Hollow: an ode to Cloud’s regrets about Aerith
I’ve always felt Hollow is about Cloud’s regrets after Aerith’s fate. But after finishing the Original Final Fantasy 7 game, I realized the lyrics outright quote and reference things Cloud says about Aerith in Disks 2 & 3.
So if I was convinced before, now I just can’t see the song being about anyone nor anything else.
I’ve been posting my thoughts about it on Twitter the last few days, but I figured it was worth putting everything together in one single post to illustrate just why I feel this way. I’ll divide the post in a few parts:
What we know about the song
Where we hear the song in Remake
The name of the song
The song lyrics and its ties to the OG (and to AC)
The imagery of the song
Could the song be about multiple people? nope
I’ll illustrate each point with images from the OG and occasionally Advent Children, so beware of spoilers for both! In contrast, there are only a few spoilers from Remake, including one cut-scene from the ending and a scene from Chapter 14.
What we know about the song
The song’s lyrics were written by Nojima and the music by Uematsu. In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu explains that the song is sung from Cloud’s perspective and gives the vocalist clear instructions to make the vocals fit Cloud’s character.
This was further confirmed on a recent interview, where Uematsu said: “[...] the song is supposed to be about Cloud's inner feelings” (source).
Similarly, Nojima confirmed that one of the two keywords he received to write the lyrics was “told from Cloud’s point of view.”
Even more interesting, however, is the following:
I interpreted [Hollow] as "a ballad for a man who lost something important to him." — Nojima
In other words, Nojima wrote these lyrics thinking about Cloud having lost “something important” to him. In Japanese, the wording is 大切なもの, which means both “something important” or “someone important” depending on the context (comment from the translator).
Both have already been used from Cloud’s point of view, in regards to Aerith.
In the OG, it’s used when Cait Sith predicts that Cloud will lose Aerith. “What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear." In Japanese, “something dear” is written with the exact same wording used by Nojima: 大切なもの
The same wording is also used in Cloud’s cameo in Final Fantasy Tactics, where he’s featured alongside Aerith.
As for “someone important”, Aerith has been described as Cloud’s 大切な人 "important/precious someone” more times than I can count. Like here, for example:
... [Sephirot] took away my important/precious someone.
So just from the wording alone, we can establish a link to Aerith. However, this is far from being the only way Hollow is connected to Aerith.
Where we hear the song in Remake
The very first time we hear the instrumental version of song in Remake is in Chapter 8, called “The Flower of Reunion” in Japanese and “Budding Bodyguard” in English. In other words, the first time it plays is on a Chapter entirely dedicated to Cloud and Aerith.
But even more telling is the very first moment we hear the song. It’s when Aerith briefly separates from Cloud in the Sector 5 Slums. It literally starts playing the instant Aerith leaves the party.
Then, it continues to play throughout the chapter as Cloud & Aerith reunite and do different quests together.
Fittingly, the second time we hear the instrumental version of Hollow is in Chapter 13, as Cloud & the party step into the places that Aerith first showed to Cloud — except that this time, Aerith isn’t with them because she’s been kidnapped by Shinra.
Meaning, Hollow’s instrumental version only plays in Sector 5. Aerith’s Sector.
The last time we hear the song is, of course, in the credits of the game. Where the full version of Hollow plays in full. But I think it’s interesting to think of the moment when the song starts to play.
First, we focus on Cloud & Aerith, standing on a barren place as rain starts to fall down on the party (this will be important later). It’s only after this very shot that the camera pans to the sky and Hollow starts playing.
So three out of three times we hear Hollow, the song can be connected to Aerith.
Which makes perfect sense IMO, because everything about the song itself is connected to Aerith.
Including its title.
The name of the song
While the song is sung in English, the original lyrics were written in Japanese. The original name of the song was actually 「 空っぽの雲 」 “Empty Cloud”, which then became「からっぽの空」aka “Empty Sky” or “Hollow Sky”. And in fact, the Instrumental version of the song that plays in Sector 5 — again, Aerith’s sector — keeps the Japanese name.
Of course, both “empty” and “hollow” carry the same meaning:
“Having a hole or empty space inside”.
You know what was meant to evoke this exact same feeling in the players? Aerith’s death.
The feelings aroused by Aerith’s death are “a great emptiness” and “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently”.
These are the exact same feelings Cloud sings about in Hollow.
And what’s more, his pain after losing Aerith was recently referenced in the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exhibition with the following quote:
Which takes me to:
The song lyrics & its ties to the OG and to AC
Since the song was originally written in Japanese, I will be using @gurekura’s literal translation as well as the official translation of the lyrics. You can see their original post on Twitter HERE.
I think that when you read the lyrics, it becomes very obvious that it’s written from the perspective of the original Cloud. The Cloud we see in the Original FF7 as well as in Advent Children, among others. So, of course, it’s no surprise that these lyrics perfectly match various scenes.
What’s telling though, is that just as we’ve seen until now, the lyrics are a perfect match for scenes focusing on Cloud and Aerith.
1.
2.
No matter whether you take these lines literally or figuratively, “healing” easily evokes images of Aerith. Who not only is a healer — we even see this in AC, where Aerith heals Cloud of Geostigma — but also reaches out to Cloud as he’s broken by pain and guilt in AC and helps him recover.
But while this is all fine and dandy, I can understand why people may think of different scenes while hearing these lyrics.
However, their link to Aerith becomes even more blatant as we go. In fact, from here on out, the lyrics basically quote Cloud’s words, feelings & thoughts in the OG as he faces Aerith’s death.
3.
Was it all a dream? Will I ever know?
Foolish and blind to everything Had I realized, had I noticed it sooner, Would you be here in my embrace?
Word. For. Word. These are literally Cloud’s feelings, pain and regrets after losing Aerith.
4.
Then we have the chorus, where the references to Aerith are also clear because she’s always been known for her bright personality, and for keeping a smile on her face even in the hardest of times.
Remember how Kitase said that “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently” was one of the feelings he wanted to inspire with Aerith’s death?
That is exactly what Cloud is singing about in this chorus. But this will become more obvious when we get to the end of the song.
5.
This is honestly unequivocally about Aerith, who hid her pain and the weight of her mission behind smiles and comforting words to not pain Cloud and the others.
Hidden within your smile There were secrets
But I was empty I just demanded
This fits perfectly with how blinded Cloud was by his own pain after he lost her, and how this kept him from realizing the truth of her sacrifice.
6.
Then there’s the second chorus, where Cloud once again sings about all the things he would do differently if only he were given a second chance.
And what he wants to do most of all, is to be able to notice Aerith’s pain and the truth hidden behind it.
What’s more, while players may have missed it given the graphics of the OG, Remake itself shows that this is indeed how Aerith is. She is always hiding her pain and heavy truths behind a smile. The perfect example comes in Aerith’s Resolution Scene in Chapter 14, where Aerith tries to reassure Cloud that she doesn’t mind staying in the Shinra Tower.
She does her best to keep a bright smile and a happy front. But if you look closely enough, you can see the sadness in her eyes, a clear reflection of her true feelings.
7.
Lastly, we have Cloud facing the truth. That despite all his regrets, despite how hard he may wish to have a second chance, Aerith is gone. And the song takes us full-circle.
You’re no long here, so I’m empty. Again, this fits perfectly with the feeling Kitase wanted to evoke with Aerith’s death.
And Cloud feeling this way is also backed-up not only by his behavior in AC, but also by insight from Tifa, as shared in Dismantled:
Plus, of course: “She was gone in the blink of an eye. But the pain never went away.”
So really, given everything I’ve mentioned above, I just can’t see this song being about anyone but Aerith. Because the lyrics clearly evoke thoughts and emotions Cloud himself said about her in the original game.
And if you keep Aerith in mind, then...
The imagery of the song
In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu also talks about the imagery that inspired the music. This is what he says about it:
Nojima also confirmed that [Cloud] “standing in the rain” was the second keyword he received to write the lyrics.
The moment I heard this, I thought of one particular scene from Advent Children:
This scene fits the imagery on multiple levels. Cloud is alone, standing on a barren and empty place, as rain pours over him. He lets the rain wash over him, eyes closed.
In this scene, that rain is Aerith’s Great Gospel. It starts falling the moment Kadaj hears Aerith’s voice, heals everyone it touches from Geostigma and Tifa outright speaks to Aerith as she watches a droplet of the rain.
Of course, there’s no way to know exactly what image Uematsu was talking about. But I find this particular scene quite fitting, given all the ties the song has to Aerith.
Not to mention that in the Final Fantasy 30th Exhibition, Aerith says the following about Cloud’s pain after her death: 「もう、泣かないで. 雨になっちゃうよ」 “Don’t cry. You’ll make it rain”. (source)
So, there we have an explicit link between rain — and Cloud’s anguish after he loses Aerith.
To wrap this up, I’ve seen people suggest that the song is about multiple people. I respect that everyone has the right to have a different view-point, but personally, I can’t help but to disagree with this particular one.
Could the song be about multiple people?
There is no evidence of this in the song. At no point does the song switch its focus. At the contrary, the references and themes remain the same all throughout-it — as does its subject.
Your shining smile = Once more, shine brightly = Once more, laugh again = Hidden within your smile, there were secrets = Had I noticed sooner, would you still be in my embrace? = Show me your smile one more, this time = I'll notice the truth hidden inside your tears
The subject and the imagery remain constant, so it’s safe to assume the song is about one person and one person only.
And given all the things mentioned above... I hope you can now see why I can’t think of anyone else but Aerith.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!