The Guardian (Ellie’s Song) Lyrics
When does it get quiet? Time was supposed to extinguish the desire
But the embers won't snuff out
Haunted by your smiles, the mask keeps getting heavier
One step forward, two steps back
[Chorus]
There's a noose 'round my neck and the further I get
It's harder and harder to breathe, can I find a way to cut the rope?
I've been waiting for dawn, but the light is all gone
Don't know if I'm already blind, can I leave it all behind?
[Verse 2]
What's it really for if it's not yours and it's not mine?
This victory is not what I hoped for
How was I to know that everything would end up like this?
Survival of the fittest of sorts
[Chorus]
So I've become the bringer of death, a lover of life
The one who guards from the dark of the night, I'll be the hammer of war
Justice and mercy don't live side by side, so in retribution, I abide
I'll tip the scales to justice's end, but can it make amends?
[Verse 3]
Kill or be killed, what a way to live and die
I just can't see this cycle ever ending
How can I correct the damage done when I can't feel
The consequences of my recourse?
About
After the use of Shawn James' “Through the Valley” on the teaser for The Last of Us Part II in late 2016, the musician makes an exclusive song for the game that is directly tied to the character of Ellie.
There’s a lot of reasons why I love this song but one of the main ones is the beauty of the string arrangement from [Luis Guerra] and how it weaves in and out of the vocal phrasing and emotion. I had this melody I was whistling over the chords and it just felt right. [Jimmy Messer] had me record the whistle so we could remake the melody with different instruments but we ended up loving the whistle built up with the extra layers.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
I was honored to compose this with the guidance of [Neil Druckmann]. It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written and I loved getting to explore a more subtle, gentle, and intensely soft emotive vocal style. Since most folks just started playing, I’m not gonna spoil all the surprises of the game by giving away every detail of why I wrote this song and how it’s used… you’ll just have to play and find out for now!
- 1.The Guardian (Ellie’s Song)
- 3.Rake
- 6.Like a Stone
