The Song of the Ancients is a recurring song both played and sung in the world of Nier.
While the song itself is in a forgotten language, it describes the events of a black book sending the world into chaos, and its counterpart, a white book, defeating its foe with the Sealed Verses and restoring peace to the world. Devola and Popola frequently sing it, sometimes together, though the latter less so when she became busy with upholding the village.
Game Appearances[]
NieR[]
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Heads up! Important plot details for NieR may follow. Read at your own risk! | Route(s) A,B |
"Song of the Ancients ~ Devola" plays in the village. It is diegetically played and sung by Devola. The vocals only play when near her. It also plays during the fight against Popola after Devola's death.
"Song of the Ancients ~ Popola" plays inside the village library.
"Song of the Ancients ~ Hollow Dreams" plays exclusively at the end of the side quest "The Ballad of the Twins". It is diegetically played and sung by both of them.
"Song of the Ancients ~ Fate" plays during the boss fight against Grimoire Noir in the library and the fight against Devola and Popola in the Shadowlord's Castle.
"Song of the Ancients - Lost Androids Mixuxux" is a battle theme that appears in the "The World of Recycled Vessel" DLC.
NieR:Automata[]
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Heads up! Important plot details for NieR:Automata may follow. Read at your own risk! | Route(s) C/D |
"Song of the Ancients ~ Atonement" is a brand new arrangement. The instrumental version plays during the boss fight against Marx. The version with vocals plays when Devola and Popola sacrifice themselves to let 9S enter the Tower. "Atonement" refers to Devola and Popola's feelings of having to atone for their previous model's failure.
While not on the Original Soundtrack, "Song of the Ancients ~ Popola" makes a reappearance and plays in the library in the Tower.
Drakengard 3[]
A new arrangement of "Song of the Ancients" is available as downloadable content in the NieR BGM Remix Pack".
Final Fantasy XIV[]
"Song of the Ancients ~ Atonement" appears as the battle theme for the first and second boss of the Copied Factory raid.
Final Fantasy XV[]
"Song of the Ancients ~ Fate" appears on the "Memories of NieR" CD added to the game in patch 1.05. It can be played on the music player.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
"Song of the Ancients ~ Devola" appears as a DLC track.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]
"Song of the Ancients ~ Fate" appears as a playable track.
Arrangement Album Appearances[]
NieR Gestalt & NieR RepliCant 15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks[]
This album features three arrangements of "Song of the Ancients."
- "Song of the Ancients - Lost Androids Mixuxux", which also appeared in the "The World of Recycled Vessel" DLC. It was arranged by Keiichi Okabe.
- A piano arrangement, "Song of the Ancients/Piano Ver.". It was arranged and performed by Keigo Hoashi.
- A chiptune arrangement of "Song of the Ancients ~ Devola" appears in the medley called "The Legend of NieR: 8-bit Heroes". It was arranged by Hidekazu Tanaka.
NieR Tribute Album -echo-[]
A new arrangement of "Song of the Ancients" appears on this album. It was arranged by sasakure.UK.
Piano Collections NieR Gestalt & RepliCant[]
A piano arrangement of "Song of the Ancients" appears on this album. Despite being also arranged and performed by Keigo Hoashi, it is a different arrangement than the one featured in NieR Gestalt & NieR RepliCant 15 Nightmares & Arrange Tracks.
NieR Gestalt + RepliCant Jazz Arrange Version Vol. 1[]
A jazz arrangement of "Song of the Ancients ~ Devola", titled "Memories", appears on this album. It was arranged and performed by Sean Schafianski.
NieR:Automata Arranged & Unreleased Tracks[]
A accordion arrangement of "Song of the Ancients ~ Atonement" appears on this album. It was arranged by Jun Hayakawa with Atsuki Yoshida (EMO Quartet).
NieR Gestalt & RepliCant Orchestral Arrangement Album[]
An orchestral arrangement of "Song of the Ancients" appears on this album. It has a significantly darker mood. It was arranged by Daisuke Shinoda.
NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album - Addendum[]
An arrangement of "Song of the Ancients", performed by both Emi Evans and J'Nique Nicole, is included. It was arranged by Kosuke Yamashita.
DRAG-ON DRAGOON Chips Music[]
A chiptune arrangement of "Song of the Ancients ~ Fate" appears on this album. It was arranged by fu_mou.
Music Samples[]
Trivia[]
- Though it is sung in what is a forgotten language in the universe of NieR, the song is actually sung in Emi Evans' Chaos Language, a composite language that takes elements from English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French.