMV above. It is the fourth track of the game's original soundtrack's second disc.
• "South Gate", which plays during Garnet and Steiner's visit to Aerbs Mountains's South Gate at the start of disc 2. It is the eleventh track of the game's original soundtrack's second disc.
• "Garnet's Theme", which plays during Garnet's flashback with Doctor Tot in Alexandria in disc 2 and before her coronation at the start of disc 3. It is the twentieth track of the game's original soundtrack's second disc.
• "All Hail the New Queen", which plays during the opening cinematic of disc 3, where Garnet returns to Alexandria. It is the eighteenth track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release. It is the eighteenth track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.
• "Girl of Madain Sari", which plays throughout the sequences in which Eiko hatches a plan to write a love letter, and is a blend of both "Melodies of Life" and "Eiko's Theme". It is the thirty-second track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.
• "Light of Destiny", which plays during the events at Alexandria preceding the summoning of Alexander. It is the fourteenth track of the game's original soundtrack's third disc.
• "Zidane and Dagger Part Ways", which plays as Zidane stays behind as Dagger leaves the Iifa Tree on the Hilda Garde III. It is the twenty-eighth track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.
• "Back to Kuja", which plays when Zidane returns to the Iifa Tree during its fall to rescue Kuja. It is the twenty-ninth track of the game's original soundtrack PLUS release.

Two unused variations of "Melodies of Life" are present in the game's original soundtrack PLUS release. "Main Theme", which is the thirty-fourth track of the album, and "Melodies of Life" (Silent Mix) the forty-second track of the album: an arrangement by Tomoharu Hani which features few instruments and a calm feeling throughout, and a piano solo in-between chorus repeats.

Story

I didn't have a choice. I had to live. I wanted to come home to you. So... I sang your song.

"Melodies of Life" was also dubbed "Our song" by Zidane after he catches Garnet singing in Madain Sari. In the game's ending sequence the song is again mentioned, when Zidane explains to Garnet how he survived.

Spoilers end here.

Lyrics (Japanese Version)

Japanese lyrics 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

Japanese Romaji; 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 yuuki ni kaete Inochi wa tsuzuku Yoru o koe Utagau koto no nai Ashita e to tsuzuku Tobu tori no mukou no sora e Ikutsu no kioku azuketa darou Hakanai kibou mo yume mo Todokanu basho ni wasurete Meguriau no wa Guuzen 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 Doko made mo Watashi ga shinou tomo Kimi ga ikiteiru kagiri Inochi wa tsuzuku Eien ni Sono chikara no kagiri Doko made mo tsuzuku

English Translation I was wandering without a destination I continued to search without any clues Making the memories you gave to me Into a song to heal my heart The days when, without making any promises, Without exchanging words or consciously deciding, You embraced me and sought me out; Those days will never return The you who touches my hand Within my memories Can still call Out my name Change those flowing tears Into shining courage Life goes on, Continuing beyond the night Into a tomorrow Which has never been doubted I wonder how many memories have been left To the sky beyond the flying birds While forgetting even fleeting hopes and dreams In an unreachable place How can you say that happening upon each other Was a coincidence, Even when the time for us to part Will surely come? Even though I am fated to fade away, As long as you are alive Life will go on For eternity; All the way to the limits Of that strength Even if I were to die, As long as you are alive, Life will go on For eternity; All the way to the limits Of that strength

Lyrics (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

Sheet music

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Dissidia Final Fantasy

An arrangement of "Over the Hill" by Mitsuto Suzuki titled "Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" is featured in Dissidia, as the background theme of the stage boards of the Destiny Odyssey IX storyline.

"Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" is the ninth track of Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack's second disc.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

As with all themes from Dissidia, "Over the Hill -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY IX" returns in Dissidia 012 as Zidane's world map theme.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

For the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, "Melodies of Life ~ Final Fantasy" is used as the ending theme for Final Fantasy IX's Series play. "Over the Hill" was selected as the representative Field Music Sequence of Final Fantasy IX's Series play.

For the iOS version of Theatrhythm, "Over the Hill" can be downloaded as part of Final Fantasy IX's Field Music Basic Bundle, as well as "Dark City Treno". "Melodies of Life ~ Final Fantasy" can be downloaded as part of Final Fantasy IX's Other Field Music Bundle, as well as "Not Alone".

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

"Fragment of Memory" is an arrangement of "Over the Hill" by Yuzo Takahashi and is the sixteenth track in the original soundtrack.

Arrangement album appearances

Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IX

A piano arrangement of "Melodies of Life" by Shirō Hamaguchi is featured in this album as its fourteenth track.

Guitar Solo Final Fantasy Official Best Collection

A classical guitar arrangement of "Melodies of Life" by Yuji Sekiguchi is featured in this album as its nineteenth track.

Final Fantasy IX Chips

An 8-bit arrangement of "Over the Hill" by ajiponn is the second track of this album.

Live performances

"Melodies of Life" is a popular song at orchestral Final Fantasy concerts and is often played along with the theme from the same game "A Place to Call Home".

20020220 music from Final Fantasy

"The Place I'll Return to Someday ~ Melodies of Life", arranged by Nobuo Uematsue and Shiro Hamaguchi, was performed live by Emiko Shiratori and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, is included on this concert recording. It was the thirteenth song of the line-up.

More Friends - Music from Final Fantasy

"A Place to Call Home ~ Melodies of Life" is included on this live recording of an orchestral concert, performed by The World Festival Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arnie Roth at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California on May 16th, 2005. It was the eleventh song of the line-up.

Distant Worlds II: More Music from Final Fantasy

"Melodies of Life" is featured in this orchestral concert 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.

Compilation Album appearances

Final Fantasy S Generation: Official Best Collection

The original japanese version of "Melodies of Life" is included on this compilation as its sixteenth and final track.

More Friends: Music From Final Fantasy original soundtrack

"Melodies of Life"'s original version was released as the twelfth track of this collection of themes present in the Dear Friends -Music from Final Fantasy- concert tour.

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 twelfth track.

Trivia

• "Melodies of Life" is Nobuo Uematsu's favorite track on the Final Fantasy IX soundtrack.

External Links

• GeekyCoder's Videos for Melodies Of Life.
• A notable fan arrangement of "Melodies of Life" by Kate Covington.

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