Final Fantasy IX - "Terra" - Folk Arrangement with Lyrics

Turn on captions to follow along with the lyrics!

This folky vocal arrangement is part of my contributions featured originally on ‪@PixelMixers‬ Final Fantasy IX album, Beyond the Mist, released in 2019. It was also posted by ‪@ocremix‬ under the title of "Homecoming."

"Terra" has always resonated with me -- from the prominent harp to the rearranged "Home" theme that features in the game. Since FFIX is my favorite game, I gave this remix my all and wanted to do my best to capture the same nostalgic, mysterious wonder I felt arriving in Terra for the first time.

The lyrics I wrote are in two characters' perspectives. The verses are inspired by Garland's point of view, while the choruses are in Zidane's. I performed all the vocals, harp, soprano and tenor recorders, hammered dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, piano, and percussion elements (tambourine, egg shakers, rainstick). I love the way the "Terra" melody sounds on the recorders, so I decided to do a sort of "call and response" in the verses as well as featuring the soprano recorder later on in an instrumental section. The densely layered vocal harmonies in the final chorus may have had an accidental influence from Appalachian folk music (particularly the Carter Family), as well.

I had to be extra nerdy and use red and blue as prominent colors in the video to represent the two worlds of the game, Terra and Gaia, of course. I'm still pretty proud of this arrangement even 2.5 years after finishing it. I notice something new and endearing about FFIX and its soundtrack every time I play it during different stages of my life. It's truly timeless. I hope my deep love for this game and its music comes through here!

--

Earth Kid: Vocals, harp, recorders (soprano, tenor), piano, hammered dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, tambourine, shakers, rainstick, arrangement, lyrics, production, video editing
Seth Tallman: Djembe
Erika Richards: Mastering (   / bullicann  )
Original composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Final Fantasy IX - Beyond the Mist: https://pixel-mixers.com/2019/06/27/f...
Art by syu_zed:   / terra_hd  

Links:
• Buy me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/J3J2S2AM
• Twitter:   / earthkid4  
• Bandcamp: https://earthkidmusic.bandcamp.com
• Facebook:   / earthkidmusic  
• Soundcloud:   / user-949356207  

--

Lyrics:

Come, pass through the veil
Move forward, now - leave behind the world you knew
Bathed in blue light,
Memories of home haunt you

Children mill about,
Vacant eyes waiting to fill with new life
Suddenly, a girl beckons you
Will you follow the path?

Home is where I belong,
The place that I long to be
Why did I come here?
This can't be home to me

What is the truth of life,
The reason for my existence?
Called by the lights of blue,
I must go into the distance

Miracle of life,
Tell me, where does your loyalty lie?
Bid farewell your friends,
They will only hold you back

Born by blue light,
I designed you to spread destruction
Why now do you hesitate?
Angel, our future rests on you

Home is where I belong,
The place that I long to be
Why did I come here?
This can't be home to me

Is this the truth of life,
Is this who I'm meant to be?
I won't look back now,
I'll seize my destiny

I won't look back now,
I'll seize my destiny.

--

#EarthKid #PixelMixers #FinalFantasyIX