After a rather ignoble post by the Rage Mage, how about something a little more wholesome?
So this comes as a surprise to me, but the most popular post we featured in 2016 was a piece on “I Was Born For This”, the closing song from the soundtrack to Journey. Coming to understand the translations for the Old English, the Japanese, Latin, Greek, and French lyrics in the song were something that a lot of readers evidently responded positively to. Next to the home page, it’s the most viewed page on this blog.
Therefore, in the interests of supply and demand, I decided to share the translation for another powerful song, the haunting, pining, elegant “The Best Is Yet To Come” from the soundtrack to Metal Gear Solid. Its meaning is strangely gentle, and sad, for the closing of this chapter in the life of a man like Solid Snake. Yet this song of loneliness, memory and the future  is appropriate for him.
We’re already talking about an OST that is morose, brooding, dark, and atmospheric but in the case of the song at hand, this is something which first enchants and then impacts at the end of the game. The song serves as a bookend to the game playing over its opening sequence and ending credits. It was sung by Irish vocalist Aoife NÃ Fhearraigh.
Below are the original Gaelic lyrics and their translation:
An cuimhin leat an grá
(Do you remember love)
Crá croà an ghrá
(The heartbreak of love?)
NÃl anois ach ceol na h-oÃche
(Nothing now but music of the night)
Táim sioraà i ngrá
(I am forever in love)
Leannáin le smál
(A lover with a fault)
Leannáin le smál
(A lover with a fault)
Lig leis agus beidh leat
(Allow it and you will have it)
Lig leis agus beidh grá
(Allow it and love will be)
Cuimhne leat an t-am
(Can you still remember)
Nuair a bhà tú sásta
(When little things made you happy?)
An cuimhne leat an t-am
(And can you still remember)
Nuair a bhà tú ag gáire
(When simple things made you smile?)
Tá an saol iontach
(Life can be so simple)
Má chreideann tú ann
(If you can only see)
Tug aghaidi ar an saol is
(Whatever happened to those days?)
Sonas sioraà inár measc
(Whatever happened to those nights?)
Céard a tharla do na laethanta sin
(Can you still remember)
Céard a tharla do na h-oÃcheanta sin
(When little things made you sad?)
An cuimhin leat an t-am
(And can you still remember)
Nuair a bhà tú faoi bhrón
(When simple things made you sad?)
An cuimhin leat an t-am
(Is it just me or is it just us)
Go sioraà sileadh na ndeor
(Feeling lost in this world?)
An ormsa nó orainne a bhà an locht
(Why do we have to cause this pain?)
Ag mothú cailte s’ar fán
(Why do we have to weep tears?)
Cén fáth an t-achrann is sileadh na ndeor
(Please tell me we’re not alone)
Tá áilleacht sa saol Má chuardaÃonn tú e
(In this world fighting the wind)
Tá gliondar sa saol
(Life can be simple if you can only see)
Creideann sé
(The best is yet to come)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6VSTPranO4&w=560&h=315]
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Ellen, I am confused? Is this you?
I love this theme. Every time I hear this song, I not only think about the ending of the game, but rather that after despair, good things really will happen or come! This song may sound sad, but it can also be a song of motivation! 🙂 Thank you for posting this information!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Yeah it’s a very wisftul but hopeful song. I fell in love with it so many years ago. Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
I love this song!!! All of the ending credit songs from the MGS series really are quite fabulous. I did think this game was sad and poignant, as Snake seemed to become disillusioned to so many different things, including what he thought he knew about himself and his father. The music captures this perfectly, and I always feel a twinge of nostalgia when I hear it, so thank you 🙂 Nice article!
Yeah! The franchise has some good tunes. I’m happy to discover the meaning behind the words personally! It seems so appropriate for Snake. Thanks for reading!
BY FAR, my favorite track from a video game soundtrack. LOVE THIS SONG!! Great share dude!
Hey Raccoon Pappy! Thanks for dropping in! I love this song as well and it just popped in my mind yesterday, so I thought I’d dig up the translation. My first time reading them in English. Thanks for reading!
The lyrics fit the mood of the piece so well. I’d like to hear an English rendition, just to hear a contrast. Never been a fan of translated music from its original form, but still curious about it.
I was curious too and found one. If you Google it, you’ll see it on first page of video results.
Donna Burke sings the English version, musically I like original better. BUT the English version is DEEPLY HUMAN. Talking about the little things and forgetting what mattered most.
FYI, the saying, “the best is yet to come”, has been my whole life motto. It’s helped me a lot and hopefully many others I’ve said that to.
Gonna share “Sins of the Father” on my page.
Dude you already know so much about it! I’m also moved to hear that the song has had such an impact on your life. That’s a really cool way to think about life. Inspiring outlook!
Thanks, I’ve been a fan of the series since NES; so yeah, MGS will always have a special place in my heart. As for the saying, I keep that close to me beyond it’s source.