Difference between revisions of "The Rains of Castamere"

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The '''Rains of Castamere''' was a song written about Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s crushing victory over [[House Reyne]] and the destruction of the House at the end of the Rebellion.
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'''The Rains of Castamere''' is a song which immortalizes the destruction of [[House Reyne]] by [[Tywin Lannister]].
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==Origins==
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[[House Reyne]] was obliterated after they rebelled against their liege lord, [[Tytos Lannister]], who was perceived as weak by his own vassals. To restore Lannister dominance, Tytos' son, [[Tywin]], marched against the upstart Lord of Castamere, the [[Red Lion of Castamere|Red Lion]]. By the end of the rebellion, [[Castamere]] had been put to the torch and all members of House Reyne executed. The title is thus a play on words, as the "rains" fall over the empty halls of the "Reynes" who have been killed to the last man, and "not a soul to hear".{{Ref|asos|19}}
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The lyrics heavily reference the fact that the sigil of House Reyne was also a lion, but a red one instead of the golden lion used as the sigil of [[House Lannister]]. The rebellion of the Reynes against the Lannisters was thus seen as a civil war of lions.
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==Appearance at the Red Wedding==
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The song is featured most prominently during the events of the infamous [[Red Wedding]] in ''[[A Storm of Swords]]''. The song is the signal for the forces of [[House Frey]] and House Bolton to turn on the [[House Stark|Starks]] and [[House Tully|Tullys]] and slaughter them. [[Catelyn Stark]] is the only one present who recognizes the tune, but by the time she realizes what is happening, it is already far too late; as the song starts, so does the bloodbath that ends the life of [[Robb Stark|King Robb Stark]] and the rebellion.{{Ref|asos|51}}
  
 
==Refrain==
 
==Refrain==
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:::''Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,  
 
:::''Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,  
 
:::''and not a soul to hear.''<ref>[[A Storm of Swords]], [[A Storm of Swords-Chapter 39|Chapter 39]], Arya</ref>
 
:::''and not a soul to hear.''<ref>[[A Storm of Swords]], [[A Storm of Swords-Chapter 39|Chapter 39]], Arya</ref>
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==Major performances==
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* It was played by envoy by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] to truculent [[House Farman]] of [[Faircastle]]. It was enough to make Lord Farman reconsider his position.
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* It is played at the [[Red Wedding]], a signal to start the bloodbath that ends the life of King [[Robb Stark]] and ends his rebellion.
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* It is played numerous times at the wedding feast of [[Joffrey Baratheon]] and [[Margaery Tyrell]].
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* [[Jaime Lannister]] has [[Tom of Sevenstreams]] play it to the captive [[Edmure Tully]] to remind him what would happen to his family if he does not surrender [[Second Siege of Riverrun|Riverrun]].
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==''Game of Thrones''==
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The first occurrence of "The Rains of Castamere" in the [[Game of Thrones|HBO television series]] is in episode one of [[Game of Thrones - Season 2|season two]], "[[The North Remembers (TV)|The North Remembers]]", when [[Tyrion Lannister]] whistles the refrain as he enters the small council for the first time. In the episode 9 scene in which [[Bronn]] drinks and sings with his men outside the [[Red Keep]], the song is featured in a more complete form. The song is performed in the closing credits of episode nine, "[[Blackwater (TV)|Blackwater]]", by the indie rock band ''[[w:The National (band)|The National]]'', sung by their vocalist [[w:Matt Berninger|Matt Berninger]].<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 Soundtrack Details|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/05/23/game-of-thrones-season-2-soundtrack-details/|accessdate=24 May 2012|newspaper=Film Music Reporter|date=24 May 2012}}</ref> On the published tracklist of the [[soundtrack]], the title is spelled "The Rains of Castomere" rather than "Castamere" as in the novels.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lamar|first=Cyriaque|title=Listen to The National's new Lannister-happy song from The Game of Thrones soundtrack|url=http://io9.com/5913172/listen-to-the-nationals-new-lannister+happy-song-from-the-game-of-thrones-soundtrack|accessdate=25 May 2012|newspaper=[[w:io9|io9]]|date=24 May 2012}}</ref> The music was written by [[w:Ramin Djawadi|Ramin Djawadi]] and and lyrics by [[George R.R. Martin]].
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During episode two of [[Game of Thrones - Season 3|season three]], "[[Dark Wings, Dark Words]]", [[Thoros of Myr]] sings "The Rains of Castamere" when the [[Brotherhood Without Banners]] finds [[Arya Stark]]. [[Cersei Lannister]] relays the history of the song to [[Margaery Tyrell]] in episode eight, "[[Second Sons (TV)|Second Sons]]". In episode nine, "[[The Rains of Castamere (TV)|The Rains of Castamere]]", the famous song is performed by the musicians at [[the Twins]] to begin the [[Red Wedding]].
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==Quotes==
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{{Quote|I do so hope he plays The Rains of Castamere, it's been an hour, I've forgotten how it goes.{{ref|asos|60}}}}
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– [[Olenna Redwyne]], at [[Joffrey]] and [[Margaery Tyrell|Margaery]]'s wedding
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{{Quote|[[Blue Bard|He]] sang a few love songs and retired.  "What a disappointment," Lady Olenna complained loudly.  "I was hoping for "The Rains of Castamere. {{ref|affc|12}}}}
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– [[Olenna Redwyne]], at [[Tommen]] and [[Margaery Tyrell|Margaery]]'s wedding
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==
 
{{references}}
 
{{references}}
  
 
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[[Category:Songs|Rains of Castamere]]
 
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[[Category:The Westerlands|Rains of Castamere]]
[[Category:Songs]]
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[[es:Las Lluvias de Castamere]]
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[[fa:باران های کستامیر]]
 
[[fr:Les pluies de Castamere]]
 
[[fr:Les pluies de Castamere]]
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[[pt:As Chuvas de Castamere]]
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[[zh:&#21345;&#26031;&#29305;&#26757;&#30340;&#38632;&#23395;]]

Revision as of 07:58, 17 April 2014

The Rains of Castamere is a song which immortalizes the destruction of House Reyne by Tywin Lannister.

Origins

House Reyne was obliterated after they rebelled against their liege lord, Tytos Lannister, who was perceived as weak by his own vassals. To restore Lannister dominance, Tytos' son, Tywin, marched against the upstart Lord of Castamere, the Red Lion. By the end of the rebellion, Castamere had been put to the torch and all members of House Reyne executed. The title is thus a play on words, as the "rains" fall over the empty halls of the "Reynes" who have been killed to the last man, and "not a soul to hear".[1]

The lyrics heavily reference the fact that the sigil of House Reyne was also a lion, but a red one instead of the golden lion used as the sigil of House Lannister. The rebellion of the Reynes against the Lannisters was thus seen as a civil war of lions.

Appearance at the Red Wedding

The song is featured most prominently during the events of the infamous Red Wedding in A Storm of Swords. The song is the signal for the forces of House Frey and House Bolton to turn on the Starks and Tullys and slaughter them. Catelyn Stark is the only one present who recognizes the tune, but by the time she realizes what is happening, it is already far too late; as the song starts, so does the bloodbath that ends the life of King Robb Stark and the rebellion.[2]

Refrain

And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.[3]

Major performances

Game of Thrones

The first occurrence of "The Rains of Castamere" in the HBO television series is in episode one of season two, "The North Remembers", when Tyrion Lannister whistles the refrain as he enters the small council for the first time. In the episode 9 scene in which Bronn drinks and sings with his men outside the Red Keep, the song is featured in a more complete form. The song is performed in the closing credits of episode nine, "Blackwater", by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger.[4] On the published tracklist of the soundtrack, the title is spelled "The Rains of Castomere" rather than "Castamere" as in the novels.[5] The music was written by Ramin Djawadi and and lyrics by George R.R. Martin.

During episode two of season three, "Dark Wings, Dark Words", Thoros of Myr sings "The Rains of Castamere" when the Brotherhood Without Banners finds Arya Stark. Cersei Lannister relays the history of the song to Margaery Tyrell in episode eight, "Second Sons". In episode nine, "The Rains of Castamere", the famous song is performed by the musicians at the Twins to begin the Red Wedding.

Quotes

I do so hope he plays The Rains of Castamere, it's been an hour, I've forgotten how it goes.[6]

Olenna Redwyne, at Joffrey and Margaery's wedding


He sang a few love songs and retired. "What a disappointment," Lady Olenna complained loudly. "I was hoping for "The Rains of Castamere. [7]

Olenna Redwyne, at Tommen and Margaery's wedding

References and Notes