Back to Main
Back to Reports

Back to Peace Walker

Page 1 / Page 2 / Page 3

Page 2: Heaven's Divide Lyrics Analysis

Although I don't even know if Kojima had a hand in writing the lyrics for Heaven's Divide, I decided to take a shot at interpreting their possible meaning. If nothing else, it's a fun way of enjoying the song more, and if it does turn out to be connected to the game's plot, perhaps we can glean some information from it.

(Listen to song)

LYRICS Petals of white Cover fields flowing in grieving tears And all the hearts, once new, old and shattered now Love can kill, love will die Give me wings to fly Fleeing this world so cold I just wonder why Cold as the dark Now my words are frosted with every breath Still the heat burns wild, growing inside this heart When the wind changes course, when the stars align I will reach out to you and leave this all behind When heavens divide When heavens divide I will see the choices within my hands How can we ever protect and fight with our tiny souls Let me shine like the sun through the doubts and fear Do you feel the storm approach as the end draws near When heavens divide Time will come to softly lay me down Then I can see her face that I long to see And for you, only you, I would give anything Leaving a trace for love to find the way When heavens divide I will dive into the fire Spilling the blood of my desire The very last time My name scorched into the sky When heavens divide I will see the choices within my hands How can we ever protect and fight with our tiny souls Let me shine like the sun through the doubts and fear Do you feel the storm approach as the end draws near When heavens divide Time will come to softly lay me down Then I can see her face that I long to see And for you, only you, I would give anything Leaving a trace for love to find the way When heavens divide And for you, only you, I would give anything Leaving a trace for love to find the way When heavens divide

ANALYSIS The term Heaven's Divide refers to the decision to create Outer Heaven. It also refers to the division in Big Boss' heart created from killing The Boss during Snake Eater; the division between his mission and his beliefs. The white petals referred to represent the pureness of their relationship, which turn red with her blood, and represent all of the emotion he had to overcome to kill her. Just as the petals are carried with the wind, so too do soldiers get carried with the political winds without a voice. He hates those who discard great, noble warriors as if they were little flower petals, and wants to be the one who dictates the political climate, and in order to give warriors a sense of greatness and purpose. He wants to control both sides, rather than allowing the fickle winds of the time to do so. He looks forward to dying gloriously in battle, perhaps in the same manner as The Boss, by his own pupil, so that he can see her again. He has no loyalty to anyone except The Boss, and betrays his country trying to fulfill her wishes, even though he doesn't know what it is. Creation of Outer Heaven suggests that there is an "Inner Heaven", possibly within Big Boss himself, or within The Boss. "When heaven's divide", could refer to the separation of the "inner" and "outer" heavens, most likely occurring on a philosophical level when The Boss died. Obviously, could also refer to the division of Major Zero and Big Boss mentioned in Guns of the Patriots, and the inevitable war between them. (Note: I would contend that the lyrics are "...the choice is within my hands" and not "the choices within my hands.")

After seeing the English subbed version of the supertrailer, I believe that the dialogue in it is compatible with my analysis here, which was done a few hours beforehand, even though Big Boss is concerned about changing the "times" (ie. political climate) and wants to prevent MSF from becoming a global power. I predict that Big Boss will once again try to balance idealism (in this case, being a liberating force untethered to nations) and his immediate duties (in this case, self-preservation) and ultimately be forced to accept his role as "Big Boss" as a consequence.

When he finally accepts his role as Big Boss he will no longer try to prevent global influence, but want to control both sides, as I speculate in the analysis. This will result in Outer Heaven.

 

Back to Peace Walker