Melodies of Life (song)

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

Final Fantasy IX
"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
"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.

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

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.

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.

Cafe SQ
"Cafe SQ: FINAL FANTASY IX "Over the Hill" / yuxuki waga" is a song on this arrangement album with music arranged to the theme of music that plays in cafes.

Piano Opera Final Fantasy VII/VIII/IX
"Melodies of Life" is the twelfth song in this piano arrangement 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.

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.

EXIT TRANCE PRESENTS FamiTrance EX
A rearranged version of "Melodies of Life" appears as the third track in this album.

A New Dawn Ending
A cover version of "Melodies of Life" appears as the Japanese bonus track of the eleventh album by the Italian symphonic metal band.

Trivia

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