Template:MusicBox "From Shadows" is Blake Belladonna's music theme. Two versions of the song exist: the one featured in the "Black" Trailer, and an extended version featured in the RWBY Volume 1 Soundtrack which is slightly longer and features extended lyrics.
Composition
The song opens with soft piano work accompanied by wordless vocals in the key of D minor. The song then transitions to a quicker tempo with synthesized bass parts and percussion.
Then, an Atlesian Knight-130 says "Intruder, identify yourself," followed shortly by uptempo guitar work and the verses, played in the key of E minor. The verses are followed by a guitar solo, after which the piano has a brief reprise as the song ends.
The verses feature vocals from both Casey Lee Williams and Jeff Williams. The song's tone, style and lyrics denote dissatisfaction and anger, as the singers express their dissatisfaction and intention to retaliate against the injustice that they have faced.
Lyrics
Single
From shadows,
We'll descend upon the world,
Take back what you stole.
From shadows,
We'll reclaim our destiny,
Set our future free,
And we'll rise.
And we'll rise.
Above the darkness and the shame.
Above the torture and the pain.
Above the ridicule and hate.
Above the binding of our fate.
Born with no life,
Into subjugation.
Treated like a worthless animal,
Stripped of all rights,
Just a lesser being,
Crushed by cruel ruthless Human rule.
When it started,
All we wanted was a chance to live our lives,
Now in darkness,
Taking everything we want and we will rise.
We'll rise.
We'll rise.[1]
Album
Born with no life,
Into subjugation.
Treated like a worthless animal,
Stripped of all rights,
Just a lesser being,
Crushed by cruel ruthless Human rule.
When it started,
All we wanted was a chance to live our lives.
Now in darkness,
Taking everything we want and we will rise.
We'll rise.
We'll rise.
From shadows,
We'll descend upon the world,
Take back what you stole.
From shadows,
We'll reclaim our destiny,
Set our future free.
And we'll rise.
And we'll rise.
Above the darkness and the shame.
Above the torture and the pain.
Above the ridicule and hate.
Above the binding of our fate.
Call us liars,
Degenerates, and killers,
Psychos, heartless, insane criminals,
Stupid, mutts and,
Nothing but pure evil,
Primal, bloodshed, is all that's left to do.
We're misguided,
Treated like we're criminals and we should hide.
Born indicted,
Tired of being pushed around and we will fly.
We'll fly.
We'll fly.
From shadows,
We'll descend upon the world.
From shadows,
We'll reclaim our destiny.
Trivia
- The lyrics reference the fact that Blake is a Faunus, as revealed in "The Stray." It may also allude to the Faunus Rights Revolution, the White Fang, and the discrimination that the Faunus experience throughout the series in general.
- Some of the lines in the album version of "From Shadows" are also similar to lines of dialogue from the series, more specifically, Blake's dialogue.
References
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