"Hymn of the Penitent" is a final boss theme in Final Fantasy XVI. It was composed by Masayoshi Soken and arranged by Soken and Yoshitaka Suzuki, with lyrics written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox.
It contains "Logos", the leitmotif of Ultima and the melody of "Find the Flame". The song is delivered in a melancholic tone and also features some female wails in between the first and second stanzas.
Lyrics[]
The official lyrics were released on the Final Fantasy XVI Original Soundtrack.
- O my Lord I ask of Thee
- Fire to purge my soul and strike it clean
- Of my iniquity
- Fire to tame the dark and guide me
- Broken promise of amendment
- Hearts contrite we seek repentance
- Certain in our faith
- Blessed in His grace
- O, children of fate
- One heaven awaits!
- O my Lord I ask of Thee
- Fire to purge my soul and strike it clean
- Of my iniquity
- Fire to tame the dark and guide me
- Broken promise of amendment
- Hearts contrite we seek repentance
- Pride, wrath, and avarice
- Envy and arrogance
- Vainglory, gluttony
- Lust and despondency
- Souls bestained
- Depraved, defiled
- Parasites!
- Foul our wills
- By Thee must be
- Exorcised!
- O Lord preserve us
- Take us in fourfold embrace
- Oh won't Thou let Thy will be mine
- Provide us sweet draughts of Lethe
- Fountain, plenteous fountain
- Impart to us solace deathless
- For ay!
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy XVI[]
"Hymn of the Penitent" plays during the first half of the battle against the final boss Ultimalius, before he uses Limit Break. It is track 14 of disc 7 on the Final Fantasy XVI Original Soundtrack.
Etymology[]
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word hymn derives from Ancient Greek ῠ̔́μνος (húmnos).
Lethe (Λήθη, Lḗthē) was one of five rivers in the underworld, as well as the name of a spirit associated with the river. The spirit Lethe was the spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, and drinking the water of the river caused forgetfulness. The Lethe River was portrayed in the Divine Comedy as a river in Purgatory, which Dante drank from to wipe memories of sin from his mind, preparing him to enter Heaven.
In Greek mythology,Lethe is also the Greek goddess of oblivion.