Time to Say Goodbye

Template:MusicBox Time to Say Goodbye is the opening theme to RWBY Volume 2. It was released by Jeff Williams on iTunes on May 21st, 2014.

Composition

The song opens with Casey Lee Williams' vocals accompanied by strings and piano, shortly joined by drums and a standard rock ensemble as the song enters the chorus. After the first chorus, a guitar solo, doubled by strings, is played and leads into the next set of verses. The track continues to build in intensity, with a guitar playing lead lines under Casey's vocals.

After the second chorus, the song abruptly enters a slower, much more subdued section, with the vocals accompanied by distant-sounding drums and strings. This section is followed by an uptempo guitar solo that leads into one last, energetic chorus before the song ends.

The song contains some unusual compositional elements: The verses are in the key of G minor, the choruses are in the key of E minor and the quiet bridge section (as well as the first solo section) are in the key of G major (the parallel major to the verse and the relative major to the chorus). This gives the song a very unique sound.

The key changes between these sections are especially interesting in that they accentuate a certain emotional impact in relation to the lyrics; the line of the bridge "Pointed at the enemy / So someone else can claim a victory" transitions from the key of G major of previous lines to G minor, which, in conjunction with a gradual decrease in tempo, creates an especially unsettling mood to the line.

Lyrics

There's a point where it tips,
There's a point where it breaks,
There's a point where it bends,
And a point we just can’t take
Anymore.

There's a line that we’ll cross
And there’s no return;
There's a time and a place;
No bridges left to burn
Anymore.

We can’t just wait with lives at stake
Until they think we’re ready.
Our enemies are gathering
The storm is growing deadly.

Now it's time to say goodbye
To the things we loved,
And the innocence of youth.
How the time seemed to fly
From our carefree lives,
And the solitude and peace we always knew.

There's a day when we’ll fight
And we’re not gonna fall.
There's a day when we’ll stand
And a day when we won’t crawl
Anymore.

There’s a moment in time
And there’s no going back,
When we’re pushed too hard
And we won’t hold our attack
Anymore.

We can’t just cling to childish things
As evil just grows closer.
Humanity’s in jeopardy,
This fight is far from over.

Now it's time to say goodbye
To the things we loved,
And the innocence of youth.
With a doubt in our minds
Why we chose this life,
And at times we can’t help wondering...

Were we born to fight and die?
Sacrificed for one huge lie?
Are we heroes keeping peace?
Or are we weapons?
Pointed at the enemy
So someone else can claim a victory?

Now it's time to say goodbye
To the things we loved,
And the innocence of youth.
How the time seemed to fly
From our carefree lives,
And the solitude and peace we always knew.

Trivia

• The cover art is also the art used for the Volume 2 Poster, drawn by Kristina Nguyen. The poster is also available in the Rooster Teeth store.

References

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