"Close in the Distance" is a vocal theme song in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, composed and arranged by Masayoshi Soken. The lyrics were written by Tom Mills and the vocals were performed by Jason C. Miller. It was first revealed on November 6, 2021 as part of the Endwalker launch trailer.
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker[]
Three versions of the song play as the field themes in Ultima Thule as the story is progressed. "Echoes in the Distance", the initial version, is a heavily distorted and muffled version of the song. The next version to play, "Close in the Distance (Instrumental)", is an instrumental version without the distortion and muffling, while the full lyrical plays last. Each change in the song accompanies a sacrifice by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn as they make their way towards Meteion's nest.
Three of the versions appear as the 45th, 46th, and 47th tracks on Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
An arrangement by Daiki Ishikawa, "Of Countless Stars", serves as the 
The Dead Ends dungeon theme. It is the 49th track on the soundtrack.
Lyrics[]
The official lyrics were released in the Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack along with the Japanese translation by Natsuko Ishikawa.
- English
- Whispers falling silently, drift on the wind
- But I hear you...
- Our journey now a memory fading from sight
- But I see you...
- Unbroken, promises we made so long ago
- You're still here...
- Unspoken requiem for a river of tears
- Flowing, winding, toward eternal sea
- And yet our hope remains
- Guiding, lighting the way
- No time for mourning...
- (Morning) rises on a land reborn from the ashes
- 'Neath the heavens
- To sunset, blood-red skies tranquil after the storm
- Blessed shadow
- 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
- Every word on our hearts engraved
- In the dark, you will not stray
- Forge ahead till the end we pray
- Japanese translation
- この声は風に紛れ、音もなく消えていく
- ――だが、お前の声は聞こえてるんだ
- 俺たちの旅はもう、過去のものになった
- ――だが、今でもお前を見守ってる
- あのとき交わした約束は、消えちゃいない
- ――お前がまだ、ここにいるんだから
- 言葉なき鎮魂歌を、 涙の河へ捧げに行こう
- 押し流され、曲がりくねって、 久遠の海を目指す
- 苦しくとも希望が尽きたりはしない
- 道を照らし、お前を導く
- 悲しんでる暇はないだろう？
- 灰より新生せし大地に朝が訪れ
- 蒼天が広がる
- 夕暮れには嵐が過ぎ、静かなる紅蓮の空
- 漆黒の宵が訪れる
- 世界は回り、時は進んで、夜は朝を連れてくる
- 何度だって陽は昇るだろう
- 振り返らずに行け
- 俺たちはお前の中に生きている、そう――
- 冷たい哀しみと、焦がすような歓び、温かな信頼の物語の中に
- すべての言葉がこの心に刻まれてるんだ
- 暗闇の中でも、お前は決して迷わない
- 前へ進め、俺たちは皆、終わりまで祈り続ける――
Arrangement album appearances[]
The Primals: Beyond the Shadow[]
An arrangement of "Close in the Distance" by GUNN appears in the Primals' fourth album.
