The Meaning of Close in the Distance - FFXIV Lyrical Lore

The songs of FFXIV often tell us much and more about its story, themes, and people. The song Close in the Distance is a staunch prayer for us to forge ahead in the face of despair. But who is it that sings to us? Join us as we dissect and explain the sentiment behind the song.
#closeinthedistance #endwalker #finalfantasy14 #finalfantasyxiv #finalfantasy #ffxiv #ff14 #ffxivlore #ffxivendwalker
About Eorzean Archive:
The Eorzean archive is a collective of archons and lore researchers seeking to explain, educate on and elucidate the information of Hydaelyn. From the basic to her most entrenched secrets we are dedicated to bringing knowledge easily and accessibly to the masses.
Check out our discord for more lore goodness and our active community: / discord
And please the Twelve by supporting us at our Patreon:
/ eorzeanarchives
For further information and details on FFXIV lore check out our website:
eorzeanarchive....

[@Salt_Mage]

Something I love about the context this song plays in. During the walk, every voice is labeled as a “voice from the past”. No names. But if you can’t remember who they are, that’s okay. G’raha’s monologue at the end of 5.3 sticks with me, “and there may come a day when you forget the faces and voices of those you have met along the way,” with every step this journey grows more distant and faint. But never look back. Forge ahead.

[@wilcowhiteheart807]

That hurts more now realising that... those voices I wont ever remember without replaying the MSQ in NG+...

[@lawrencealcantara]

Ardbert going first AND last (if i remember correctly) also hits hard. "If you need a push, I'll be right there behind you." was rather special to me

[@TheTriforceDragon]

@@lawrencealcantara "Let's finish this"

[@Redfield253]

... im gonna go cry again now..

[@powerofk]

And how many of us go to Ultima Thule after beating Endwalker 6.0 just to hear this song play over and over again?

[@IsacMH]

Out here at the edge of nowhere farming fates and jamming to tunes

[@sleepyguy69]

when chi

[@millamiqote8827]

Next tribe questline is omicron... just saying... I'll be disappointed if it's anywhere else than Ultima Thule😂

[@MrLightlike78]

​@@sleepyguy69 XD was gunna say, chi 5 mins :p

[@Amezukita]

🤚🏻

[@PurpleStar22]

*The moment he hints who's singing the song* I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING!!

[@Chrisran_CH]

I'M CRYING, BUT YOU TOO DEAR! (Oh my... Didn't realize AT ALL it was him...)

[@aerieleah533]

@@Chrisran_CH really? That was the instant conclusion I came to. The song starts right after his sacrifice.

[@stars-and-clouds]

G'raha Tia was a bard to begin with =3

[@j99450]

We're not crying, it's simply raining

[@acgearsandarms1343]

Those Onion Ninjas got you too?

[@Combatplaya564]

I adored this song when i reached Ultima Thule, but the idea that G'raha is the one singing this song as a reflection of your journey makes me love it even more now

[@sniderealism2410]

The singing even starts when its his turn, too.

[@Laurleen]

I honestly always thought it was him singing... It may not be only *his* feelings or thoughts but voice those of every Scions and the wol, but the voice sounds too much like his and as said, it starts after his sacrifice..

[@bransonchic678]

Same i love G'raha so much

[@Crimsontidewave]

One thing to remember. When first we met G'raha at the Crystal Tower his job was a Bard. So him singing fits even more. :3

[@PrincessofKeys]

One thing I learned is that he actually supposedly does sing and have a good singing voice

[@GimmeTOKYO]

@@PrincessofKeys I feel it was completely a missed opportunity to not have Jonathan Bailey sing this.

[@AlleluiaElizabeth]

Agreed

[@Tenkuu-san]

@@GimmeTOKYO Actually, both the Japanese (Uchida Yuma) and English voice actors have nice singing voices. I can't confirm for the other languages though.

[@nickidehlika2628]

He was an ARCHER. Not a Bard.

[@TianaSidhe]

THANK YOU FOR FEATURING MOENBRYDA! My heart was crushed when she wasn't included in the official music video, even though she was a significant focal point for Urianger's arc in Endwalker. Finally, the proper recognition she DESERVES!

[@jeremywheeler7607]

Moenbryda hasn't officially gotten the recognition she deserves until she gETS A GODDAMN PORTRAIT IN-GAME I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS I WILL DIE AND KILL ON THIS HILL FIGHT ME! Seriously, though. Her breakthrough in figuring out how to finally destroy Ascians has literally saved Etheirys! Without that, the entire star would be doomed! I want to try to figure out how to get SE to add a portrait of Moenbryda. She would get top spot in my apartment / Sanctum for Fallen Heroes.

[@Nempo13]

@@jeremywheeler7607 A year past I will give you some bonus for her. Her parents visit your island if you get it high enough. So don't forget to work that thing!

[@NemesisTWarlock]

I entirely agree with this interpretation of the song, and it's very likely what it is in-universe. However, there are two more interpretations, each with an escalating metanarrative. 1: The singer is SE CBU3 collectively, to the playerbase, thanking them for playing the game they worked so hard on for so many years. 2: The singer is the Warrior of Light... To *their* player. the one who, truly, they would not exist without. It is though the player's guidance, the light behind the light, that they've gone on such an incredible journey, and they hope that journey will continue on. Through you, we live.

[@tickledpickle5671]

That second interpretation hits me hard. Mostly because, well, in a sense I love my character. She's a large part of why I play this game, why I care for this game, her story (both in game and my personal writings for her) make me happy. Bring me peace. Nora will always be part of me, and I'm glad for that.

[@ryanc5572]

@@tickledpickle5671 2 hit me hard as well. I've been playing since 1.0 and he's been there the whole time. My WoL is like a brother to me, and a role model. He's so kind, selfless, and doesn't ask for anything in return, only wanting to see the people of the world happy and save. I love him so much. 😥

[@Lotrpottergirl1]

We were talking about this song in our FC and people were upset that the zone's song was sad and I was so confused because I genuinely felt it was more a song of hope and reflection on where we as the WoL have been and the places we have yet to be. The video was great!

[@AuroriaLunestia]

For me, it's not that the song itself is sad, but that it reminds me of the heartache I went through on Ultima Thule. At the end of it, the song is no longer playing, so it's not ingrained with the reunion. It's absolutely a powerful and encouraging song, it's just paired with a hard part of MSQ, so those feelings come back when hearing it.

[@SaiyanGamer95]

I see the song as bittersweet; the light after the darkness in a sense. Like, thinking back on the people you know who died, but you know that things will improve and get better. We're sad that the people we know are gone, sacrificed themselves so we can get to where we are, but hope that this is what they wanted. And like the song says "Through you, we live". It kinda reminds me of FF9's message of people living on in our hearts, even after they died. "Unspoken requiem for a river of tears" "No time for mourning" "[...] blood-red skies, tranquil after the storm" "Turning, wending, always night follows day/The sun will shine again/Walk on, never look back/Through you, we live" "Tales of loss and fire and faith" "Forge ahead, till the end, we pray" It is sad, given when we first hear it, but the lyrics are about sadness and pain that we went through, but the resolve to hold our heads high and bring hope and peace that our friends sacrificed themselves for. They put their faith, their trust in us because that they know the sun will shine again and through you, your experiences, and your heart, they'll live on, even though they're gone.

[@kazekamiha]

I would say more Saddness and Hope intertwined and dancing.

[@agafaba]

The song is definitely sad because to hear it you have to lose most of the scions. It is a song of hope, but a song sung by close friends that have passed away.

[@catdragonrose2155]

it's both imo. i think it's up to the players interpretation especially since the song has meaning to people outside of the game too. it's about finding the hope to press on and go forward even through the sadness and despair. Final fantasy does a really good job at taking real world themes and implementing them in game.

[@jrtime228]

NGL. The sacrifice that echos to me is Haucherfaunt. He didn't even entertain the idea of a second thought. When the WoL was in danger he was our shield despite paying the greatest price for his actions. Because of him, the world was saved from losing the one champion that would overcome even the end.

[@kuronaialtani]

Probably one of the most interesting things to learn about this song is that because of how Japanese works, they were able to directly include the expansion names/sub-names in the lyrics for the part that begins in English with "no time for mourning -- [morning] rises," but had to edit it for English to still fit the music as it carried on, so we get: Morning visits a realm reborn from the ashes (Morning rises on a land reborn from the ashes) Azure skies stretch out ('Neath the heavens) A storm passes in the twilight, crimson skies become still (To sunset blood-red skies, tranquil after the storm) A jet-black evening arrives (Blessed shadow)

[@fangikun1791]

While yes there's a lyrical lore to it from an in game standpoint, I am surprised to find no one ever mention of the second reading out of game and character, where the whole song is a tribute from the game devs to the players. On how players never gave up on a game reborn from the ashes, going through every extension, keeping together with your friends, or without those that are gone, only to keep seeing the next cycle of the game begin after all these years. Your reward for all of that time spent, either for new players going through the game now, or those who are there from the begining, is this song. And figuring out there's this second reading hits much harder than just the tears you get from the in game meaning.

[@FrankysABoysName]

I absolutely thought it was Graha singing - and losing him broke a dam inside me. During my play through I was just so caught up in the emotions (and lack of sleep) - I know a lot of people felt like the sacrifices were shallow, but I never accepted that because of how I felt during it. I recently caught Jaethebelle playing through this part and realized, we can't call our friends back because we wouldn't be able to breathe (etc) in Ultima Thule if we did. When we bring Emet back, before he tells us to call our friends - he states that he fixed the environment so it's safe to do so. I see the hope in the song but there is some melancholy too - I tend to view melancholy with the original meaning of the word, it's not necessarily a negative thing.

[@aerieleah533]

I understand the hollowness, but I don't think they ever made it feel like all the scions weren't coming back. And ultimately, while I hate death fakeouts, in this case, I not only accepted it but still cried knowing they would come back. Because they aren't there physically at your side you help you solve problems or chat with. Because even if as a player, I understand that they will make it back, they don't know that. As far as they are concerned, this is a leap of faith that things will work out if they leave it to us. Their chance to show that the conviction of Venat lives on. And the fact remains, the individuals they interacted with all existed at some point. I'd argue from a logical standpoint that they are different, because they are based partially on Meteion's perception of them and partially on their own perceptions. Of themselves and their situations. Also, by nature of not actually really being on their planet but instead in Ultima Thule, their environment will affect them.

[@cypheri1339]

I also struggled with losing G'raha in particular. There was just something extra painful about knowing everything he went through during the CT quest sequence, then everything that happened on the First... just for him to willingly sacrifice himself all over again after finally being given a chance to live his life for himself. Doesn't help that my main WoL is extra attached to him and the twins out of all the Scions. That moment hit hard and when the lyrics kicked in it hurt.

[@diamondedge83]

Emet didn't fix anything, we did that through our actions and our friend's sacrifices. What Emet did was create a field of elpis blooms that proved our actions successful by glowing white (and not immediately turning to dust like they should surrounded by only dynamis.)

[@aaronwalls2905]

We once made a promise to an old man who saw us at our lowest, to remeber that they lived, I like to think, we all will remember and take hope that we will not be forgotten either. Good work, and thank you for the fantastic video.

[@electricgenius]

The cat I had for 17 years was sitting next to me in bed dying as I played through endwalker. I can barely go to Ultima Thule, it's like that entire song and ending was created to help me deal with the death of my boy Ernie.

[@silvergriffin4950]

So Thancred is our foundation Estinien the wind beneath our wings, that was meant to be corny sorry Still haven't figured out Urianger and Y'sthola Graha was the song of hope Alphinauds been at our side the majority of the game, and you watch him grow so much, so I see it as his friendship was the final bridge to lift us the way we did him. And the little echoes we see at the end as we walk to the summit are Alisaies wish for us not to be alone. Just my silly little take sorry. Still trying to come up with the other 2

[@Tenkuu-san]

Urianger and Y'shtola are the gentle push at your back. Alphinaud and Alisaie are, in a way, your light in the darkness, which sort of fits how Alisaie is always describing you as the Scions' sword in the darkness.

[@silvergriffin4950]

@@Tenkuu-san reminds me of the convo with Ardbert and how he asks about Alphy and Ali being our best friends through thick and thin and telling us to protect them. Because it's the ones you love the most that you risk losing.

[@celphalonred1999]

Damn well said with alisaie and Alphinaud, im going with that.

[@seoulbornetakehiko8635]

I always thought Urianger and Y'shtola are wisdom and knowledge, respectively, as they are academically skilled. Urianger may have dealt with plenty of subterfuge in earlier expansions, but his wisdom had nailed those dark moments in our favor. Y'shtola is the one who carries with her a world's depth full of knowledge, having pretty much became the Master Matoya for the First. Alphinaud and Alisaie are, in a sense, having faith in the future. They are children after all. Our future. The ones who come after we have gone. The ones who will carry the torch and forge ahead. Just my take on things :P

[@AthenaPrime]

Urianger and Y'shtola are your compass and your guiding star, illuminating the path and pointing you towards where you're meant to go with clarity of vision--wisdom and knowledge to complement the strength and sure-footedness of Thancred and Estinien, while G'raha was hope and belief in you. The twins are the living embodiment of "you're not alone" as well as individually being the belief in everyone's second chances/the good in everyone (Alphinaud), and the ability to never give up even after a faceplant (Alisae). SE did us dirty because how were we supposed to run an 8-man boss-fight trial while ugly-crying over this, y'know?

[@BastetMusic]

Man, this song alone just ties everything together in such a powerful way. I don't know how to describe it, but I'd imagine this is what the WoL's resolve and raw, unfiltered emotion would sound like, if one were to put it to song, as well as that of their allies

[@SanraiDalris]

Your choice of Yotsuyu and Arenvald at that one point were perfect. Fitting examples, but ones marked deep by grief nonetheless.

[@burtwonk]

This game and it’s music, they unlocked something in me. I hadn’t cried in many years before I played it, now I cry just being reminded of certain parts of the MSQ

[@MomokoMakiDesu]

I could listen to this song 999 times AND I'd still cry. The more i understand the song, the more i cry.

[@Shamiynlover1]

When I played through Ultima Thule, I had a small group of friends with me who'd already completed endwalker. And at every sacrifice, they logged out for the moment- giving the impression that the sacrifices of the Scions were never alone. ...hell of a way to make a guy have an emotional crisis...

[@JoshuaVerscha]

I lost it then, and lost it here. I didn’t realize so much. This is the best game I’ve, best experience from a story, I have ever had. I needed, I think we all needed this.

[@shroompkinski]

wow, this is so well made. Every single clip fits the music and lyrics so much. Also can't help to feel very emotional every time i hear this song

[@pickledpinto146]

This made me cry again at this freaking song again !well done lad, well done!

[@timothyfoster6132]

Best one yet bud! Gave me goosebumps at the start and made me so emotional half way through. Amazing job.

[@fart9653]

Bawled my eyes out when I didn't even know the lyrics, now I'm crying harder thank you for the beautiful explanation 😭😭

[@ventivanillamatte]

so you're saying G'raha's voice actor Jonathan Bailey should sing a cover of Close in the Distance?????? i'm sold!!!!

[@Aranelyn]

I used to joke all the time that this was G'raha Tia singing, exactly because we start to hear the lyrics once he gets to disappear and the male voice fitting his tone. I had absolutely no knowledge of the lyrics or anything, so never took that thought seriously, but now i am actually happy i got that hint right

[@NicholasMonado]

I really love these types of videos of you explaining The vocals of the music makes me appreciate the songs even more than I did

[@BunBurrow]

It's not very common that I've found songs that hit me so hard they make me tear up within a few measures, but man, every time I go to Ultima Thule for farming, I am on the verge of crying. The context of G'raha being the singer for the music there just makes it so much harder to deal with. Genuinely such a beautiful composition, and such a beautiful game.

[@Reycied]

The poetic, operatic nature of FFXIV's dialogue has bled into these videos, and I am HERE for it.

[@ViewTube_Emperor_of_Mankind]

The ending of this expansion was incredible. Absolutely perfect.

[@MechZ71]

Huh I never thought to put the lyrics as from G'raha's perspective. I attributed them to Hades perspective cause the lyrics make sense to me in that way too. "No time for mourning" The uncaring, steel exterior Hades tried to exude to his comrades and people is here as is the line he spoke to Alisaie "Spare me your pity, I have no use for it." "Blessed Shadow" Hades would be one to revere the shadow and the dark in this way. "Walk on, never look back" Hades would not have their old friend to look back to them and keep marching forward cause... "Through you, we live" Through *you*, the WoL, the last remnant of the ancients and the knowledge and memory of their legacy, can he rest knowing their people will not be forgotten and live on in their mind.

[@psychosam4736]

God I love this video, nearly brought a tear to my eye. You did the song's analysis justice. This is my absolute favorite song in ffxiv, it's so beautiful.

[@grumpysheep3710]

Right now I'm in the mist of SB, once again I don't think I'll e able to handle the deep depths of SHB and EW. I honestly was fighting hard not to cry watching this.

[@shadowgirl617]

I can't stop crying 😢

[@s.m.4995]

FF14 is a true odyssey. An FF story on a scale that is incomprehensible in any other format but an Online RPG. There are few works of fiction, much less video games that have managed to capture the depth and raw humanity of FF14's narrative.

[@4n1m4s]

I recently beat Endwalker and I loved Close in the Distance. When the lyrics came, I felt the tears building up but when those lines "Walk on, never look back. Through you we live" I broke down and cried. Never has a game made me think so much on the journey I traveled, the characters I met along the way, the sacrifices I had to make, the cultures I learned about, the conflicts I had to face and over all of that, the sense of belonging in a fictional group of characters and their world. This game indeed lives inside of me and has helped me so much in growing in certain areas and I'll never stop remembering it, even though I know I'll never experience something equal to it but, after all, why wish to repeat someting when I can just keep going and finding what else is out there? After all, we are all adventurers at our core, aren't we? Always looking for the next adventure and forging ahead through highs and lows, meeting wonderful people and saying our goodbyes sometimes in ways we wish we didn't, but it just happens and we have to keep going.

[@loomingdeath1758]

Ah hell yeah We tackling one of my favorite Zone themes. Always knew those lyrics were extremly impactful :D thanks for making this.

[@TigerWolf111]

8:27 "Of kind people" *shows Yotsuyu* Alrighty then...

[@m.a.dmatt6689]

F**k me...Doesn't mater how many days, months or years...This song still brings me to tears

[@fafadk]

How you have less than 20k subs, I'll never know. Your content is amazing, keep it up !

[@GimmeTOKYO]

This song always gets me emotional. Even when it’s just echoes

[@cygnusereve4779]

You know, the determination of the scions was able to overpower the emotions of despair of several worlds while in Ultima Thule.

[@lelelekop]

Ever cosidering doing an music videos from those cutscene of yours? Damn you timed everything perfectly in regards to the lyrics and scenes.

[@TheEorzeanArchives]

I had, honestly may go ahead now someone’s asked. Thank you

[@infuriatinghealer]

I had so many thoughts and feelings I wanted to share about this song with rest of FFXIV players, but the longer I kept watching the more I realized this video is also sharing what was on my mind about Ultima Thule and this song and EW ending! Thank you! The last minute... It was breathtaking.

[@vthenarheqa]

I put off watching this video a while knowing it was going to make me cry. And it did. Yep. I never even considered about who was singing and it being G'raha makes me love my catboi even more (which I didn't think was possible). Absolutely amazing how much emotion and significance they have built throughout the MSQ over all these years. I am a huge fan of fantasy novels, and I would place this game's story higher than a lot of books I have read. Lovely video, thank you.

[@renmage2311]

crying. thank you for this video

[@thePG101]

I always knew what the song was suppose to meant but could never really form them into words. so ty! Also I love the visual cues you use too!

[@OsyrisCorleone]

Dawg, this is one of the best videos ever.

[@dragonboy131308]

Ok, I didn't realize that, and my heart can't take it 😭 such a beautiful part of the story

[@xJadeWolfxx]

I didn't realize it wasn't obviously meant to be from Raha's point of view in English, though the comparison to Japanese was very welcome. The lyrics start as soon as he's played his role and as you watch the crystal grow and build the path.

[@redius]

Damn those onion cutting ninjas wasn't expecting to tear up watching this. I should have known better.

[@bolladragon]

Time to cry!

[@carlilloos_]

This…was just beautiful. Thank you for this😭

[@TheSuperion123]

Amazing lyrical analysis. Hoping for more, especially of Footfallls.

[@TheEorzeanArchives]

It’s coming for sure

[@aerieleah533]

I am in the middle of this, so it's possible you address it, but I view this song as being from 5 different possible perspectives. The first is the one that seems to be holding your attention here the most, and indeed that is the one I think is most accurate. The scions sending out a beautiful message to the warrior, working together to push us. I imagine the music is intended to be the easier to communicate feeling of someone's presence on an almost religious level, even when they are gone. Of course, the analogy of the scions being dead and watching us from a sort of limbo is pretty close to accurate, as all it takes is time before their will is drowned out by the incredible dynamis suffusing the environment. I always hear the first few lyrics as a conversation between the warrior and the scions. "Whispers, falling silently drift on the wind." Is either scene setting or a statement of G'raha's. "But I hear you." Is the warrior, feeling their presence. "Our journey, now a memory fading from sight." Again, the scions. "But I see you." Again, the warrior. I felt like this is like Alisae says not long after the song starts. Envisioning what each ally would be doing. And perhaps even seeing little things in the environment that prove they are all still there. Thancred, the shoulders we stand on. Estienen, the breath of fresh air clearing any doubt. Y'shtola and Urianger, clearing away any confusion with their logic, practicality, and intellect. G'raha, our very own cosmic bridge with unfathomable capacity for empathy. And Alisae and Alphinaud, who's shining idealism and optimism push us that last bit of distance to our goal. Much of the lyrics can also be viewed from the warrior's perspective. So yeah I think we could view it from the perspective you outline here, and there's definitely more still. You can also view this song as the scions speaking to the denizens of ultima thule, or their own laments. "Whispers, falling silently drift on the wind." describes how we find them, just whispers, ghosts of what they once were. A scion says "but I hear you." Your whispers have been heard. We hear your pain and acknowledge it. "Our journey, now a memory fading from sight." Is again acknowledging that their times have passed. They do not remember the journey nor joy, only the pain at this point. "But I see you." I see your suffering. I can still see you. "Unbroken, promises we made so long ago." Perhaps has a clearer meaning in the scion version, but here we can view it as the promise Meteion made, that ending their suffering may just be better. "You're still here." You say you can't go on, but you are still here. You can. This isn't over. I'm not going to delve into the rest of the lyrics, but you can definitely imagine how they connect. The next interpretation I think of is a bit more meta. Ff14 has had a crazy run. We could easily view this from the perspective of the players and gm. They definitely could drown in the river of tears they have created here! I particularly like the "you're still here." Line from this perspective, like through your amazing support, we are here. And you are, still, even now. Then, again, meta interpretation. Soken. I don't know all of the details of his battle with cancer. The time frame. And I probably never will. I take the philosophy of letting it remain private. But again, having been through that experience, I imagine some of these lyrics channeled from that. Seriously. So yeah. A massively long comment to say this song moved me. Ultima thule moved me. And I think you did a good job in explaining why. I never thought for a second the scions wouldn't be coming back, but losing their direct support was an emotional thing for me. And this song really pressed the idea that no, they aren't gone. They are still here.

[@eorzeanECM]

This is beautiful. Thank you

[@MrNnaie]

Great video! Watching those cutscenes felt like I was watching a time capsule of my life with FF14 going by. Maybe a video about the EndWalker logo would be nice! It's not a space ship!

[@kiko4679]

New subscriber thank you for explaining this song because when I first heard it I was literally drawn to the song. And was wondering what was the meaning behind it. I have it set as my ringtone.

[@SushiBurritoPapi]

I love this game more than any other, but something that cracks me up is thinking that if Zenos showed up WAY earlier, none of them would’ve had to sacrifice themselves lmao. He just shows up as you face the Endsinger talking about “Bro can you hurry up? I want my rematch.”

[@gr2192]

I love those song videos, they are so deep!

[@s3rgant]

Challenge: sing this song in Karaoke without getting choked up.

[@KumagorouBeam]

they really do anything to make us cry and are really damn good at it >_

[@Zedonus0]

Most beautiful 5 minutes ever explained. Just know, that in the end, Chi will return again.

[@ObviousHUN]

Honestly I like Endwalker, it has really big high's but there are really big lows in the expansion. Garlemald was a big let down for me. (I felt annoyed rather than sad at the sisters.) Many cried and felt sad when the Companions one by one fell down but I didn't. Not because I didn't care, but I rather because the game couldn't convince for 1 second they won't come back! So, rather than getting emotional like HW or SHB. I'm against killing characters, many medium used it for shock factor, however I think they should have offed 1-2 characters Permanently to drive hom the tale of loss and overcoming despair part of the story. That part of the theme rings hella hollow for me. Close in the distnace is a powerfull song, and the endwalk and design is what saved this final area for me. As for who should have been offed? Thancreed already got a fake out, Urianger, Graha and Y'shtola our expositionists. Estinien could be, but the strongest would have been the twins. As their grandfather saved the world once (and us in 1.0) so do they give their lives so we could save the universe from despair. Had they met their end here (and no fake outs) I would have cried very ugly tears. And thematically would have been the perfect end, as we endure real despair amd loss, yet with hope on our shoulder we finish this tale of loss, fire and most importantly faith.

[@utafumi_s3244]

I've assumed that the lyrics are from the perspective of the ancients for the most part. Emet-Selch, Venat.

[@brandonpritchard6696]

I really hoped the scions that sacrificed themselves in Ultima Thule would have stayed gone. Heroic sacrifice loses its meaning if they just reappear. I get financially it would have hurt to not have certain loved chatacters like Y'shtola etc. However the whole end of a 10 year story would have mean't more if we met new allies for the stuff after Endwalker.

[@nielsjansen247]

Great now I'm crying thanks

[@zackfair6203]

I love this song so so much! Have to burst it out loud everytime I'm in Ultima Thule. Makes me tear up as well as it reminds me of all we got through. I even have that song as my alarm to wake me up in the morning. Oh, and G'Raha is the best character anyways 🥰

[@SylvostX]

this video you made is a work of art

[@Red-fg9qr]

This song seriously gets me so emotional every time Q_Q I got it for my house ♥

[@DSRJoker]

I'm not crying you're crying.

[@GoldenXShark22]

Holy shit yes

[@samj1512]

I have problems going to Ultima Thule without putting on something else in the background because of this song...

[@ZombieWolfe]

legit when i heard Ardbert i started bawling my eye out

[@dapoiboi8360]

4 times i have watched this video i still cry everytimes

[@ChieMiyagawa]

Can you not make me cry all over again?

[@naitomea_st]

Your channel is so underrated/underexposed

[@Pretourias12]

A wonderful video...so wonderful scenes.

[@Amezukita]

Holy fucking shit 🥲❤️‍🔥

[@kourtneydixon6050]

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful T^T

[@luciferr09]

I can't stop crying.....

[@ilakya]

But this song also just simply message from the dev to us, the players. The dev that listen to us, read our comments. The promises we've made since 1.X. That the game will be fix and getting better. That us the player would stay and we're still here. Through the cycles of expansions. Forge on, looking for the future. Keep going. "Through you (players) we live (dev)" literally. Tale of loss and fire and faith is what FFXIV actually is. Same as all the other lyrics. Forge ahead, Till the end. We pray. also litterally.

[@lrdeldric]

I felt that way about the Graha monologue when you’re running to revive young version in patch 5.3. That was a direct speech to the player. “Yours is a long road, my friend…”

[@hazardyoutube1121]

wow man thanks for this

[@victorinosparkajen9405]

what i find interesting is that the song is able to juxtapose christianity and buddhism and separate the two faiths so dynamically yet intertwine their core beliefs to unify two separate faiths. yes it is true you can be both buddhist and christian at the same time and this song shows you how. I was raised buddhist, but have friends that have told me their path of towards christian salvation. I do not accept their view as mine but the compassion both advocate brings closer to my heart their belief of the end and i wish upon their love and with my love for them to be with their god when they die and to never be with them when i am reborn. I shall continue and they shall remain in my heart as people I loved.

[@despertaferres844]

I like really this video, I just have one small grain of salt with your theory that G'raha is the one singing it. You mentioned that one of your point is that the lyrics in Japanese use male self-pronouns. From my admittedly novice understanding, it's incredibly common for songs to use them regardless of the singer's gender or song's intended perspective perspective especially when it's intended to be a multiple-perspective line. An example of this is NieR Automata's Weight of the World. Both English and Japanese use female singers and while English does have the line "But the truth is that I'm only one girl" JP repeatedly uses "僕" or 'Boku' (Young male) and is more appropriately translated as "We", especially in the line "そう僕らは今..." 'Sou bokura wa ima...' which is something like "We will scream even if it's worthless...". I personally hold fast to the idea this is everyone to us at once, having G'raha being the only one kind of pulls attention away from the fact that EVERYONE is here with us, in one form or another. Be it those we disembarked from the ship with, those who wished us well as we loaded in, the friends who helped us get there and the ones who didn't get to see us go and those we now only carry in our hearts. As G'raha has only been with us in a non-secretive capacity for one expansion now I personally feel he's rather undeserving of that spotlight.

[@Angarato86]

that was amazing.

[@kongviolan6343]

Your textures look crisp and current gen! Care to share your settings? 😁

[@stuartcaffrey2949]

Why is Ron Weasley the warrior of light in the thumbnail?

[@AjaniGoldmaneFFXIV]

IM NOT CRYING YOUR CRYING.... T^T

[@drakorde2573]

How were you able of writing and performing this script without crying man? 😭

[@Persona3Yukari]

love ittt ❤

[@Lrbearclaw]

I gotta know, what GShade setting do you use?

[@TheEorzeanArchives]

Its custom and available on our discord in #general! discord.gg/eorzeanarchives ~Archivist Lanverlais

[@thamadtroll9981]

I didn't know demons pray

[@mastermenthe]

He gets it

[@XthTerrorOfDeath]

Oh boy I'm going to be sad tonight :D

[@kaz1683]

So whoever is cutting onions needs to quit it....>_>

[@beachrooster9432]

'look to the Japanese." Yeah that's where your video was confirmed as clickbait.

[@TheEorzeanArchives]

Clickbait? It’s literally exactly what it says it is in the title and it’s literally a piece of info even pointed out by the writers. I’m really not sure I understand why anything up to that point would seem to obfuscate or lie about what it is or the video I made. It’s not sensationalism, I’m unsure if you watched the rest but I explained that the JP adds context just from the syntax of the language that’s missing in English. Sometimes it happens the other way around.

[@shogashogunai]

Some constructive criticism; I can feel your passion, but I also felt an extreme cringe. Your video was so forcefully pumped with flowery prose and pomp that the purpose of your video seemed entirely lost to me. This was supposed to be about a song, and instead, it seemed like you were just trying to show off how beautifully you can write and recite fancy words, which only lessened the impact of the message, and made me think less of it all as a whole. Yes, you can write, yes you can read, and yes you're passionate, but you need to tone it down a little. As Musashi said, "concerned with colouring and showing off their technique, trying to hasten the bloom of the flower. Concerned only with making impact or profit." I'm sorry if this seems overly critical or mean. I can tell you're capable of great things, just hate seeing it overdone.

[@TheEorzeanArchives]

while I appreciate the sentiment this feels pretty rude. This wasn’t over wrought, this is how I feel. if you feel it undercuts it just don’t listen to it. For some people my prose and style works for you it didn’t but I disagree that just because you use somewhat elevated language that some how is a flaw or undercuts things.

[@maevekirkland9452]

the whole point of the Eorzean Archives is that its supposed to be someone living in the world who is a scholar speaking on a topic. of course its filled with flowery prose. that's how they speak. its also not overdone. It just doesn't appeal to you. which is fine, but dont try to play yourself off as some kind of intellectual superior on the matter. Personally i like the use of colorful language, and it appeals to me.

[@kourtneydixon6050]

That wasn't constructive criticism at all, that was just your 'flowery prose' way of saying that you didn't like it.

[@Balsley1105]

6.5 will be here tommorow. Don't look back, those are the hours that were before the one you are in now, 3am will come. We can do this!