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 you will find both versions of the lyrics. You will also note that the structure of 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)

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 SOPRANO SOLO Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa REPEAT VERSE Sephiroth Sephiroth

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 SOPRANO SOLO 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

Lyrics (Advent Children version)

Latin Noli manere, manare in memoria Noli manere, manare 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

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

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