Sadness was the price to see it end. It's been two years since they told me that.
Marlene, in the prologue of Advent Children
"The Promised Land" (約束の地 ～The Promised Land～, Yakusoku no Chi ~The Promised Land~?) is the opening theme of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged and conducted by Kenichiro Fukui. The chorus was performed by G.Y.A and the lyrics were written by Tetsuya Nomura and translated into Latin by Taro Yamashita.
The title is shared with the location of the same name.
Lyrics[]
The Latin translation and the original Japanese of the lyrics were officially released on the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Original Soundtrack in the following format.
- Latin
- Cur in gremio haeremus?
- Cur poenam cordi parvo damus?
- Stella nobis non concessit
- Parvus pulsus
- Cor mortem ducens
- Venarum pulsus in terram fluens
- Vita mollis in stellam redeunt
- Animam sacrificare necesse est?
- Cur in gremio haeremus?
- Cur veniam petimus?
- In terra fatali?
- Original Japanese
- 何故、私達は寄り添うのでしょう
- 何故、小さな心に罪を与えるのでしょう
- 星は私達を許さなかった
- 小さな鼓動
- 死に至る心
- 大地に流れる脈
- 溶ける命は星へと帰る
- 犠牲となる魂は必要なのでしょうか
- 何故、私達は寄り添うのでしょう
- 何故、私達は許しを請うのでしょう
- この約束の地で
The following is a transcription of the lyrics from the track.
- Latin
- Cur in gremio haeremus?
- Cur poenam cordi parvo damus?
- Stella nobis non concessit
- Non concessit
- Stella nobis non concessit
- Non concessit
- Venarum pulsus in terram fluens
- Parvus, parvus pulsus
- Cor mortem ducens
- Vita mollis in stellam redeunt
- Animam sacrificare necesse est?
- Cur in gremio haeremus?
- Cur veniam petimus?
- In terra fatali?
- Unofficial English translation
- Why do we cling together?
- Why do we give punishment to lesser hearts?
- The Planet did not forgive us
- Did not forgive us
- The Planet did not forgive us
- Did not forgive us
- The pulse of veins flows through the earth
- A faint, faint pulse
- Of a heart drawn to death
- A gentle life returns to the planet
- Is it necessary to sacrifice souls?
- Why do we cling together?
- Why do we beg for forgiveness?
- In the Promised Land?
- The above English lyrics are freely translated.
Release appearances[]
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children[]
"The Promised Land" is notably played while Marlene Wallace is narrating the events of Final Fantasy VII. It is played again near the end of the film when Aerith Gainsborough calls down healing rain from the Lifestream. It is track 2 on disc 1 of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy VII Remake[]
"The Promised Land - Cycle of Souls" (約束の地 ー巡る命ー, Yakusoku no Chi -Meguru Inochi-?, lit. The Promised Land -Circulating Life-) is an instrumental arrangement by Shotaro Shima. It can be heard during certain sequences in Final Fantasy VII Remake.[1] It is track 11 on disc 1 of Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth[]
"The Promised Land" is heard being performed by a choir in Cosmo Canyon. An arrangement plays in the Forgotten Capital.
Arrangement album appearances[]
Distant Worlds VI: more music from Final Fantasy[]
"FINAL FANTASY VII Advent Children: The Promised Land" is an orchestral arrangement performed and recorded on October 28 and 30, 2022 at the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic. It was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Choir.
Live performances[]
VOICES: Music from Final Fantasy[]
"The Promised Land" was performed live during the concert by the Prima Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and G.Y.A, arranged by Kenichiro Fukui.
It was also recorded and released on the album as track 13.
Compilation album appearances[]
Square Enix Music Compilation Vol.1[]
"The Promised Land" is track 14 on the compilation album.
Square Enix Music Sampler[]
"The Promised Land" is track 20 on the compilation album.
Etymology[]
The Promised Land is a location promised by God to the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible.