One-Winged Angel (theme)

One-Winged Angel is the final boss theme from Final Fantasy VII. As such, it is heard when Cloud and his party are battling Safer Sephiroth. It is sometimes abbreviated OWA, and was composed by Nobuo Uematsu. A new orchestrated version of it is heard in the English version of Kingdom Hearts, if the player wishes to fight in the optional battle against Sephiroth, where it plays in the background during the entire fight.

One Winged Angel was one of the pieces that were translated for orchestra for the later symphonic release of the Final Fantasy VII score. Finally, a third version combining both orchestra with a rock band was created for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children movie; however, in Advent Children, the lyrics of the song have been changed. In the commentary for Advent Children, Nobuo Uematsu comments that the previous orchestration never really quite felt right to him and, by contrast, the combination of orchestra and metal sounds seemed to be what the piece really required all along.

Lyrics & Structure
Below are both versions of the lyrics. The song has changed from basically A -> A -> B -> A -> C -> C -> D -> C to what really equals out to A -> B -> C -> D -> E -> F, with some sections being carried completely by instruments. Generally the chorus speaks when the characters speak, specifically Sephiroth and long passages of orchestration synchronize with lots of on-screen action.

Lyrics (Original version)
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Latin
CHORUS Estuans interius ira vehementi Estuans interius ira vehementi Sephiroth Sephiroth

REPEAT CHORUS Sors immanis Et inanis Sors immanis Et inanis

REPEAT CHORUS

Veni, veni, venias, Ne me mori facias Veni, veni, venias, Ne me mori facias

REPEAT VERSE

Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa

REPEAT VERSE

Sephiroth Sephiroth


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English translation
CHORUS Burning inside with violent anger Burning inside with violent anger Sephiroth Sephiroth

REPEAT CHORUS

Fate - monstrous and empty Fate - monstrous and empty

REPEAT CHORUS

Come, come, O come, do not let me die Come, come, O come, do not let me die

REPEAT VERSE

Come, come, O come, Glorious do not let me die Noble Come, come, O come, Glorious do not let me die Noble

REPEAT VERSE

Sephiroth Sephiroth
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Lyrics (Advent Children version)
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Latin
Noli manere, manere in memoria Noli manere, manere in memoria Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Saevam iram, iram et dolorem Saevam iram, iram et dolorem Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Ferum terribile, terribile fatum

Noli manere, manare in memoria Noli manere, manare in memoria Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Veni, mi fili. Veni, mi fili Hic veni, da mihi mortem iterum Veni, mi fili. Veni, mi fili Hic veni, da mihi...

Noli manere in memoria Saevam iram et dolorem Ferum terribile fatum Ille iterum veniet

Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili

Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili - Bass/Tenor (Qui mortem invitavis) - Alto/Soprano Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili (Poena funesta natus) Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili (Noli nomen vocare) Mi fili, veni, veni, veni, mi fili (Ille iterum veniet)

Sephiroth, Sephiroth Sephiroth
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English translation
Won't remain, remain in memory Won't remain, remain in memory Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Raging anger, anger and misery Raging anger, anger and misery Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Fierce terror, fierce fate

Won't remain, remain in memory Won't remain, remain in memory Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Come, my son. Come, my son Come here, give me death once more Come, my son. Come, my son Come here, give me...

Won't remain in memory Raging anger and misery Fierce, terrible fate The second advent

My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son

My son, come, come, come, my son - - Bass/Tenor (By death's invitation) - - Alto/Soprano My son, come, come, come, my son (Painful tainted birth) My son, come, come, come, my son (Won't call the name) My son, come, come, come, my son (The second advent)

Sephiroth, Sephiroth Sephiroth
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There is a dispute concerning the official translation of the Latin lyrics and another, more literal translation of the first and last stanzas. Whether or not the official translation of the song conveys the same message as its literal translation is entirely a matter of opinion.

Literal Translation
Don't remain, remain in memory Don't remain, remain in memory Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Fierce anger, anger and pain Fierce anger, anger and pain Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Wild, terrible, terrible fate

Don't remain, remain in memory Don't remain, remain in memory Sephiroth, Sephiroth

Come, my son. Come my son Come here, give me death once more Come, my son. Come my son Come here, give me...

Don't Remain In memory Fierce Anger And pain Wild Terrible Fate That [Man] Once again Will come

My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son My son, come, come, come, my son

My son, come, come, come, my son He who invited death My son, come, come, come, my son [Was] born with an ill-fated punishment My son, come, come, come, my son Don't call his name My son, come, come, come, my son That [Man] will come again Sephiroth Sephiroth