Summary

• The lyrics of "One-Winged Angel" are in Latin, and emphasize Sephiroth's fearsome image.
• The song symbolizes Sephiroth's fall from grace and his quest for godhood.
• A focus on fate in the lyrics works well with the themes of the FF7 Remake trilogy.

There are few themes more iconic in video game history than "One-Winged Angel" from monstrous Safer-Sephiroth form.

"One-Winged Angel" has become a major part of Sephiroth's image over the years, to the point where it was his theme during his Super Smash Bros. Ultimate announcement trailer. It gained its reputation from the fond memories that many fans share of first hearing it. FF7 was released at a time when lyrics in video games were only just becoming commonplace thanks to the enhanced capability of CD-ROMs. FF7 doesn't feature any songs with lyrics until the moment when Sephiroth descends, and it came as a huge shock, especially when the choir starts chanting his name.

The English Lyrics For FF7's "One-Winged Angel"

The Latin lyrics for FF7's "One-Winged Angel" have been translated into English by a number of sources over the years, and one can be found in the extensive database of Square Enix Music Online. Although they're fairly simple and repetitive at a glance, this limited number of words packs in an evocative picture of Sephiroth's character and appropriately complements his imposing presence.

Burning inside

with violent anger

Burning inside

with violent anger

Sephiroth

Sephiroth

Burning inside

with violent anger

Burning inside

with violent anger

Sephiroth

Sephiroth

Fate - monstrous

and empty

Fate - monstrous

and empty

Burning inside

with violent anger

Burning inside

with violent anger

Sephiroth

Sephiroth

Come, come, O come,

do not let me die

Come, come, O come,

do not let me die

Come, come, O come,

do not let me die

Come, come, O come,

do not let me die

Glorious

Noble

Glorious

Noble

Glorious

Noble

Glorious

Noble

Sephiroth

Sephiroth

FF7: What Does Sephiroth's Theme Mean?

"One-Winged Angel" is about Sephiroth's fall from grace, which ties into his angelic theme. The (false) revelation that he was a member of the Cetra and that his people were wiped out by humanity is what drives him mad with hatred and causes him to massacre the people of Nibelheim. Sephiroth was killed when Cloud threw him into the Nibel Reactor (or he jumped in, depending on the version of events), yet he was able to survive.

Sephiroth's nature as an unnatural life form is what allowed him to maintain his consciousness in the Lifestream. The versions of Sephiroth that are seen throughout FF7 are actually manifestations of his consciousness through bits of Jenova's body, at least until Cloud finds his true body in the North Crater. Sephiroth manages to cheat death and becomes even stronger, and his grasping at immortality is alluded to in the "do not let me die" lyric.

Sephiroth's ultimate goal in FF7 is to use Meteor to cause a wound that is so big that much of Lifestream essence will be gathered. He will arrive in the center of the wound and absorb the energy of the Lifestream, allowing him to become a god. This will leave Sephiroth as the last living being in known existence, which is likely what the monstrous and empty fate he faces is referring to. Despite all this, Sephiroth still believes his goals are righteous due to what humanity did to Jenova, which ties into the "glorious" and "noble" lines.

"One-Winged Angel" Ties Into The FF7 Remake Trilogy

As a whole, the lyrics of "One-Winged Angel" focus on the dark majesty of Sephiroth, conveying both his rage and his terrible but awe-inspiring presence. The emphasis on "fate" – translated from the Latin "sors," which often has the implication of something determined by lot – is arguably even more relevant now with the FF7 Remake trilogy's enhanced perspective on fate and the possibility of changing it.

"Burning inside" is a translation of the Latin "Estuans interius," likely a reference to the use of the same phrase in Carmina Burana. Carl Orff made this collection of medieval poems into a cantata, which is most famous for the piece "O Fortuna."

Although the final showdown with Safer-Sephiroth presumably awaits in the third game of the remake trilogy, "One-Winged Angel" does make appearances in FF7 Remake and FF7 Rebirth, which give Sephiroth a more consistent presence in general. There's also a way to obtain "One-Winged Angel" sheet music for the piano minigame in FF7 Rebirth, a reward for completing the collection of items at Johnny's Seaside Inn.

"One-Winged Angel" is one of the highlights of FF7, and it's no surprise that it continues to reappear in new arrangements as more works within that universe are released. Its final orchestration in the concluding remake game will likely be something to behold, and the choral performance should once again play a major part of that, even if the lyrics can't easily be discerned while listening. "One-Winged Angel" is Sephiroth's story, of his tragic past and the dark future that will arrive if he succeeds in his plan to absorb the Lifestream in Final Fantasy 7.

Source: Square Enix Music Online