Duel of the Fates lyrics

afro-elf · 12-13-2002, 07:31 PM

Duel of the Fates

So what were they singing in "Duel of the Fates" ?
It's a line from a Celtic poem, Cad Goddeu ("Battle of the Trees"), originally translated by Robert Graves, and literally transcribed into Sanskrit. The line goes, "Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging, behind, in the head."

Sanskrit lyrics?
Williams chose Sanskrit because it was not as recognisable as Latin or Greek, and the vowels were easy to sing. The lyrics are:

Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah
Khara Rath Amah Yuddha Khara
Khara Syada Rath Amah Dai Ya
Khara Ki La Dan Ya
Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah
Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah
Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Khara
Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah
Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah
Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah
Khara
Was it then also Sanskrit at Qui-Gon's funeral ?
Yes. Before you ask:

Mahdhurah swehpna
Go rahdomah swepna
Mahdhurah swehpna
Go rahdomah swepna
Moorittioo mahdurah swehpna

What do they mean ?
Good question. This is an approximate guide. Don't worry if the words don't translated too well in English - because there is no formalised grammar in Sanskrit.

Khara dreadful
Matha head
Rath speak
Amah give
Yuddha battle
Syada raging
Dai purify
Ya going
Ki like
La taking
Dan separate
Niha loss
Go rahdomah to set out for battle
Swepnah, Swapna dream, dreaming
Madhura, Madhurah sweet
Moorittioo death

Nibs · 12-13-2002, 11:50 PM

Ooo... that makes it even cooler... although you can't get much cooler than watching John Williams himself directing that song on the special features of the Episode I DVD.

Gwaimir Windgem · 12-15-2002, 10:59 AM

Is that the song the played during the lightsaber duel in Episode I?

afro-elf · 12-15-2002, 08:41 PM

Arathorn · 12-16-2002, 05:23 AM

Oooooh! I'll have to whip out my DVD later tonight to catch the lyrics.1

Thanks A-E! (and I thought all they said was a lot of vague la-la-la's)

***Earniel*** · 12-20-2002, 07:33 PM

Impressive.

I never knew they were actually singing something sensible.

I like the song even more now.

***Alcuin*** · 03-13-2010, 07:15 PM

I don’t know if Lucas intended it this way, but “Khara Matha” appears as a Sith evil spell to separate Qui Gon and Obi Wan, dispirit them, and kill them. Darth Mall does indeed kill Qui Gon, and Obi Won loses his temper, nearly costing him his life, which would have given victory on Naboo to the Sith.

As it happens, the movie audience is on the receiving end, too, along with the characters.

***Tessar*** · 04-27-2010, 12:27 AM

Know what's awesome?

The choral director at my college heads a group of choral volunteers here in my city, and he asked me to join them to sing bass for Duel of the Fates and Battle of the Heroes this summer with full orchestra.

I'm terribly excited.

12-13-2002, 07:31 PM	#1
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Duel of the Fates lyrics Duel of the Fates So what were they singing in "Duel of the Fates" ? It's a line from a Celtic poem, Cad Goddeu ("Battle of the Trees"), originally translated by Robert Graves, and literally transcribed into Sanskrit. The line goes, "Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging, behind, in the head." Sanskrit lyrics? Williams chose Sanskrit because it was not as recognisable as Latin or Greek, and the vowels were easy to sing. The lyrics are: Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah Khara Rath Amah Yuddha Khara Khara Syada Rath Amah Dai Ya Khara Ki La Dan Ya Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah Khara Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah Khara Was it then also Sanskrit at Qui-Gon's funeral ? Yes. Before you ask: Mahdhurah swehpna Go rahdomah swepna Mahdhurah swehpna Go rahdomah swepna Moorittioo mahdurah swehpna What do they mean ? Good question. This is an approximate guide. Don't worry if the words don't translated too well in English - because there is no formalised grammar in Sanskrit. Khara dreadful Matha head Rath speak Amah give Yuddha battle Syada raging Dai purify Ya going Ki like La taking Dan separate Niha loss Go rahdomah to set out for battle Swepnah, Swapna dream, dreaming Madhura, Madhurah sweet Moorittioo death __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

12-13-2002, 11:50 PM	#2
Nibs Head Hollara Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 751	Ooo... that makes it even cooler... although you can't get much cooler than watching John Williams himself directing that song on the special features of the Episode I DVD. __________________ "People used to ring up and say 'Don't quit your day job' or 'sell your synth', but the joke's on them: we were fired and the synth is broken!" -John Flansburgh from They Might Be Giants Ever heard of Mormons? I'm one. Click here to know more about us.

12-15-2002, 10:59 AM	#3
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Is that the song the played during the lightsaber duel in Episode I? __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

12-15-2002, 08:41 PM	#4
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	yep __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

12-16-2002, 05:23 AM	#5
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	Oooooh! I'll have to whip out my DVD later tonight to catch the lyrics.1 Thanks A-E! (and I thought all they said was a lot of vague la-la-la's) __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

12-20-2002, 07:33 PM	#6
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Impressive. I never knew they were actually singing something sensible. I like the song even more now. __________________ We are not things.

03-13-2010, 07:15 PM	#7
*Alcuin* Salt Miner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gone to Far Harad Posts: 987	I don’t know if Lucas intended it this way, but “Khara Matha” appears as a Sith evil spell to separate Qui Gon and Obi Wan, dispirit them, and kill them. Darth Mall does indeed kill Qui Gon, and Obi Won loses his temper, nearly costing him his life, which would have given victory on Naboo to the Sith. As it happens, the movie audience is on the receiving end, too, along with the characters.

04-27-2010, 12:27 AM	#8
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	Know what's awesome? The choral director at my college heads a group of choral volunteers here in my city, and he asked me to join them to sing bass for Duel of the Fates and Battle of the Heroes this summer with full orchestra. I'm terribly excited.

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