The Meaning of Answers 2.0 - FFXIV Lyrical Lore

I was unhappy with our original video so I have remade it to work better. Thank you to all who offered your feedback.

The songs of FFXIV often tell us much and more about its story, themes, and people. If you understand the intent behind Answers you understand the overarching theme of all of FFXIV. Join us as we dissect and explain the sentiment behind the song.

#endwalker #finalfantasy #finalfantasyXIV #finalfantasy14 #lore # lyrics

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[ramyfarah]

Everyone: Nice lyrics Sato, what do they mean?
Sato: You'll find out in 10 years.
Everyone: ...what?

[j-plarouche]

''Henceforth, he shall walk''

[rudywuu]

Answer before endwalker, wow majestic music and cinematic.
Answer after endwalker, cry.

[Aranelyn]

After Endwalker i start crying as soon as Hydaelyn starts to sing. "To all of my children" I can see now how meaningful this is, how truly she loved Eorzea as whole.

[darkazurr]

this is more than a game, the whole story has you thinking about real life and suffering and what we dont know about the past . venat carries too much weight, it was too much to ask of her. she is my favotite caracter of any game.

[vespi]

At first, I didn't really understand the lyrics. But after Endwalker, I understand everything now. And that's why I say this: to anyone, who struggles to understand the purpose of your life, listen "Answers". It really helps to understand, that the answer in the end is what you make of it. Hear the world's voice and listen to it. Feel the breath of the world and life. Think about your own actions in life, reflect on them. And when you do, you will find the answer.

[velessia]

i went ape shit when this played during venat's sundering cutscene, waiting on the ost released to play this version on repeat

[kimaclaret]

The way this song becomes more relevant in Endwalker is pure genius. And now I can't hear it without crying.

[GenesisNebulBryn]

"Suffer (Feel) Promise (Think) Witness (Teach) Reason (Hear)
Follow (Feel) Wander (Think) Stumble (Teach) Listen (Speak)"

Tears every time.
It brings to mind my personal battle with depression.
The pain of feeling lost, my footing gone, lack of purpose--
And then fighting against it. Compassion to others, reasoning against intrusive thoughts,
listening to the struggles of others and sharing my story so none of us have to feel alone.

Yeah- it sounds corny, but my sentiment is true.
There's also something truly special about music that feels like it is speaking the words your soul couldn't find.

[AlterCody]

after endwalker these lyrics hit even harder than before, everything comes full circle

[darth_yoda]

When I first saw and heard song back in 2.0 I loved it... BUT with Endwalker it brought me to tears saying all the pain it have caused Hydaelyn her self how she suffered to protect and teach humanity how to live and how to defend them self against the coming doom of Hopelessness and the End time.

[TheAuron]

This song and the first time i saw the Opening Cutscene to A Realm Reborn will be with me for a long time, the last part especially, just when you think they are sealing him away again, Bahamut breaks free, he is NOT going back in that sphere, he is free and everything looks bad...

Then one man teleports everyone else away and faces off against Bahamut alone, and even that is not enough to finish the Dreadwyrm off, his soul still lingers on.

Then along comes Endwalker and toys with our emotions once more, what an amazing battle.

[TonyRedgrave]

Answers will always be a song that causes a sinking feeling in me. Every version of it forces images of Dalamud, Bahamut, the Final Days, and The Endsinger into my mind. The shear devastation and despair of Dalamud's Fall. The hopeless and panic of the Final Days, both in the World Unsundered and the modern version. It's so beautiful in it's melancholy, and it never fails to make me tear up.

"...In that same fleeting moment, thou must live, die and know..."

[seri-ously]

Answers was and has always been my favorite theme because of the lyrics and having known it was in connection of Hydaelyn and to us. Endwalker really did a good job and went full circle back to beginning and giving us her Answers in full, by relating to this song for those who have long been with the game. Which is a beautiful and almost like a loveletter to ARR and the past expansions and to the players.

[gr]

I'll keep going back to this video every now and then...and it always gives me goosebumps

[TheGeekShow]

Really nice video and interpretation, but I wanted to throw this out there. The song isn't just about the new humanity that came after the sundering, but also Venat's lament for her people and their folly, as well as a plea to Meteion to stop what she and her sisters are doing. These lines have multiple meanings in the context of Endwalker:

"Now open your eyes, while our plight is repeated,
Still deaf to our cries, lost in hope we lie defeated,
Our souls have been torn, and our bodies forsaken,
Bearing sins of the past, for our future is taken"

The first line can speak to the present peoples of Etheirys, but it's also a plea from Venat to the unsundered and those like Fandaniel. The second line laments how her people and Meteion and her sisters are "deaf" to the suffering they have wrought - which is why it's sung by Hydaelyn/Venat and not the choir. The third and fourth lines are clearly about the sundering, but also point to why she judged it a necessary evil. The fact that the last line is also sung by Hydaelyn/Venat suggests that while the present peoples of Etheirys may not know what sins they have commited, she does and bears them too. The sundering took everyone's future, Venat's included as she was forced to become Hydaelyn.

If you look at the next few lines then they're basically talking about the ongoing conflict between Hydaelyn and the followers of Zodiark.

"War, born of strife, these trials persuade us not,
Words without sounds, these lies betray our thoughts,
Mired by a plague of doubt, the land, she mourns,
Judgement binds all we hold to a memory of scorn"

The first line is Hydaelyn/Venat stating that she will not forsake her course of action even after several rejoinings have happened, but the accompanying "Feel what? Think what" from the choir highlights how the people of the world are largely ignorant of the hidden conflict, and don't understand why all these disasters and wars keep happening.

The second line I'm not sure about, but I think it's a reference to Meteion, who communicated through telepathy - words without sounds. Because of her ability she was probably also able to detect lies, although given her innocence she may not have understood what they were at the time. I think this is a reminder that Meteion and her sisters are always watching, waiting for the cracks in the worlds "aetheric armour" to form.

The third line shows how Hydaelyn/Venat has continued to question her own actions, while at the same time being unable to help the people of the world in the way she wants because, well, the fourth line. Basically her hands are tied because of the attacks from Zodiarks forces, the rejoinings that have happened, and having to be on constant watch for the true threat that only she remembers.

I have more thoughts on the song, but that should be enough for now.

[christopherbravo]

this song in a nutshell:
people: God, please tell us how we're supposed to live
Hydaelyn: heck no figure it out for yourselves LOL

[SemekiIzuio]

Made me cry again, Answers has aways been that way song and opening cinematic

[Ephremjlm]

Great video, you really hit the feels with this one. A lot of people play down the importance of 1.0 in the story but this song is a haunting reminder of where we came from.

[IjusVindrBjorr]

This song is just . The lyrics are so rich with meaning and emotion. This video was flawless. Watching this after endwalker . Gives it all so much more context and meaning. Thank you sm