Difference between revisions of "The Rains of Castamere"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(Refrain)
(Refrain)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
[[File:House Lannister.svg|200px|thumb|The golden lion of House Lannister]]
 
[[File:House Lannister.svg|200px|thumb|The golden lion of House Lannister]]
 
[[File:House Reyne.svg|200px|thumb|The red lion of House Reyne]]
 
[[File:House Reyne.svg|200px|thumb|The red lion of House Reyne]]
 
+
 
:''And who are you, the proud lord said,  
 
:''And who are you, the proud lord said,  
:''that I must bow so low?  
+
::''that I must bow so low?  
 
:''Only a cat of a different coat,  
 
:''Only a cat of a different coat,  
:''that's all the truth I know.  
+
::''that’s all the truth I know.  
 
:''In a coat of gold or a coat of red,  
 
:''In a coat of gold or a coat of red,  
:''a lion still has claws,  
+
::''a lion still has claws,  
 
:''And mine are long and sharp, my lord,  
 
:''And mine are long and sharp, my lord,  
:''as long and sharp as yours.  
+
::''as long and sharp as yours.  
 
:''And so he spoke, and so he spoke,  
 
:''And so he spoke, and so he spoke,  
:''that lord of Castamere,  
+
::''that lord of Castamere,  
:''But now the rains weep o'er his hall,  
+
:''But now the rains weep o’er his hall,  
:''with no one there to hear.  
+
::''with no one there to hear.  
:''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|ASOS|39}}
+
::''and not a soul to hear.''{{ref|ASOS|39}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==

Revision as of 13:34, 12 June 2018

For the television episode, see The Rains of Castamere (TV).

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

Refrain

The golden lion of House Lannister
The red lion of House Reyne
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.[1]

History

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's eldest son and heir, Ser Tywin Lannister, marched against the upstart Lord of Castamere, Roger Reyne, known as the "Red Lion of Castamere". 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".[2]

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.

The song was played by an envoy of Lord Tywin Lannister to truculent House Farman of Faircastle. It was enough to make Lord Farman reconsider his position.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

"The Rains of Castamere" is featured most prominently during the events of the infamous Red Wedding. The song is the signal for the forces of House Frey and House Bolton to turn on the Starks and Tullys and slaughter them. Lady 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 rebellions of the north and the riverlands to the Iron Throne.[3]

The song is played numerous times at the wedding feast of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Queen Margaery Tyrell.

A Feast for Crows

Ser Jaime Lannister has Tom of Sevenstreams play the song to the captive Lord Edmure Tully to remind him what would happen to his family if he does not surrender Riverrun.

Game of Thrones

The first occurrence of "The Rains of Castamere" in the HBO television series Game of Thrones 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.[4] In the ninth episode of season 2, "Blackwater", Bronn sings the song with his men outside the Red Keep while drinking. Here, the song is featured in a more complete form. The song is also performed in the closing credits of the same episode by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger.[5][6] On the published tracklist of the soundtrack, the title is spelled "The Rains of Castomere" rather than "Castamere" as in the novels.[7] The music was written by Ramin Djawadi and the 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.[8] Cersei Lannister relays the history of the song to Margaery Tyrell in episode eight, "Second Sons".[9] In episode nine, "The Rains of Castamere", the famous song is performed by the musicians at the Twins to begin the Red Wedding.[10]

During episode two of season four, "The Lion and the Rose", the song is performed during the wedding feast of King Joffrey I Baratheon.[11] It is also performed in the end credits by the band Sigur Rós, whose band members portray the musicians within the episode.[citation needed]

Quotes

I do so hope he plays 'The Rains of Castamere.' It's been an hour, I've forgotten how it goes.[12]

Olenna Redwyne, regarding Alaric of Eysen at Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell's wedding


What a disappointment. I was hoping for 'The Rains of Castamere'.[13]

Olenna Redwyne, after the Blue Bard plays love songs at Tommen Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell's wedding


It does not please me. I’d get more pleasure from driving my spear into Lord Tywin’s belly. I’ll make him sing ‘The Rains of Castamere’ as I pull his bowels out and look for gold.

Obara Sand to Doran Martell

References and Notes