"Priestess Aria" (水の巫子エリア, Mizu no Miko Eria?, lit. Elia, the Maiden of Water), also known as "Elia, the Maiden of Water" and "Aria, the Maiden of Water", is Aria Benett's personal theme from Final Fantasy III. It was composed and arranged by Nobuo Uematsu and is the first character theme in the Final Fantasy series.
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy III[]
"Priestess Aria" is the personal theme of Aria Benett, the last maiden of the Temple of Water. It can be heard as the background theme for the Wrecked Ship, and during the cutscene of her death. "Elia, the Maiden of Water" was released as track 26 on the Final Fantasy III Original Sound Version.
"Priestess Aria" was arranged by Keiji Kawamori for the DS version, known as "Aria, Maiden of Water" in the game's Gallery. "Priestess Aria" is track 31 on the Final Fantasy III Original Soundtrack (DS Version). It was also included in the theme for the introduction movie of the DS remake, "Zephyr Memories - Legend of the Eternal Wind", the first track on the original soundtrack.
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was remastered and released as track 73 on the Final Fantasy I・II・III Original Soundtrack Revival Disc.
"Priestess Aria FFPR Ver." is the version arranged by Shingo Kataoka that appears in the Pixel Remaster. It is track 32 on the Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XV[]
The original version appears in the music player on the Memories of FFIII album purchased from Coernix Station - Alstor for 100 gil.
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is also available as track 29 on the limited edition Blu-ray disc of the Final Fantasy XV: Original Soundtrack.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is the Event Music Sequence used for the Final Fantasy III Series Play.
The theme appears on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Compilation Album.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
Cave of Tides
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" makes a reappearance, this time as a Field Music Sequence for Final Fantasy III and renamed to "Aria, the Maiden of Water".
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line[]
This section is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
The track plays during scenes involving water priestess Luka in Shipwreck and Lake Dohr.
This section about an album is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Arrangement album appearances[]
Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is part of the fourth song of the album, "Montage" (彷徨の旅路, Hōkō no Tabiji?, lit. Wandering Journey). It begins at 6:26 and concludes the track. This arrangement was produced by Nobuo Uematsu and the narration was performed by Jeff Levy. The vocals were performed by Michiaki Kato and Shizuru Ohtaka.
Final Fantasy: Pray[]
"Once You Meet Her" is a vocal arrangement of "Elia, the Maiden of Water", featured in the vocal arrangement album. Performed by Risa Ohki and the Hiroyuki Koike Strings, it is sung in English. It was arranged by Masatsugu Shinozaki and the lyrics were written by Katsuhiko Kinoshita.
Lyrics[]
The official lyrics were released on the album. The following is the exact transcription of the official lyrics, including the format and any typo.
- And no one knows it -
- where she came from,
- where she's going.
- And once you meet her,
- you will find that
- something inside is changing.
- She's like a rainbow.
- Whe she comes up,
- all are lit up.
- And when she whispers,
- you will hear this -
- ' Don't chase after rainbows.'
- ※High on a hill
- there's a green meadow.
- All around
- it's breezin'.
- She's smilin'.
- She'll let them
- sing angel songs.
- She's like a fairy
- when she's trembling,
- when she's dancing.
- Just see her rambling.
- How it's nice to
- follow her to the end.
- You want some meanings
- of the life.
- And go to see her.
- Don't ask her too much.
- Oh yes, she'll be
- out of your sight
- right over.
- ※（refrain）
- Everyone is sad and blue
- when she is far away.
- Don't you know
- it's time to pray
- she'll be coming soon？
- And you think you hear
- her voice ringing from above.
- And no one knows it -
- where she came from,
- where she's going.
- And once you meet her,
- maybe you'll stay
- forever young.
Guitar Solo Final Fantasy Official Best Collection[]
A classic guitar arrangement of "Elia, the Maiden of Water" is present in the album, arranged and performed by Yuji Sekiguchi.
PiA-COM II / PIA-COMS[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was arranged and performed by Hiroyuki Nakayama as "pia-com2go" on the piano.
Final Fantasy Orchestral Album[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is the fourth part of "Medley 2002", orchestrated by Shirō Hamaguchi. It was performed by the FiLMharmonic Orchestra, Prague and recorded at Rudolfinum, Dvorak Hall. It is track 1 on the album.
BRA★BRA Final Fantasy Brass de Bravo 3[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was arranged by Takashi Hoshide, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita, and performed by the Siena Wind Orchestra. It is track 2 on the album.
A New World: intimate music from Final Fantasy - Volume II[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was performed by guitar soloist Jaroslav Novák, recorded at the Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech Republic. It is track 12 on the album.
Final Fantasy III -Four Souls-[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water Four Souls Version" was arranged and performed by Tomoyuki Asakawa on the harp. The Four Souls Version is track 2 on side A of the album. The original version is also included as track 2 on side B.
Live performances[]
20020220 music from Final Fantasy[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is part of the "FINAL FANTASY I-III (Medley)", arranged by Shirō Hamaguchi and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dear Friends -Music from Final Fantasy-[]
The orchestral medley of Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy III music from 20020220 was part of the performances of this concert tour throughout the USA in 2005. It was the eleventh song of the line-up.
BRA★BRA Final Fantasy Brass de Bravo 2017 with Siena Wind Orchestra[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was performed live at the Tokyo Bunka Kaiken on May 14, 2017 and was recorded, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Siena Wind Orchestra. It is track 12 on the album.
Compilation album appearances[]
Final Fantasy 1987-1994/Final Fantasy N Generation: Official Best Collection[]
The arrangement of "Elia, the Maiden of Water" from Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind was included in this album of remixes of themes from Final Fantasy titles up to the sixth main installment. "The Water Maiden (Arranged Version)" is the fifth track of the album.
Potion: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy[]
The arranged version from the Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind album is present in this album as its second track.
Dear Friends: Music From Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" was released as the fourteenth track of this collection of themes present n the Dear Friends -Music from Final Fantasy- concert tour.
Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017[]
"Elia, the Maiden of Water" is track 22 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary.
Etymology[]
Aria is a female given name in English. It is derived from Italian aria, from Latin āēr, and from Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr), all of which mean "air". It also has similar sounding names in many languages such as Hebrew אַרְיֵה (aryé), a male given name that also means "lion". Aria also refers to a self-contained piece for one voice usually, most commonly found in the context of opera.
Elia is a male given name in many languages that is derived from Elijah, from Hebrew אֵלִיָּהוּ (ʾĒlīyyāhū) which means "My God is Yahweh/YHWH".