1000 Words

"1000 Words" (Japanese)

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Believe with me: Even if we are torn apart, our feelings will unite us. That's what this song is about.

Yuna and Lenne, addressing the crowd at the Thunder Plains

"1000 Words" (1000の言葉, Sen no Kotoba?) is the ballad Yuna sings from atop the Celsius at the concert on the Thunder Plains in Final Fantasy X-2 during Chapter 4. It was written by Kazushige Nojima, Noriko Matsueda, and Takahito Eguchi. The Japanese version is sung by Koda Kumi, and the English version by Jade Villalon from German pop group Sweetbox.

The original Japanese version is included on the single "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba". A different English version was also done by Kumi, released on her single Come With Me. The Come With Me single also includes a remix titled: "1000 Words" (DJ 19 Remix). An orchestrated Japanese version is included on Koda Kumi's album Grow into One as a bonus track, alongside the original version.

Japanese version (Koda Kumi)

Lyrics in italics were removed from Yuna's concert.

Japanese

君の言葉は

夢の優しさかな?

ウソを全部

覆い隠してる

ズルイよね

旅立つ君に

冷めた背中見せて

聞いていたよ

ひとり戦うの?

ズルイよね

「帰ってくるから」

追い越してゆく君の声

意地張って

強いフリ

時を戻して

叫べば良かった?

行かないでと涙こぼしたら?

今はできる

どんなことも

言えなかった

１０００の言葉を

遙かな

君の背中におくるよ

翼に変えて

言えなかった

１０００の言葉は

傷ついた

君の背中に寄り添い

抱きしめる

夢の続きは

君を思いながら

あの日のこと

忘れたふりして

ズルイよね

「手紙を書くから」

視線そらした君の声

意地張って

強いフリ

時を戻して

怒れば良かった?

待てないよと肩を落としたら？

今はできる

どんなことも

聞こえてる?

1000の言葉を

見えない

君の背中におくるよ

翼に変えて

聞こえてる?

1000の言葉を

つかれた

君の背中に寄り添い

抱きしめる

言えなかった

１０００の言葉を

Lalalala...

君の背中におくるよ

翼に変えて

聞こえてる?

1000の言葉を

Lalalala...

君の背中に寄り添い

Lalalalala....

Rōmaji

Kimi no kotoba wa

Yume no yasashisa kana?

Uso o zenbu

Oikakushiteru

Zurui yo ne

Tabidatsu kimi ni

Sameta senaka misete

Kiiteita yo

Hitori tatakau no?

Zurui yo ne

"Kaettekuru kara"

Oikoshiteyuku kimi no koe

Iji hatte

Tsuyoi furi

Toki o modoshite

Sakebeba yokatta?

Ikanai de to namida koboshitara?

Ima wa dekiru

Donna koto mo

Ienakatta

Sen no kotoba o

Haruka na

Kimi no senaka ni okuru yo

Tsubasa ni kaete

Ienakatta

Sen no kotoba wa

Kizutsuita

Kimi no senaka ni yorisoi

Dakishimeru

Yume no tsuzuki wa

Kimi o omoinagara

Ano hi no koto

Wasureta furishite

Zurui yo ne

"Tegami o kaku kara"

Shisen sorashita kimi no koe

Iji hatte

Tsuyoi furi

Toki o modoshite

Okoreba yokatta?

Matenai yo to kata o otoshitara?

Ima wa dekiru

Donna koto mo

Kikoeteru?

Sen no kotoba o

Mienai

Kimi no senaka ni okuru yo

Tsubasa ni kaete

Kikoeteru?

Sen no kotoba wa

Tsukareta

Kimi no senaka ni yorisoi

Dakishimeru

Ienakatta

Sen no kotoba o

Lalalala...

Kimi no senaka ni okuru yo

Tsubasa ni kaete

Kikoeteru?

Sen no kotoba wa

Lalalala...

Kimi no senaka ni yorisoi

Lalalalala...

English translation

Are those words of yours

Just a kindness of the dream?

It even conceals

All the lies

It's unfair

Giving you the cold back

To the departing you

I was listening

You're fighting alone?

It's unfair

"I'll return home"

Your voice bypasses me

I was stubborn

And acted all tough

As I turn back time

Should I have called you?

What if I shed tears asking you not to go?

I can finally do

Anything now

I couldn't say

Those 1000 words

I'll send them to

Your distant back

As wings

Those 1000 words

I couldn't say

Will lean against your

Injured back

And embrace you

The dream continues as

I think of you

Pretending to forget about

Those days

It's unfair

"I'll write you a letter"

Your voice seems to look away

I was stubborn

And acted all tough

As I turn back time

Should I have gotten upset at you?

What if I dropped my shoulders telling you I couldn't wait?

I can finally do

Anything now

Can you hear it?

Those 1000 words

I'll send them to

Your unseen back

As wings

Can you hear it?

Those 1000 words

Will lean against your

Tired back

And embrace you

Those 1000 words

I couldn't say

Lalalala...

I'll send them to your back

As wings

Can you hear it?

Those 1000 words

Lalalala...

They'll lean against your back

Lalalalala...

English versions

Lyrics in italics were removed from Yuna's concert, which used Jade's version.

Koda Kumi I know that you lied to me Using gentle words to shelter me Your words are like a dream But dreams could never fool me It's not right to me I acted so distant then Turned my back as you walked away But love was listening That you fight your battles far from me It’s not right to me "Don't you worry 'cause I'll come back" I could hear you speaking As you walked to the door I acted strong to hide the pain When I turn back the pages Crying might've been the answer What if I'd shed my tears And begged you not to leave? But now I'm not afraid to do what's in my heart Those thousand words Have never been spoken So far away I'm sending them to you Wherever you are Suspended on shiny wings Those thousand words Have never been spoken They'll cradle you Making all of your pain seem so far away And hold you forever The dream isn't over yet I pretend and say I can't forget I still live in that day You've been there with me all the way It’s not right of me "Don't you worry 'cause I'll write to you" I could see you speaking As you looked away I acted strong to hide the love When I turn back the pages Anger might've been the answer What if I shook my head And said that I can't wait? But now I'm not afraid to do what's in my heart Those thousand words Have never been spoken So far away I'm sending them to you Wherever you are Suspended on shiny wings Those thousand words Have never been spoken They'll cradle you Making all of your pain seem so far away And hold you forever Those thousand words Have never been spoken Lalalala... I'm sending them to you Wherever you are Suspended on shiny wings Those thousand words Have never been spoken Lalalala... Making all of those years feel like only days Lalalalala...

International version (Jade) I know that you're hiding things Using gentle words to shelter me Your words were like a dream But dreams could never fool me Not that easily I acted so distant then Didn't say goodbye before you left But I was listening You'll fight your battles far from me Far too easily "Save your tears 'cause I'll come back" I could hear that you whispered As you walked through that door But still I swore to hide the pain When I turn back the pages Shouting might've been the answer What if I'd cried my eyes out And begged you not to depart? But now I'm not afraid to say what's in my heart Though a thousand words Have never been spoken, They'll fly to you Crossing over the time And distance holding you Suspended on silver wings And a thousand words One thousand confessions Will cradle you Making all of the pain you feel seem far away They'll hold you forever The dream isn't over yet Though I often say I can't forget, I still relive that day You've been there with me all the way I still hear you say "Wait for me, I'll write you letters" I could see how you stammered With your eyes to the floor But still I swore to hide the doubt When I turn back the pages Anger might've been the answer What if I'd hung my head And said that I couldn't wait? But now I'm strong enough to know it’s not too late 'Cause a thousand words Call out through the ages They'll fly to you Even though I can't see I know they're reaching you Suspended on silver wings Oh, a thousand words One thousand embraces Will cradle you Making all of your weary days seem far away They'll hold you forever Oh, a thousand words (A thousand words) Have never been spoken (Oh yeah) They'll fly to you They'll carry you home (Carry you home) And back into my arms Suspended on silver wings (On silver wings) And a thousand words (Oh) Call out through the ages (Call through the ages) They'll cradle you (Oh yeah) Turning all of the lonely years to only days (Only days) They'll hold you forever Oh, a thousand words...

Game appearances

Final Fantasy X-2

"1000 Words" has three versions on the original soundtrack: the version Yuna sings on the Thunder Plains, an instrumental piano version, called "A Wish That Spans the Ages" in the Luca sphere theater, and a longer, orchestrated version, that plays during the ending credits.

During the Japanese concert FMV Yuna transforms into Lenne, and continues to perform the solo in Lenne's likeness. In the English version, Lenne appears alongside Yuna and they perform together.

In the HD Remaster, the Japanese version retains its original FMV and the overseas version uses the original overseas version making it the only content in the HD Remaster to not be faithful to the International version.

A dark reprise of the theme's main melody can be heard within the final boss theme, "Their Resting Place", from 0:47–0:57 and 1:55–2:05.

Story

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

Yuna's concert.

The Gullwings organize a concert on the Thunder Plains to help pacify the conflicted populace whose unrest was further triggered by the disappearances of Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai, the leaders of Spira's factions. The Gullwings enlist the help of Tobli from the Moonflow to promote the concert and gather a crowd, but even as members of the Youth League and New Yevon are brought to the concert grounds tensions rise. Yuna addresses the people, telling them that even in times of conflict they need to remain united in their hearts to help the world move on.

During Yuna's performance the Songstress dressphere summons Lenne's spirit, her memories of the Zanarkand she lived in, and her final moments with Shuyin as the pair was gunned down. The pyreflies from the dressphere react with the stage's sphere display to broadcast Lenne's memories to everyone in attendance. Lenne's spirit steps out of the dressphere and performs the song together with Yuna. At the song's end the thunderstorm briefly ceases, the clouds part and the sun shines down on the barren plains. The experience drains Yuna emotionally, but understanding Lenne's true feelings gives her the resolve to find Shuyin's spirit and tell him Lenne had loved him to bring a peaceful end to the Vegnagun conflict.

Spoilers end here.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call

"1000 Words" appears as an Event Music Sequence for Final Fantasy X-2. Triggering the Extended Version causes clips from the Normal and Good Endings of Final Fantasy X-2 to appear. The International version features the original Japanese version of the song, and there is a minor change where Yuna's change to Lenne is changed to the segment presented in the International releases where she changed in a burst of light, rather than retaining the original Japanese where Yuna smoothly changed into Lenne, making the EMS look rather strange.

Arrangement album appearances

Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection

"1000 Words" is included, arranged and performed by Hiroko Kokubu.

Sheet music

From the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega.

From the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega.

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Allusions

• An Arcanist quest in Final Fantasy XIV is titled "A Thousand Words".