Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26319455-20150416234852/@comment-26206856-20150418024454

LiveandSound wrote:

Also, it's not always "symbolic" of the current fight. Read the lyrics of Die, it doesn't exactly fit the context of what's going on during the fight between RWBY and Roman-in-Paladin Mech. Ahem.

I really should sit down and go through each song individually on it's own, but I just don't have that kind of time these days. As for this episode, you'll have to pick up with where it starts off which is where RWBY recover from the structure's collapse and Ruby starts putting things together to formulate a plan of action.

The instrumental music begins at the line 'I wasn't dreaming when they told me you were gone.' Here, Ruby is realising once again that her mother is no longer there to protect her; that she needs to wake up from her dream of being both with and protected by her mother and take the threats (nightmare) head on herself.

Then it switches to Team JNPR at the line "It's like a movie, but there's not a happy ending" (callouts to those hypothesizing the tragic aspect of team JNPR). The 'scenes fade black' (end), but unlike a movie ('pretending') life continues on. You'll also notice they changed up the instrumental at the part where it should say 'There's no knight in shining armor' as it shows Jaune block with his shield. Maybe they didn't want it to be so obvious?

"I know you didn't plan this" is when Ren attacks which may mean his style goes with the flow of things rather than by a set plan. Nora attacks on the "You tried to do what's right" which, she does so, but also manages to put everyone in danger (even knocking Blake off the cliff) while doing so. The other two lines are up to interpretation, though the one left to win the fight may be Jaune as noted by the team leader.

The Red like Roses chourus is a line of unleashed rage which is pretty much what Nora is when she finishes off the Death Stalker. But you'll notice they chop out the rest of that chorus and shorten it up with a completely different line. It essentially plays: "Red like roses, It's your blood that's red like roses, nothing ever takes the place of you." They cut out all the doubt and sorrow of any of the two sections they pull the lines from which shows Nora's determination and unwavering will to fight.

Then it starts the true song with vocals as it cuts back to RWBY. Without getting into too much detail on a line to line basis, the song is about Ruby unleashing her rage over the loss of her mother, and how it feels like she's trapped inside a nightmare, left alone to win a fight against the baddies (grimm). Essentially, it's her badass sides' fight song as she realises she can't always be protected and needs to fight for herself.

Again, when it hits the 'movie' line, and the scene ('fades black') switches from Yangs to Weiss' view, we see they all had a plan they're taking action on, and not just 'pretending' to make up their fight strategy. Weiss gets the quick shoutout to 'knight in shining armor' who can't wake Ruby from a spell (dream) because it isn't one.

From "I know you didn't plan this" Ruby is inwardly reflecting on how her mother has left her on her own without protection, and how she is the one left to win the current fight.

The "Red like Roses" chorus as I said earlier is her unleashing rage. Red fills her head or her vision meaning anger (or possibly bloodlust), and in this state she finds herself closer to emptiness and sadness (an emotionless killing machine) that has been substituted to replace her mother now that she's gone. This is played as we see her flying at the nevermore, running up a cliff, and decapitating it, all with a cool, focused and set demeanor on her face.

Fits pretty well, right? Pick away at it if you want; I'm always open to criticism. Just keep in mind I'm more easily swayed when there's some sort of proof to back it up or refute my own.