Into the Dark (The Mist Cave)

[bnewman]

This is my lyric arrangement of the underground theme from Final Fantasy IV. In the game, the first cave you encounter is the Mist Cave, which is haunted by a Mist Dragon — and the Mist Dragon turns out to have a specific connection to the game's plot, which is not explored in the song. The song represents more of a legend that might have grown around the place, before the events of the game occur.

The chords, based on an analysis of a MIDI file, are as close as I could make them and unfortunately quite difficult to play on the guitar — F#m is, based on a computer search, the least-annoying key, and I still can't pull it off consistently. My recording is a cappella.

lyrics by Benjamin Newman
ttto: "Into the Dark" from Final Fantasy IV by Nobuo Uematsu

listen to this song

/ F#m - G - / F#m - Em - / 1st / /

 

Travelers wandering far from your home

Cast away, doomed to roam

Trudging ahead under threatening skies

All around, mountains rise

 

/ A - Em - / A - Cm G# / Cm Dm Gm - / Cm G# Cm F / G ... /

 

Over or under the path must go

In moments the storm will be here, so

It's time to swallow your fear, as you go

Down, down, down into the dark

 

As you press on through the deepening shade

Watch your back, draw your blade

All your companions are stalwart and brave

What's to fear?  It's just a cave

 

Watchful the shadows your lanterns cast

Caverns around you so deep, vast

Come, carefully creep, as you go

Down, down, down into the dark

 

Light up ahead shows a passage-way out

Freezing fog swirls about

Streamers like dragons appear in the mist

Merge and fade, writhe and twist

 

Maybe the mist is a living thing?

Maybe these tendrils can scratch, sting?

Maybe they're reaching to snatch, carry you

Down, down, down into the dark

 

Just a few paces and you can win free

Stand and fight, or turn and flee?

Maybe the mists can be wounded by steel

If you strike when they congeal

 

Sword stroke by sword stroke the mists recede

Who knew a vapor could cry, or bleed?

Watch the mist dragons fly, as they slip

Down, down, down into the dark