Making sense of lyrics

Discussion of the new series of Evangelion movies ( "Evangelion Shin Gekijōban", meaning "Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition"). The final instalment made its debut in Japan on March 8, 2021.

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Arcadia's legacy
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Making sense of lyrics

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Postby Arcadia's legacy » Sun Apr 10, 2016 3:25 pm

It was established in previous threads that the lyrics of certain tracks in NTE mirror that of what we're seeing on screen, be it Wunder's launch singing of humanity's strength, Ode to Joy of Seele's delight at achieving divinity, and The Wrath of God in All His Fury mirroring the sense of fear and hopelessness Wille is feeling when they find that Eva-13 has awoken. But is this true for all the tracks in NTE? How exactly does God's message tie into the space battle between Asuka and the Mark-4 at the beginning of Q for example?
Last edited by Arcadia's legacy on Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Making sense of lyrics

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Postby unitM » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:53 am

Well there was that one moment that Evageeks had. When it was thought that the DSS choker around Shinji's neck was translated into that one piano solo that plays when Shinji trips out about not saving Rei. I think that was debunked though...

I know this thread title is about lyrics but I think it can definitely be broadened to the soundtrack of Q as a whole. The new slow guitar theme that plays when Shinji is speaking with Rei Q is absolutely hopeless without using any lyrics. And 13's activation was based on Shinji and Kaworu's piano mashup, which didn't really have any lyrics either.

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Postby BlueBasilisk » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:46 pm

Here are the lyrical tracks and their corresponding scenes in the movies:

1.0
Showdown: Unit 01 vs. Shamshel.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Fight or die with truth and honour

This is the final showdown
This is the last horizon
No second chance for losing
There will be no tomorrow

Tear the heart from your aggressor

This is the final showdown
With no more road to go down
Prevail or pay the devil
This is the end forever


Angel of Doom: Second half of the Ramiel battle after its retaliatory strike.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
The beginning of the end, dark as clouds of scorn
Pouring out like prophets of doom they do forewarn
The beginning of the end, dark as clouds of scorn

Angels of Doom come calling, with no mercy
No fear, no heart, no judgement, no clemency

Angels of Doom, like evil messengers deliver misery


2.0
At The Very Beginning: Mari vs. the 3rd Angel.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
At the very beginning, we were created
To live together but soon, we hated

In greed and selfishness we,
Could never prosper
Created enemies against god's will.


Destiny: Chasing the falling Angel.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
I stand and I wait, for me destiny is here,
and I know it must be.

I have to await, my fate is as pure as snow
and as sure as can be.


Fate: Unit 01 catches Sahaquiel.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
What will the future hold
How will I be rewarded
How have I the right to riches
In a world where there are no prizes

Who makes the clock tick by
When will my fate be ready
Do I get prior warning
Am I told there'll there no surprises

I have to count my blessings
I have to learn my lessons
My fate is in the balance
I must go on believing


Farewell For Today: Unit 01's massacre of Unit 03.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Let's be friends
Forever, without end
Tomorrow, we'll dream
About the path of hope


Like the birds winging through the sky
We will live freely
So long, farewell for today
Until the day we meet again

So long, farewell for today
Until the day we meet again

Let's treasure
The joy of trusting each other
So long, farewell for today
Until the day we meet again

Until the day we meet again


In My Spirit: Zeruel's approach to Tokyo-3.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
In my spirit lies my faith
Stronger than love, and with me it will be with me for always


Keep Your Head Above The Mayhem: Mari engages Zeruel.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
In the battle of the bravest souls
Over evil shall the good prevail
If the universe is crashing down
Heed the chaos and then drown it out

Showing flashes of bravado
In a torrent of destruction
keep your head above the mayhem
Clarity will be your weapon
As the blinded falter and die


The Final Decision We All Must Take: ZA BEASTO!
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
In the end the final decision we all must take, make or break,
will decide what will be and our destiny.
If we lose the fight armageddon will finally tell,
burn in hell, there will be no after, be no other day.


Carnage: Zeruel enters HQ and Shinji engages.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
And so the carnage has begun
no hiding place for anyone
no quarter given or none taken in the bloodiest of all battles

the war to end all wars is here
the air is filled with heavy fear
Humanity is disappearing suffering as millions see slaughter

If there's no ending to this fight
eternal darkness is our plight
the darkest hour is upon us dying on the edge of destruction
multitudes will fall in the end its all universal
tragedy befalling the end of mankind

Gods cannot help us then no one can save us if
no one can save us then we
will be gone for all time
the - end - is - here - the - end - is - here - the - end - is - now


Tsubasa wo Kudasai: Unit 01 opens the Gates of Guf to save Rei.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
If I can get one wish
To come true right now, I want a pair of wings
Please grant me white wings
On my back like a bird

In this huge sky I wanna
Spread my wings and fly
Towards the free sky without any sadness
I wanna flap my wings
And go

I still dream of those things
That I've dreamed about when I was little

In this huge sky I wanna
Spread my wings and fly
Towards the free sky without any sadness
I wanna flap my wings

In this huge sky I wanna
Spread my wings and fly
Towards the free sky without any sadness
I wanna flap my wings
And go


3.0:
God's Message: Asuka vs. Mark.04B.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Teachings of ancient prophets
Teachings of ancient prophets
Scriptures of God's own message
Delivering God's message

Biblical instructions which will govern our existence
Moral codes by which we have chosen to heed


The Ultimate Soldier: Nemesis Series attack on Wunder and the launch of Unit 02 Improved.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
A fist of fury, a deadly weapon, rapier of havoc,
raised up in anger, born to do battle, without compassion,
more than a soldier, more than a killer,

and in his trail is mayhem, destruction always followed, by stricken enemies of,
the soldier of no sorrow, the band of menace beckons, in numbers his protection
The leaders of the raiders, the brothership forever


The Dark Defender: Priming Wunder for flight and Unit 02's underwater operation.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Dark Defender

engines on... feel the noise
feel the heat... power surge
in the air... soaring in
to the skies... sentinel

nothing compares
power with grace and beauty
on high

up in the clouds
hear the majestic thunder
rain down

watcher of all
sheltering from all danger we perceive
there could be
metal machine
guardian of our right to harmony
that we seek.


The Anthem: Wunder liftoff!
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Victory
over this land we will fight for our liberty
Armed with the greatest of men and machinery
This is the fight for our truth and our destiny

as one
into the skies, under the sea, over the land, we will remain free.

To the fight we will take
stealth in the air, jet fighters flare
take them apart, all out attack,
strength on the ground, tanks will abound
nowhere to run from our guns
cunning of the sea, in submarines
silently run then we strike
we will be mastered by no one
we fly the flag of the triumphants

Victory!!


Out Of The Dark: Mark.09 breaches Wunder and abducts Shinji.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Out of the dark when the world was nothing
from emptiness he began creation
on the first day where no light had shone
and so lit the sky for the first time ever

after light the heavens opened for us all to have a place where our spirits go
let there be a great expanse of air dividing water from above and below
this was his heaven
the seas did gather
dry land did follow
light in the heavens
the sun and moon and
all living creatures
were then created
to be forever


Trust: Kaworu shows Shinji the outside world and explains Third Impact.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Learn to trust, if you must, learn to love then learn to trust
turn your back, close your eyes, open minds will learn to trust

and be trusted so the guardian of all that is secure and precious is you


Return to Ash: Unit 13 descends into Central Dogma.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Time stands still as battle worn
beneath your feet the blood runs cold
no one moves
death,wasteland, razed to the ground, gone, perished what life there was
and ghostly in the darkness, there cast a shadow, mirroring madness
echoes the work of the devil
the death and destruction
the symbol of Hades
the heat and the hatred
the breakdown of life
leaves us sorrow and strife
and we all will return to the ash


It Will Mean Victory: The Children do battle in Central Dogma.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Stand up for the fight, time to be counted
New warriors come deadly invasion
scum from hell fire

thousands are the beast in number
right to the end we will battle our demons
we'll kill every one as we fight for our freedom

so let nothing put asunder
dissipate all that has come to demolish (us)
punish the enemy once and for all (and then)

only the banishment of our agressors will finally mean victory.


Betrayal: Shinji cuts off Kaworu's controls and takes the Spears.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
With vengeance retribution will be sought with time
the sacrifice the crime

Apostles feed upon the flesh and in return the poor soul reaches our
wrest crippled mental torture the chance to be immortal

Once friends betrayed so ruthless, now dead his friend and friendship
Once friends betrayed so heartless, memories crushed to ashes


Scarred and Battled: Mark.06 and the 12th Angel are revealed.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Wade through the blood and the stench
of your victims your clenched fist of glory
holds lifeless non beating hearts
when dust has settled your soul
scarred and battled will tell of a story
where courage makes one a man

Demonised
Built of lies
Bastardised
Let to die in a fit of mutilation
Nations doomed
Empires screwed
hatred spewed
All has gone in a blink of devastation


From Beethoven's 9th: Unit 13 awakens and kicks off Fourth Impact.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Joy, o wondrous spark divine,
Daughter of Elysium,
Drunk with fire now we enter,
Heavenly one, your holy shrine!
Your magic powers join again
What fashion strictly did divide;
Brotherhood unites all men
Where your gentle wing's spread wide.

The man who's been so fortunate
To become the friend of a friend,
The man who has won a fair woman -
To the rejoicing let him add his voice.
The man who calls but a single soul
Somewhere in the world his own!
And he who never managed this -
Let him steal forth from our throng!

Joy is drunk by every creature
From Nature's fair and charming breast;
Every being, good or evil,
Follows in her rosy steps.
Kisses she gave to us, and vines,
And one good friend, tried in death;
The serpent she endowed with base desire
And the cherub stands before God.


The Wrath of God in All its Fury: The Vessel of the Adams fights Wunder and Unit 02.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
So the wrath of god in all its fury has been unlocked to welcome the death of evil
and all it portrays in the eyes of the good and just
it shall be known that when the threat to mankind has been laid down to the lord
a sceptre of fire shall be driven through all its perpetrators


Kindred Spirits: Kaworu's death.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
When knowing is enough
that feeling is of trust
through unity of mind and spirit
we can find a higher place
that will transcend mere mortal friends
and be the strength that binds us

and to a place divine
through kindred spirits find
of sheer contentment inner sanctum
through which to convey your peace
a soul that searches through endeavour
will find restful gaze upon it.

And in this peace we find as one
we vanquish thoughts of solitude

In this state we stay together


God's Gift: Mari catches Unit 13 and stops Fourth Impact.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
From the black of space I will create
earth and in my image incarnate
heaven is to be a place of rest
earth is for the people I will test

Six days have passed
on the seventh I will render myself to a day of rest and to contemplate what is to be
Mankind begins its fateful journey faced by trials and tribulations, war and peace
Of my presence to this end my work is done

this world I give, for you to live
blessed are the ones that can live in peace

Forever


Angel of Doom and Fate are especially ominous songs. Angel of Doom because that fight is what spurs Kaworu's awakening and the advancement of Seele's plan. Fate absolutely reeks of foreshadowing. Unit 01 is impaled by the twin Spear-like arms of that thing that emerges from Sahaquiel's eye-pit. Sahaquiel's body is hanging above with flashing multi-colored rings like a mini Gate of Guf, and its death leaves Tokyo-3 wrecked and bloody red, including the wreckage of the three Evas. And the whole time, the chorus is singing about what will happen in the future. Brr.

A lot of the songs in 2.0 seem to hint that a bad future is looming over the horizon and Shinji isn't going to see Asuka for a while.

3.0's "God" tracks all play over scenes featuring an Adam or the Vessel:
God's Message: Unit 01. This song doesn't really relate to the on-screen action, but it could easily be talking about the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Out of the Dark: Mark.09
The Wrath of God in All its Fury: Mark.09 moves in to save Unit 13.
God's Gift: Unit 13 deactivates and checks out of the story.

Edit: Arcadia's legacy pointed out two tracks that were missing from the list!

Famously: I'm not actually sure where this plays in the movie!
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
Famously...Famously, to the depths of despair, I have been sent.
No one was saved, and to their graves, perished and dead.
All on my head.
Because of me.
Those I have failed feel my betrayal.
The final nail, hammered by me. I didn't mean what is done.
If I could turn back the time now, I'd sacrifice my own life for him.
Why not me


Peaceful Times: 3.0+1.0 teaser theme.
lyrics  SPOILER: Show
This time is like no other for us in living memory! (Long may it last.)
Breathe the air, take in the feeling of peace and harmony!
Freedom can fly close to the sky.
Now we can shine!
Peaceful time, we've never had it so good!
Last edited by BlueBasilisk on Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:17 am, edited 4 times in total.
Someday I hope that we'll be reunited if that is what's destined to be. Perhaps we'll discover that elusive bible. And then we will finally be free!

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Re: Making sense of lyrics

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Postby Arcadia's legacy » Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:02 pm

Super thanks for putting that all together. :w00:
Why do you suppose singing about the DSS would be relevant in a space battle between Unit-02 and the Mark-04b for the tesseract?
Never let the flame that is hope burn out, for despite the length of the night, the sunrise will always come
""Trolling the audience" is the same thing as "challenging the audience" (to an audience that doesn't want to be challenged)." -Reichu

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Re: Making sense of lyrics

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Postby BlueBasilisk » Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:50 pm

You're welcome! :asuka_thumbsup:

I'm not sure it has anything to do with the fight. It's great for setting the mood and the tone of the scene, though. Showdown's in that same boat, I think. The lyrics are super dramatic for an Angel that's just a filler boss. Or Seele could have put 4B there as part of their plan. Who knows?
Someday I hope that we'll be reunited if that is what's destined to be. Perhaps we'll discover that elusive bible. And then we will finally be free!

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Re: Making sense of lyrics

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Postby Arcadia's legacy » Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:00 pm

Given that Unit-01 was apart of the scene, coupled with how God lyrics are Adam-linked, would it not make more sense for the track to have been given a more "A God is awakening" vibe to it?, since that's pretty much what happens at the end of the scene
Never let the flame that is hope burn out, for despite the length of the night, the sunrise will always come
""Trolling the audience" is the same thing as "challenging the audience" (to an audience that doesn't want to be challenged)." -Reichu


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